We install and disassemble a lot of home theater and audio/video equipment every day — everything from speakers and subwoofers to amplifiers, receivers, turntables and everything in between. And one thing that gets old very quickly is cutting, stripping and winding raw speaker wire. It’s messy, makes connecting and disconnecting components a chore, and can leave exposed wire hanging from the back of your speaker or receiver terminals, which can result in unwanted noise or poor performance.
One of the best things you can do to improve your speaker wire situation is to install banana plugs that plug directly into compatible speaker or receiver/amplifier terminals, similar to RCA plugs. It’s cheap to do, and looks clean, provides a secure connection, and makes connecting and disconnecting your components really easy.
Here’s how to install banana plugs on raw speaker wire.
Derek Malcolm / Digital Trends
Grab a pack of banana plugs
There are several different types of banana plugs that you can find at your local Best Buy, audio store, or on Amazon, but they are pretty much the same as far as how they are installed. For our purposes, we’ll go with the banana plug style that doesn’t require soldering and has a small screw that you tighten.
You can find banana plugs with a variety of fasteners and all styles, from right-angle connectors to double-pronged connectors and more. It’s up to you what works best for you.
Derek Malcolm / Digital Trends
Prepare the speaker wire
Once you’ve cut the speaker wire to the required length, here’s how to prepare the ends for the banana plugs.
Step 1: Depending on the speaker wire you are using, there may be an outer jacket that hides two separate wires inside, one red and one black. If this is the case, use a wire stripper to carefully remove about 2 inches of that outer sheath to expose and separate the two wires.
Different types of speaker wire, like the wire we use, come together. Use an exacto knife to separate the two wires. They may or may not be color coded.
Step 2: With the wires separated, use a wire stripper to strip about half an inch of insulation from the ends of each wire to expose the raw wire. Be careful not to cut or damage any wires.
Derek Malcolm / Digital Trends
Connect the wires to the banana plugs
With the wires exposed, you can now connect them to the banana plugs.
Step 1: First, you may need to prepare the banana plugs to accept the raw wire. In our example, you need to unscrew and separate the outer shell of the plug housing from the inner spindle. Also be sure to loosen the screws that will hold the wire in place.
Derek Malcolm / Digital Trends
Step 2: Then insert the raw end of the wire into the banana plug core and tighten the screws to secure. Do this for both the black and red plugs, then do the same for the other end of the wire, if you’re installing on both ends.
Derek Malcolm / Digital Trends
Step 3: Replace the outer plug housing and screw it on tightly. That’s it, you’re done.
Derek Malcolm / Digital Trends
Connecting banana plugs to amplifiers and speakers
This is the easy part. Most speakers and receivers/amplifiers will have speaker terminals that have a hole in the middle to insert a banana plug. Some have little plastic covers over the holes that you just have to remove first. Be sure to store them in a ziploc bag or container for safe keeping.
Similar to plugging in an RCA cable, all you have to do is plug and play!
Note: However, note that banana plugs will not work with the spring clips found on many speakers and receivers/amplifiers.
With banana plugs installed on all your speaker wires, connecting and disconnecting your components will not only be much easier — especially for those of you with components tucked away in a media unit that you have to slide in and out or crawl under to access — but electrical connection to be much stronger and more stable than messy raw wire. Plus, it couldn’t be simpler to make.
Editor’s recommendations
Categories: How to
Source: newstars.edu.vn