Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Installing speakers for a home theater
• Method 2 of 3: Installing speakers for the computer
• Method 3 of 3: Installing speakers in the car
• Tips

Good speakers are essential for any music lover, but a good set of speakers is just the beginning. To get the best possible sound, you will need to invest some time to ensure that the speakers are properly placed and set up. Whether it's speakers for a home theater, desktop computer, or installing new speakers in your car, proper installation is the key to high-quality sound.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Installing speakers for a home theater

1. Place the speakers. Placing speakers is very important to the sound quality of your audio and you should place them before measuring the length of the cord. Placing speakers is very dependent on the place where you will mainly sit and listen and watch. This is often your bank. The speakers are best aimed at this location. Below you will find a number of tips for placing various types of speakers:
   • Subwoofer - The subwoofer provides omnidirectional sound, which means it does not have to face any particular direction. You can get good subwoofer sound from most locations in your living room, but don't place them too close to a wall or in a corner. Usually, a place near the stereo is best for ease of connection.
   • Front Speakers - Place the front speakers on either side of the TV. You usually place the front speakers about 90 cm from the side of the TV. Rotate each speaker so that it focuses on where you are listening. For the best audio quality, raise the speakers to ear height when you are seated.
   • Center Channel / soundbar - The center channel bridges the gap between the front channels. Place the center channel above, below or in front of the TV. Not behind the TV, as that results in a dull sound.
   • Side speakers - These speakers are placed directly on the side of the place where you listen and watch, and focused on that point. These speakers should also hang at ear height.
   • Rear speakers - Place the rear speakers behind the central listening position, aimed at that location. As with the other speakers, ear height (when seated) is best for the best sound quality.
2. Place the receiver close to the TV. You can place the receiver under the TV, or somewhere near it, as long as the cables from the TV can reach it. Make sure the receiver can cool down sufficiently on all sides.
3. Pull a cord from the speakers to the receiver. After all speakers have been placed and the receiver has been set up, you can start to connect everything. Make sure you make each cord a bit longer than necessary, so that you have the freedom to move the speakers as desired.
   • With speakers that you have to place on the floor, you may be able to hide the cables behind the baseboards, thresholds or under the carpet.
   • With speakers that are suspended, you will have to drill holes in the ceiling and neatly conceal the cables against the ceiling and the wall, or you will have to install the speakers in the ceiling itself (if possible). The latter is not recommended, because the construction of the house does not allow it (insulation) and because it becomes more difficult to direct the speaker properly.
4. Connect the speakers to the receiver. After you have figured out how and where the cables will be placed, you can start connecting everything. Some speakers come with the cord already connected, but you may also have to do this yourself. If the latter is the case, you will need a cord stripper to peel off the protective layer.
   • Connect the speaker wires to the terminals in the back of the speaker box, observing the polarity (+ or -) of the connectors. Many wires are color coded, with black being positive (+) and white being negative (-). Insulated cables have a copper conductor in the positive (+), and a silver conductor in the negative (-).
   • You may also need to prepare the wires for connection to the back of the receiver. Double check to make sure you're connecting the correct speakers to the correct connections on the receiver.
5. Connect the TV to the receiver. To hear the sound from your TV through the receiver, you will have to connect them to each other. HDMI is usually the easiest to do this, but many setups use optical cables to send sound from the TV to the receiver.
6. Connect other devices to the receiver or TV. Depending on how you want the sound to flow, you can connect other devices such as a DVD player, Blu-ray player and cable receiver to the TV or receiver. Please refer to the manual of the respective device for further instructions.
7. Test and calibrate your speakers. Now that everything is set up and connected, it's time to start testing! Many receivers and TVs have built-in programs to test sound and images, and some of the more modern receivers have automatic calibration tools. Experiment with music and movies and adjust the levels for each channel until you find a suitable combination.

