Good speakers are essential for audio lovers, but buying good speakers is just the beginning. For the best possible sound, you may want to spend some time making sure that the speakers are plugged in and properly configured. When you're setting up a home theatre, desktop computer, or loudspeaker in a car, a good setup is the key to great sound.
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Method 1 of 3: Installing Home Theater Speakers
Step 1. Place your speakers
Speaker placement is critical to home theater sound quality, and speakers should be placed before you measure cables. The placement of the speakers largely depends on the main viewing point, usually the main chair or sofa. Your loudspeaker will perform better when focused on this location. Below are some tips for installing various loudspeakers:
Step 2. Subwoofer - The sound the subwoofer produces is omnidirectional, meaning it doesn't need to be directed anywhere
You can get good subwoofer sound from any location in your living room, but avoid installing the subwoofer near a wall or in a corner. Usually, the subwoofer is easiest to install in the center of the entertainment system for easy connection.
- Front speakers - Place these speakers on each side of the television. Generally you want to place these speakers about 3 feet (0.9 meters) between the edge of the TV and the speakers. Aim each speaker so that it is in the center of the listening location. For optimal sound quality, raise the speakers to level with your ears when you sit down.
- Central Channel/Soundbar - These loudspeakers close the gap between the front speakers. Place these speakers above, below, or in front of the TV, as placing them behind the TV will obscure the sound.
- Edge speakers - These loudspeakers must be installed directly at the edge of the listening area, and aimed at the listener. The loudspeaker should be at ear level.
- Rear loudspeaker. Place the rear speakers behind the listening area, aimed at the center of the seat. Like any other loudspeaker, it should be at ear level for the best sound quality.
Step 3. Place the receiver near the TV
The receiver can be placed under the TV in an entertainment center or in a corner, as long as there is enough space for cables to reach the TV. Make sure the receiver has room for air circulation on all sides.
Step 4. Connect the cable from the speaker to the receiver
Once your speakers are in place and the receiver is set up, you can start wiring the speakers to connect them. Make sure you extend the cables on each side so you have room to move the speakers and adjust their location.
- For floor-mounted speakers, you may be able to cover the speaker wires with the main board or under a rug if there are no doors or cabinets fixed to the wall.
- For roof-mounted speakers, you'll need to drill through the roof and thread the speaker wires into the speakers, or raise the speakers to the roof. Raising the speaker to the roof will damage the roof insulation and make it difficult for you to direct the loudspeaker's acoustic funnel.
Step 5. Connect the speakers to the receiver
Once you've plugged in the cables, you can start connecting everything. Some speakers have a built-in cable, while others require you to connect them yourself. If you need to connect it yourself, you will need a cable stripper to remove some of the cable sheath.
Connect the speaker wire to the terminal on the back of the speaker box. Be careful with the polarity (+ or -) of the connection. Most speaker wires are marked in color, black for positive (+) and red for negative (-). A clean insulated cable has a copper connector on the positive (+) side and a silver connector on the negative (-)
Step 6. You may need to connect the bare wires to the back of the receiver
Make sure that you connect the correct speakers to the correct input boxes on the receiver.
Step 7. Connect the television to the receiver
To stream sound from the television to the receiver box, you need to connect the television to the receiver. The easiest way to connect is with HDMI, although many setups also use an optical cable to transfer sound to the receiver box.
Step 8. Connect another device to the receiver box or TV
Depending on your sound path settings, you can connect other devices such as DVD or BluRay players and cable receivers to the television or to the speaker receiver box. Refer to the device documentation for further guidance.
Step 9. Test and calibrate your speakers
Once all the devices are connected, it's time to test! Most receiver boxes and televisions have a sound check you can perform, and modern receiver boxes have an automatic calibration tool. Experiment with music and movies, and adjust the level of each channel until you find the right sound.
Method 2 of 3: Installing Computer Speakers
Step 1. Determine the speaker settings
You can have a single speaker, two satellite speakers, a subwoofer and two speakers, or a full surround system. Computer speaker setups are usually simpler than home theaters, but surround systems still require a lot of parts.
Step 2. Locate the speaker connector on your computer
Most computers have a speaker jack on the motherboard connector panel, on the back of the computer. If you're using a laptop, your only speaker port could be your headphone jack, or there could be another port on the back of the laptop. The location of this port varies depending on your computer, so consult the documentation if you have trouble finding the connector.
