How to solder speakers?

[NicolasGaal]

I am just fitting speakers into a cabnet and I want to solder the wires onto the speakers, do you take of the metal connector from the crossover wire and solder the wire directly onto the speaker or should I leave on the connector and connect that to the speaker and then solder it on.

Cheers

Nicolas

[roddyama]

Originally posted by NicolasGaal
I am just fitting speakers into a cabnet and I want to solder the wires onto the speakers, do you take of the metal connector from the crossover wire and solder the wire directly onto the speaker or should I leave on the connector and connect that to the speaker and then solder it on.

Cheers

Nicolas

If the connector from the crossover is the mate to the connector on the speaker, than you may not need to solder it. Can you tell us what kind of connectors they are? Photos? How comfortable are you with a soldering iron?

[NicolasGaal]

The crossover wire has a clip on it that connects straight into the speaker. I was told that If you do, however, have access to a soldering iron then go ahead and solder these connectors onto the relevant driver. A soldered connection will have better strength, less noise and make a stronger electrical connection.

[roddyama]

Originally posted by NicolasGaal
The crossover wire has a clip on it that connects straight into the speaker. I was told that If you do, however, have access to a soldering iron then go ahead and solder these connectors onto the relevant driver. A soldered connection will have better strength, less noise and make a stronger electrical connection.

It sounds like a spade connector, in which case the male is usually on the speaker and the wire has the female connector. As they come new, they usually make a pretty good connection. My concern is twofold. One, soldering a the speaker connection should be done carefully. You don't want to apply too much heat. The other concern is that in DIY projects you alway end up changing something after you've had a chance to listen to it for a while, like the speaker polarity. If it is soldered, than you're cutting wires to get the connection apart. I would say to go with the push on connection for now. Later, when everything is the way you like it, you can solder it if you feel you need to.

[AudioIsFun]

Originally posted by roddyama

It sounds like a spade connector, in which case the male is usually on the speaker and the wire has the female connector. As they come new, they usually make a pretty good connection. My concern is twofold. One, soldering a the speaker connection should be done carefully. You don't want to apply too much heat. The other concern is that in DIY projects you alway end up changing something after you've had a chance to listen to it for a while, like the speaker polarity. If it is soldered, than you're cutting wires to get the connection apart. I would say to go with the push on connection for now. Later, when everything is the way you like it, you can solder it if you feel you need to.

I second that. Although it is possible to remove solder with solder wick, or a solder pump, this will be added unnecessary heat to the speaker terminals and could possible be very hazardous to the speaker. Use the spades now, if you have a problem with noise or whatever, then consider soldering it. If it's not broke, why fix it?