Method 2 of 3: Installing speakers for the computer

1. Determine which arrangement of the speakers you want to choose. Maybe you have a single speaker, 2 satellite speakers, a subwoofer and two speakers, or a full surround system. Computer speaker setups are usually less precise than a home theater, but full surround systems can still consist of many parts.
2. Find the inputs for the speakers on your computer. Most computers do have a number of inputs on the back of the cabinet. If you have a laptop, the only option may be an input for the headphones, or there are a number of inputs on the back of the laptop. The location depends on the type of computer, so check your PC manual for more information if you are unsure which input is correct.
   • If you have a somewhat older PC, you may have to install a sound card to connect speakers. However, this only applies to the really older models (more than 10 years old).
3. Understand the color coding. Almost all inputs of a PC are indicated with a color. This makes it easier to find the correct entry point for a particular cable. Most cables have a color to match a particular input.
   • Pink - microphone
   • Green - front speakers or headphones
   • Black - rear speakers
   • Silver side speakers
   • Orange - center / subwoofer
4. Place the speakers. Make sure you know which cable is for the left and which is for the right channel. If you are setting up a complete surround system, place the surround speakers on the side and behind the computer chair, aimed at the chair you are sitting in. If you do not set up more than 2 speakers, place them next to the monitor, aimed at your ears, for the best quality.
5. Connect the satellite speakers and center channel to the subwoofer (if necessary). Different types of speakers require different connections. Sometimes it is necessary to connect the satellite speakers to the subwoofer, which is then plugged into the PC, but you may also need to connect each set of speakers individually to the PC.
6. Plug the speakers into the corresponding inputs. Compare the colors of the cables with the colors of the inputs of your PC. You may have to turn the plugs if space is tight.
7. Test the speakers. Turn the speakers on (if necessary) and the volume as low as possible. Play a song or video on your computer and slowly increase the volume until it is the way you want it to be. Once you have determined that the speakers are working, search online for a test for the different channels. This will help determine that the speakers are positioned correctly.

Method 3 of 3: Installing speakers in the car

1. Determine which speakers your stereo supports. Speakers require electrical power and some stereos cannot handle the required power. Consult the documentation for your stereo before purchasing and installing new speakers, especially if you want to add or replace speakers with high-powered speakers.
2. Make sure the speakers will fit. Some speakers are designed to fit into existing speaker locations, while others require you to make adjustments, such as cutting out the correct shape in the door panel or installing hooks to mount the speakers on. Consider all of this when you start figuring out speakers to install.
3. Gather the tools you need. The tools you need vary greatly depending on your car. The location of the speaker you want to install is also important for the type of tools you need. In general, you will likely need the following:
   • Several screwdrivers. Phillips, flathead, offset, and more.
   • Torx screwdriver
   • Power drill and drill heads
   • Allen key (spanner)
   • Wire cutter / stripper
   • Soldering iron
   • Crimping tool
   • Tool to remove panels
   • Insulating tape
4. Disconnect the battery. Before you start to tinker with the car electrically, it is always advisable to disconnect the battery. Find the battery and the correct key that matches the protrusion on the battery terminals. Disconnect the negative terminal (black) and carefully move the cable to the side.
   • For more instructions on disconnecting a battery in a car, see this article.
5. Read the accompanying instructions. The possibilities here are endless, too many to cover them all in this article. For specific instructions for the type of speaker you have selected, please refer to the accompanying documentation or look up the manual on the manufacturer's website.
6. Remove the grille from the speaker. You can usually take these off straight away, but you may have to unscrew them. If you do this on the front of the dashboard, you may need an offset screwdriver.
7. Remove the old speaker. Speakers are usually screwed into the panel, so remove any screws before attempting to pull the speaker out. Be careful with the suspension of the wiring. It may be that the speaker is glued, so you will have to pick it loose.
   • Disconnect the speaker from the suspension with the wiring, after removing it from the panel. You place your new speaker in this suspension (the harness). If there is no suspension for the wiring, you may have to cut the cables.
8. Cut out the holes (if necessary). Sometimes a speaker will not exactly fit in the space intended for it. If so, use a drill to make enough space for the speaker. Measure the new speaker and mark it on the panel, so that you do not remove too much.
9. Connect all wiring for the new speaker. Most speakers can easily be clamped in the housing (harness). If there is no harness for the speaker, you will have to solder the speaker to the wiring. Make sure the positive and negative wires are properly connected. The positive pole (terminal) on the back of the speaker is usually larger than the negative.
   • Avoid using tape to hold the wiring in place, as it will likely come loose, ultimately resulting in a bad connection on the road.
10. Test the speaker. Before you attach the speaker, it is wise to reconnect the battery and test the speaker. Listen carefully that the sound is clear, without noise and that the speaker moves clearly as the volume is increased. You need to make sure everything is properly connected before you finish installing the speaker.
11. Fasten the speaker. After checking that the speaker is working properly, attach the speaker to the suspension using the supplied brackets and screws. You may need to use glue to keep everything in place. Make sure the speaker is securely attached so that it does not rattle and produce noise.

Tips

• If you can temporarily fix the speakers, you might be better off checking that they are properly connected and work as you would expect.
• Use the shortest cord recommended by the speaker manufacturer. Longer cords often need to be thicker, as well as higher wattage components.