How to Prewire for a Home Stereo
Prewire your new home or remodeled areas for stereo speakers while the walls are open for construction to get the most connection and control flexibility as well as to make the job easier. Route wiring to the exact locations of your speakers throughout the house and enjoy the pleasure of filling your home with music and the benefit of a neat installation with no dangling wires to spoil your decor.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Electric angle drill
- 3/8 inch and 1 inch spade bits
- Electrical staples
- Masking tape and marking pen
- Wire cutter/stripper
- Hammer
- Phillips and flat head screwdrivers
- 14-16 gauge speaker wire (length determined by number of speakers and locations)
- Single-gang electrical boxes (quantity as needed per speakers desired)
- Multi-speaker Distribution Hub (if multi-room speakers are desired)
- In-wall stereo volume controls (if multi-room speakers are desired)
- In-wall or ceiling speakers (if desired)
Instructions
-
Prewire Home Stereo
-
1
Attach a single-gang electrical box to a wall stud near the location of your stereo equipment . Attach a single gang electrical box to a wall stud near the location of your external speakers (if used). Attach the mounting hardware for in-wall or ceiling speakers (if used).
-
2
Drill holes through the studs between the equipment and speaker locations using the drill and 3/8 inch bit.
Route a pair of speaker wires from the electrical box at the equipment location through the 3/8 inch holes in the studs to the external speaker electrical box or built-in speaker location.
Cut the wires, leaving extra for connection to the equipment and speakers.
-
-
3
Secure each pair of speaker wires to the stud nearest the electrical box with electrical staples.
Coil the excess wire and stuff it into the electrical boxes.
Prewire for Speakers
-
4
Mark a speaker wiring and wall box layout on a copy of your floorplan to determine needed wire length, routing for the multiple speaker cabling "home run" to the stereo cabinet, and the additional components needed for the number of rooms and the types of speakers you'll be installing.
Use the layout diagram as a reference and attach a single-gang electrical box near the stereo equipment location as a "home run" outlet box for the multi-room speaker cables.
Attach a single-gang electrical box on a stud near the doorway of each room having speakers and locate these boxes at the same height as other electrical switch boxes.
-
5
Attach a single-gang electrical box on a stud near the floor for each room only if external speakers are used.
Attach the mounting hardware for in-wall or ceiling speakers per the layout diagram (if used).
-
6
Use the drill and a 1-inch bit to drill holes through the studs in the equipment room per the layout diagram to accommodate the multiple speaker wiring "home run."
Use the drill and 3/8 inch spade bit to drill holes through the studs in the other rooms for speaker wiring per the layout diagram. -
7
Route a pair of speaker wires through the wall box near the door in each room and through the holes in the wall studs to the speaker wiring "home run" electrical box in the stereo equipment room. Use the masking tape and marker to tag each pair of speaker wires in the "home run" electrical box with the speaker room location and right/left designation as you route them.
Route a pair of speaker wires from the wall box near the door into the electrical box near the floor in each room if external room speakers are used.
Route a pair of speaker wires from the wall box near the door in each room to the mounting location if in-wall or ceiling speakers are used.
Secure each pair of speaker wires to the stud nearest the electrical box with electrical staples.
-
8
Attach the speaker and "home run" wires to the volume controls in the wall box near the door in each room. Refer to the instructions included with them for correct hookup.
Mount the volume controls in the electrical boxes.
Coil any excess wire back into its electrical box.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Allow extra room in your stereo cabinet for the multi-speaker distribution hub if you're prewiring for multiple room speakers.
Note your stereo amplifier output power if you plan a multi-room speaker setup.
Allow 30 to 50 watts minimum per pair of speakers and add a suitable power amplifier if more power is needed.
Do not route speaker wiring and household power wiring through the same holes or in the same electrical boxes when home theater prewiring.
