How do I know left or right surround? - Blu-ray Forum

Mica · 06-16-2009, 04:10 PM

Hi, I moved in a new appartment, the previous owner had put the speaker cables under the floor, however, I have 2 cables coming out of the wall near my TV but I dont know which one is left and which one is right, any way to determine this without hurting my speakers

?

The cables also have no line on it to show +/- any way to determine this?

Greetz

VinnAY · 06-16-2009, 04:22 PM

connect to the receiver L speaker output ONE speaker wire, on the other end take ONE speaker and connect to one then the other, stop when you get sound, mark it L. For polarity, most wires are silver on one side and gold on the other, however you attach it to the AVR, repeat that at the speaker end.

bongzilla · 06-16-2009, 04:29 PM

You have, and use a multi-meter?
Do a Continuity Test .

kfalls · 06-16-2009, 06:26 PM

The easiest way I've found to determine which cabling is which is by using a battery. Connect your surround speakers to one end of the cables. On the other take a AA 1.5V battery and touch the two leads to it. You will hear a small sound on the speaker the wire is connected to. To determine the polarity of the wire take a close look at the insulation. If the wire is two conductor (lamp cord) one wire is always different. Some have a stripe on one conductor, some have lettering.

Another way to determine polarity is to go back to the battery. If the speaker cone moves out when the battery is applied, the positive wire is on the positive terminal of the battery. If the speaker cone goes in, the positive wire is on the negative end of the battery. What's most important is all speakers are wired the same. If any pair is wired out-of-phase, you'll notice a reduction of bass frequencies. Since bass is usually mono, having them out of phase essentially cancels each other out. You'll still hear some high frequencies since mid and high frequencies are discrete and don't cancel. Hope this helps.

aramis109 · 06-16-2009, 06:37 PM

If you just want to save money or use what's there already then ignore the following comment.

I would get some Monoprice in-wall 12AWG wire (100' spool for about $30) and tie the ends together to one wire and pull it through. Connect it to your left surround and to the left surround input on the receiver, then repeat the action for the other speaker. Now you don't have to fish, you don't have to guess, and you don't have to worry about cheap wire that may or may not have a short in it or be frayed along the line.

erict · 06-16-2009, 07:27 PM

I think we are making this to complicated. Just connect both of you're rear speakers and then take one of the wires coming out of the wall and connect it to the left speaker output on you're receiver. If the the left speaker comes alive you're good to go, but if you're right speaker comes on just switch that wire to the right speaker output on you're receiver and you're good to go.

VinnAY · 06-16-2009, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erict

I think we are making this to complicated. Just connect both of you're rear speakers and then take one of the wires coming out of the wall and connect it to the left speaker output on you're receiver. If the the left speaker comes alive you're good to go, but if you're right speaker comes on just switch that wire to the right speaker output on you're receiver and you're good to go.

Like I said...but thanks for repeating for those that are trying to hard to be complicated.

SlmShdy1 · 06-17-2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VinnAY

Like I said...but thanks for repeating for those that are trying to hard to be complicated.

Yeah, but erict's post made more sense.

Mica · 06-17-2009, 06:59 AM

Thx all for your replies, I know what to do now

06-16-2009, 04:10 PM	#1
Mica Junior Member Member since:Jun 2009 Location:Brussels - Belgium	How do I know left or right surround? Hi, I moved in a new appartment, the previous owner had put the speaker cables under the floor, however, I have 2 cables coming out of the wall near my TV but I dont know which one is left and which one is right, any way to determine this without hurting my speakers ? The cables also have no line on it to show +/- any way to determine this? Greetz

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06-16-2009, 04:22 PM	#2
VinnAY Banned Member since:Sep 2008 Blu-ray reviews:1	connect to the receiver L speaker output ONE speaker wire, on the other end take ONE speaker and connect to one then the other, stop when you get sound, mark it L. For polarity, most wires are silver on one side and gold on the other, however you attach it to the AVR, repeat that at the speaker end.

06-16-2009, 04:29 PM	#3
bongzilla Active Member Member since:Jan 2009	You have, and use a multi-meter? Do a Continuity Test .

06-16-2009, 06:26 PM	#4
kfalls Junior Member Member since:Oct 2005	The easiest way I've found to determine which cabling is which is by using a battery. Connect your surround speakers to one end of the cables. On the other take a AA 1.5V battery and touch the two leads to it. You will hear a small sound on the speaker the wire is connected to. To determine the polarity of the wire take a close look at the insulation. If the wire is two conductor (lamp cord) one wire is always different. Some have a stripe on one conductor, some have lettering. Another way to determine polarity is to go back to the battery. If the speaker cone moves out when the battery is applied, the positive wire is on the positive terminal of the battery. If the speaker cone goes in, the positive wire is on the negative end of the battery. What's most important is all speakers are wired the same. If any pair is wired out-of-phase, you'll notice a reduction of bass frequencies. Since bass is usually mono, having them out of phase essentially cancels each other out. You'll still hear some high frequencies since mid and high frequencies are discrete and don't cancel. Hope this helps.

06-16-2009, 06:37 PM	#5
aramis109 Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Milwaukee, WI Home Theater Gallery:10 4K collection:4 Blu-ray collection:360 Trading Score:18	If you just want to save money or use what's there already then ignore the following comment. I would get some Monoprice in-wall 12AWG wire (100' spool for about $30) and tie the ends together to one wire and pull it through. Connect it to your left surround and to the left surround input on the receiver, then repeat the action for the other speaker. Now you don't have to fish, you don't have to guess, and you don't have to worry about cheap wire that may or may not have a short in it or be frayed along the line.

06-16-2009, 07:27 PM	#6
erict Blu-ray Baron Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Apr 2009 Location:In the country Home Theater Gallery:92 Blu-ray collection:7	I think we are making this to complicated. Just connect both of you're rear speakers and then take one of the wires coming out of the wall and connect it to the left speaker output on you're receiver. If the the left speaker comes alive you're good to go, but if you're right speaker comes on just switch that wire to the right speaker output on you're receiver and you're good to go.

06-17-2009, 06:59 AM	#9
Mica Junior Member Member since:Jun 2009 Location:Brussels - Belgium	Thx all for your replies, I know what to do now

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