How to Hook Up a Speaker to a CD Player

Using only one speaker can save space if stereo imaging is not important.

Connecting a single speaker to a CD player can be useful for listening to monophonic recordings, or for certain situations where space is limited and stereo imaging is not of great importance. To hook up a single speaker directly to a CD player without an amplifier, you will need to use a powered speaker. Powered speakers sold as single speakers, or in stereo pairs, are widely available from professional audio equipment suppliers, retail electronics stores and through numerous online retailers.

Things You'll Need

• CD player
• Powered speaker
• Audio cabling (will vary depending on equipment used)
• Scissors or razor blade
• Wire stripper

Instructions

1. Locate the audio output connection on the back of the CD player you are using. Most consumer-grade CD players will use a stereo RCA connection. However, some CD players, particularly those designed for semi-professional use, may use quarter-inch stereo connections.

2. Purchase or make a cable that has "stereo quarter-inch to stereo" RCA connections, or "stereo RCA to stereo RCA" connections. The type of cable you need is based on the type of output your CD player has, not your speaker.

3. Remove the RCA connectors on one side of the cable with scissors or a razor blade.

4. Strip the wire with a wire stripper so the bare wire of both connections is exposed. Keep the connections separate to avoid a weak or partial signal.

5. Connect the bare wire coming from the red or right side of the audio cable to the red or right channel input on the back of the speaker. This side of the cable would have had a red connector on it. If not, you can trace the cable back to the CD player's output and make sure it is the proper channel.

6. Connect the bare wire coming from the black or white side of the audio cable to the black or white left channel input on the back of the speaker.

7. Turn the CD player on and insert a compact disc to check that the speaker is working properly.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not want to use a powered speaker, you can still use this method by connecting the speaker and CD player through an amplifier. You will need extra cabling to connect the devices this way.

References

• "Home Theater For Dummies"; Danny Briere, Pat Hurley; 2008