If you are using an older computer, you may need to install a sound card to be able to connect speakers. It is not necessary for computers made last ten years
Step 3. Understand the existing color codes
Most speaker ports on a computer are marked in color. These colors help you determine which plug is connected to which end. Most speaker wires are also marked with a matching color.
- Pink - Microphone
- Green - Front speakers or headphones
- Black - rear speaker
- Silver - edge speaker
- Orange - Center / Subwoofer
Step 4. Place your speakers
Make sure you can identify the left and right channel cables. If you are setting up a full surround system, place the surround speakers to the edge and back of your computer chair, toward the seat. If you only have two speakers attached, placing them on the side of the monitor towards your ears will produce good sound.
Step 5. Connect satellite and center speakers to the subwoofer if needed
Different types of loudspeakers will connect in different ways. Sometimes you need to connect satellite speakers to a subwoofer connected to your computer, while other speakers need to be connected separately to your computer.
Step 6. Connect the loudspeakers to a suitable jack
Match the color of the speaker jack to its connector on the computer. You may need to turn the plug if it is too tight.
Step 7. Test your speakers
Turn on the loudspeakers if needed and turn the sound down to its lowest with the physical volume control. Start a song or video on your computer and start turning the volume up until you can hear comfortably. Once you're sure the speakers are working, find a "test channel" on the internet. This will ensure that your speakers are properly positioned.
Method 3 of 3: Installing Car Speakers
Step 1. Determine the types of speakers that your stereo system supports
Loudspeakers consume power, and some types of stereo are not capable of lifting that power. Check your stereo's documentation when installing new speakers, especially if you are installing additional speakers or replacing the speakers with high-power speakers.
Step 2. Make sure your speakers fit into place
Some speakers are designed to fit into existing speaker locations, and some require you to make modifications such as cutting panels or installing mounting brackets. Consider the following when selecting a speaker to install.
Step 3. Gather equipment
The equipment you need will vary from car to car. The placement of the speakers that you will install also affects the equipment you need. However, generally you will need the following:
- Different types of screwdrivers. Phillips, flat head, offset, etc.
- Torx screwdriver.
- The drill and the rock
- Allen key
- Cable cutter/ stripper
- Soldering iron
- crimping device
- Panel remover
- Electrical tape
Step 4. Remove the battery
Before doing anything electronic in your car, it is recommended that you remove the battery. Locate your battery and locate the wrench socket that fits into the battery terminals. Remove the negative (-) terminal and gently move the wire to another corner.
Read this guide for how to remove a car battery
Step 5. Read the provided guide
There are too many possibilities that this guide cannot cover. For specific instructions for your loudspeaker, use the reference documentation provided or look up the manual on the speaker manufacturer's website. Always refer to the manufacturer's manual.
Step 6. Remove the speaker holes
These holes are usually pryable, but sometimes have bolts that must be removed. If you are doing this in front of the dashboard and under a weather shield, you may need an offset screwdriver.
Step 7. Remove the old speakers
Speakers are usually bolted to the panel, so remove all screws before attempting to pull the speaker out. Be careful not to remove the cable holder which is normally provided. The speakers may be glued to the sleeve, so you may need to pry them out.
Remove the speakers from the cable holder after removing them from the panel. You will connect your new speakers to this case. If the receptacle isn't there, you may need to cut the cable
Step 8. Make holes if necessary
Sometimes the speakers you insert will not fit into the existing sleeve. If this is the case, use a drill to drill enough holes for the speakers. Measure the speaker and mark the sleeve, so you don't cut too much.
Step 9. Connect the cables to the new speakers
Most speakers will attach to an existing cable holder. If you don't have one, you will need to solder the speakers to the existing speaker wire. Make sure the positive and negative wires are connected properly. The positive wire behind the speaker is usually larger than the negative wire.
Avoid using electrical tape to connect damaged wires, as the connection may break and cause a bad connection afterwards
Step 10. Test the speakers
Before installing the speakers, reconnect your car battery and test the speakers. Make sure the sound that comes out is quiet and the speakers appear to be moving at a higher volume. You may want to make sure that the speakers are properly installed before you complete the installation process.
Step 11. Install the loudspeakers
After making sure the speakers are running perfectly, attach the speakers with the mounting brackets and bolts. You may want to use adhesive to help it stay in place. Make sure the speakers don't move and make unnecessary noise.
Tips
- If you can tighten or immobilize the speakers, you can assess their effectiveness before installing them permanently.
- Use the shortest cable recommended by the speaker manufacturer for the distance you want. Longer distances between speakers and stereo may require longer cables and higher-power components.
