Have you ever wanted to install stereo speakers in your house, but found the job too difficult? There are a few things you may try to make the job less complicated and easier.
Step 1
Lay out the location where the speakers will give the best acoustic signature. This may be determined by figuring the number of channels your receiver or amplifier has, or the balance control options you have on your stereo. The following questions may make it more simple to figure this out.
- How many speaker connections are on the back of your stereo equipment? If you have four jacks, terminals, or other connections dedicated for speakers, this is probably the most efficient number of speakers to install, since "pigtailing" speakers together may result in overloading a speaker circuit or altering the total circuit resistance (often, 8 ohms per speaker).
Step 2
Determine where you will be located when listening to the stereo. You will want the main speakers to face in a general direction toward you, and the secondary speakers to be deflected or angled slightly away to give "3D" effect, or depth, to the sound.
Step 3
Look at the possible wiring paths you may be able to use to hook the speakers up.
- For floor mounted speakers, you may be able to conceal the speaker wire along the base boards if you do not go by a door opening or fixed cabinet along the wall.
For ceiling mounted speakers, you will have to either drill through the ceiling and fish "drops", or speaker wires down to the speakers, or recess the speakers into the ceiling itself (recessing speakers into the ceiling may compromise the attic insulation and will make it difficult to "aim" the acoustic cone of the speaker.)
Step 4
Choose a suitable speaker assembly for your intended use. This is a speaker, a speaker box or cabinet, or a combination of speakers (Woofer, Tweeter, Subwoofer, etc) built into one cabinet). Large rooms may require large high output (wattage) units, where in small room, compact, low power (25-50 watt) speakers may be plenty. Look at the stereo system requirements to match the speakers you buy to your system. Both 8 ohm and 16 ohm speakers are common, and not interchangable.
Step 5
Install brackets for ceiling mounted speakers at the locations you have chosen. If your speaker system did not come with brackets, you may be able to remove the face of the cabinet, being careful not to damage the speaker or wiring inside, and screw directly through the back of the cabinet into the wall.
Step 6
Hook the speaker wires to the terminals on the back of the speaker box, being careful to observe the polarity (+ or -) of the connections. Many speaker wires are color coded, black being (+) and white being (-), and clear insulated wires have a copper conductor in one (+), and an silver colored conductor in the other (-). If the speaker wire has a plug prewired on the end which connects to the stereo, you have to take note of this. On a screw terminal stereo connection, just match the color on the end at the speaker with the same color on the same terminal on the stereo.
Step 7
Pull the wire along the base board or ceiling, depending on your choice of location, holding it as tightly as possible to the corner to make it less noticeable, and fastening it with staples to keep it in place.
Step 8
Connect to the terminals or plugs (jacks) in the back of your stereo, and turn the system on to test your handiwork.
Tips
- Use the smallest wire recommended by the speaker maker, for the length of run your are working with. Longer distances between the speaker and stereo may require larger wire, as will higher wattage components.
- If you can temporarily fasten, or hold the speakers in position, you may be able to judge their effectiveness before permanently mounting them.
Things You'll Need
- Speakers
- AfterMarket Speaker Wiring
- AfterMarket Speaker Harnesses
