Speaker Question (Probably Simple)

[TheNewGuy1]

Hey,

I have an old set of speakers (5 yrs?) that came with a stereo system that I'm now interested in using in a little home theatre set up. They work fine, sound fine, but they don't have any bare-wire connections on the back - The speaker wire runs right through the back of the speaker (into the inside).

Thus, unless I want them to sit 2.5 feet from my receiver for all of time, I need to change this. How do I go about cutting the back of the speaker wood out and putting in a bare-wire connector? Can it be done?

Or, is there any way to just extend the bare wire end (that is hooked into the stereo) with another wire and run it further? Thanks!

[star882]

Use wire nuts to extend the wires. They're available from hardware stores. After wire nutting the connections, carefully tie a knot in the wires so that tension would not stress the connections.

[Enzo]

Certainly you can install connections. If you want to do a neat job, Parts Express has a whole line of various connector plates.

Here are a couple inexpensive ones you could easily install.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=260-300

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=260-301

SLightly fancier

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=260-297

Or fancier still

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=260-303

[Cal Weldon]

Originally posted by TheNewGuy1
Or, is there any way to just extend the bare wire end (that is hooked into the stereo) with another wire and run it further? Thanks!

Sure just solder another length to the original. The best speaker terminal is no terminal. You can use black tape to insulate them and hide the connected part behind the speaker so you don't see it.

Originally posted by star882
Use wire nuts to extend the wires. They're available from hardware stores. After wire nutting the connections, carefully tie a knot in the wires so that tension would not stress the connections.

If you choose this route, use black tape to secure the nut to the wire and this will have the same effect as what Star suggests. Again, it should be hidden as the connection will not look pretty.

[star882]

You can also solder the wires together and use heatshrink to cover it. Or install connectors on the ends. But wire nuts are the easiest way to do it.

In my experience, electrical tape makes a mess if it is removed. Hence why I recommend just tying a knot for strain relief. If you know where to get some, you can also enclose the connections in a small round case that looks like a noise filter cylinder.

[Pano]

The Euro type connection blocks will work like a charm, too. Variously known as Dominos or Sugar Cubes.
Terminal

Easy to screw mount on the back of the speaker and put the orignal wires in one end, then whatever wire you want in the other. Simple to change out wires any time.

Not quite as fast and easy as wire nuts, but almost!