Hooking up speakers is a breeze!
You are reading this because you purchased some outdoor speakers and you need some guidance on hook up, right? Well then this is the article you have been looking for! In this session we will discuss the tips and techniques on hooking up your stereo/amplifier in your home to your outside sound systems. We will also give you some do’s and don’ts along the way to make your install go that much easier.
First Step: put your amplifier in a well located spot. When I say convenient, I mean so that it can be accessed by you and your guests so that it can be easily operated. If you wish to control it with a remote then you will need to place it somewhere that it has direct line of sight to. If you don’t want it messed with, then you will want to place it in a cabinet or on a shelf. Wherever you decide to place it, just make sure it has adequate space to dissipate heat. If you want to destroy your amplifier, then let it run fully with no ventilation and watch its lifespan deminish.
Next make sure your speaker wire is the shortest it can be directly to your outdoor speakers. The longer the wires the more burden on the amp, so keep them as short as you can. This keeps the strain off your amplifier and prolongs its life. Concrete and brick walls are tough to put holes through, so you may need to call a pro, or just go around. Wires jetting out of the walls and draped across the floor are unsightly and not professional looking. You will also need to make sure that you seal the holes you make to the exterior of your home or building with a high quality sealant. You can find these at your local home improvement center and you have many choices in grade and color, so you should be able to find what works for your application. This is a crucial step as moisture and pests can and will get into these holes no matter how small you think they are. Don’t skip this step!
Step three: hook up the wires as described by your amplifiers manufacturer. Be sure to keep your polarity correct when hooking up to your outdoor speakers. A colored stripe or words or even different colors help you to distinguish the proper polarity hook ups. You also will want to make sure that you are not putting too much load on the amplifier by putting too many sets of speakers on one line. For the most part you will be hooking up only one speaker per channel, but if you plan to do this, then you will need to read our article on hooking up multiple sets of speakers. This time we will concetrate on one pair of speakers for hook up. Check the ohm resistance on the speakers you have. 8 ohms is the typical rating for these items. The same applies to your amplifiers resistance capabilities, although some amps and speakers can have multiple resistance values for more flexible installations. Be sure you check your technical information that came with yours to be sure.
Almost there: check your wire hook ups on the speakers and amplifier are correct to the manufactures recommendations. After you have done this you are ready to sit back, relax and turn up the volume of your favorite tunes relaxing out on your deck or patio!