A short guide on how to connect Floor standing speakers to receivers. Some of the main points include choosing a receiver, speaker wire gauge, and length, more!
You are probably here because you just purchased a brand-new set of floor-standing speakers and want to carry out your own installation to help you save some extra cash.
Floor standing speakers are quite expensive and it must have cost you a fortune to get the ones you already have, like I said getting your installation will help you save some funds.
In this article, you will learn a meticulous ways to connect floor standing speakers to receivers.
Starting Point
If you intend to carry out a basic installation, you should not bother yourself about the tools to achieve that. What you need are; flashlight, laptop or mobile device to read the instructions from this article, and do not forget a wire cutter.
Now a plethora of receivers do not have user manuals attached to them, they only have links that will lead you to documents online attached to them.
However, some have short guides that can help you get started. Do not overlook that quick guide, take a look at it before you get started as it will help you make your installation process seamless.
Connecting floor-standing speakers to floor receivers is a straightforward process. Collect the cables and find the speaker outputs on the receiver labeled “Front.” Identify speaker terminals on the speaker (“+/-” or “Red/Black). Remove insulation from wire ends, connect to the speakers, and match colors. Connect other ends to the receiver’s corresponding “Front” outputs. Using a universal remote control switch on the speaker and configure settings. Play the audio test.
Table of Contents
How To Connect Floor Standing Speakers To Receivers
Get Your Speaker Wires And Cables Labeled:
It is easy to keep track of the destination of your wire when you have them labeled. This may seem inconsequential in your first installation but you will be thankful when you have to rearrange your home space.
Where To Put Your Receiver: Chose a place that is properly ventilated to keep your speakers. The reason for this is accessibility, you need to have easy access to the connections behind the receiver.
Where To Put Your Speakers: Ensure you have your floor standing speakers placed in positions where you can easily access them and where the receiver can easily reach them. This will aid the connection between your home equipment.
The Required Amount Of Speaker Wire: The next step is to ascertain the amount of your speaker wire. Get yourself a tape to figure that out. You can use a rope or string of some sort to function as the wire while you measure.
Concealing Your Rear Speaker Wires: Most people like to conceal their speaker and receiver wires and that’s reasonable. You can conceal your wires by using raceways to hide them, you can purchase a flat wire to place them under the carpet, and you can keep them at the back of baseboards or walls.
Connecting Your Speakers
It is no easy task getting your speaker wires ready, however you should not hurry the process so that it can be done effectively.
The Importance Of Speaker Wire Connectors
It is quite stressful to connect bare speaker wires and you need the connectors to keep the receiver from getting short-circuited.
Steps To Putting Connectors On Your Speaker Wires
Follow these simple steps to put connectors on your speaker wires:
- Get the wire split down the center
- Get insulation trimmed from the wire ends
- Attach the connectors
Ensure the colors on the connectors are matched to the marked areas of the speaker wire.
Getting The Speaker Wires Connected To The Receiver
Before you get your receiver’s AC power cord plugged in, make your speaker connections.
- Where To Put Your Receiver: Chose a place that is properly ventilated to keep your speakers. The reason for this is accessibility, you need to have easy access to the connections behind the receiver.
- Where To Put Your Speakers: Ensure you have your floor standing speakers placed in positions where you can easily access them and where the receiver can easily reach them. This will aid the connection between your home equipment.
- The Required Amount Of Speaker Wire: The next step is to ascertain the amount of your speaker wire. Get yourself a tape to figure that out. You can use a rope or string of some sort to function as the wire while you measure.
- Concealing Your Rear Speaker Wires: Most people like to conceal their speaker and receiver wires and that’s reasonable. You can conceal your wires by using raceways to hide them, you can purchase a flat wire to place them under the carpet, and you can keep them at the back of baseboards or walls.
Connecting Your Speakers
It is no easy task getting your speaker wires ready, however you should not hurry the process so that it can be done effectively.
The Importance Of Speaker Wire Connectors
It is quite stressful to connect bare speaker wires and you need the connectors to keep the receiver from getting short-circuited.
Steps To Putting Connectors On Your Speaker Wires
Follow these simple steps to put connectors on your speaker wires:
- Get the wire split down the center
- Get insulation trimmed from the wire ends
- Attach the connectors
Ensure the colors on the connectors are matched to the marked areas of the speaker wire.
Getting The Speaker Wires Connected To The Receiver
Before you get your receiver’s AC power cord plugged in, make your speaker connections.
Power Connections
Whatever you do, ensure you do not plug your equipment to substandard or AC power outlets. You must get a top-notch power protection device to safeguard it if a power surge occurs.
Component And TV Connections
Ensure all the required cables for this connection are within reach, you must also check if they are at the appropriate length. After checking if everything is in order, you can proceed.
Get Your TV Connected To Begin
Several modern receivers come with guides that show you how to get them connected to your TV. The first step is to connect the TV with HDMI output.
Getting Powered Subwoofers Connected
This is quite a seamless process. Get a sub cable run from the woofer on the LFE output of the sub through the receiver. You have the option of acquiring a wireless connection kit if that is what rocks your boat.
The Final Stages
After you have done the connections properly and effectively, the next thing you have to do is to get your system finetuned. This is where the instruction manual comes in handy. Yes, the manual may be quite lengthy but it is imperative that you go through it.
The Calibration Of Your Floor Standing Speakers
Modern day speakers are produced with auto-calibration that aids in getting your sound fine-tuned. It works like this;
Test tones are sent by the receiver to a microphone positioned where you seat. The volume is them adjusted automatically adjusted by the receiver, it also on the sound timing of each speaker.
Setting Up The Network
Getting the network set up is fairly easy, just follow the instructions that come with the receiver. The process can be likened to getting your laptop or mobile device connected to the internet.
Remote Control
After getting your system set up, the time comes for you to make use of your remote. Using the remote takes a while to master and may be exhausting if you are a busy person you can look for the remote control application of the receiver.
The apps are easier to use and control because they are straightforward. They come in really handy when you are in a dark room.
However there are some receivers that come with smart remotes, that’s right. With these remotes, you can tell Alexa to do your biding and the rest is history.
Another option for a remote control is the universal remote, this allows you become the lord and master of your home theater system. You do not only get to control your floor standing speakers and receivers, you also have the ability to control your TV.
The universal remote is also quite convenient because you do not have to switch remotes when you desire to switch devices.
What’s more about a universal remote is that it can get connected to your security cameras, smart lights, home alarm, and other smart gadgets you may have installed in your home.
When Your Receiver Is Turned Off, Will You Be Able To Listen To The Speakers Of Your TV?
There are times you may have guests around who have no intention of watching Tv with all that surround sound connectivity.
This can be achieved if your receiver is equipped with something called “HDMI standby pass-through.” When the receiver is off, the signal from the cable box passes through the TV.
However if you find yourself in a situation where your receiver lacks the aforementioned HDMI pass through, then you should an HDMI splitter should be attained to get a second cable to another HDMI input on your television set.
The bummer about this is that you may have to opt from your input selection whenever you intend to move to TV speakers to surround sound.
Amp Assignment
There is a plethora of ways to utilize receivers with over seven channels. Five channels can be used for a basic surround sound system. You can deploy the additional channels by;
- Getting stereo speakers powered in other audio zones
- To have more surround speakers like Dolby Atmos height speakers driven
Get The DSP Settings Tried Out
A plethora of receivers have effects that process the signals. What you should do is get the acoustic properties of different live music scenes and movie environments simulated. Some may sound quite strange when you hear them for the first time, while others will entertain you.
When most audiophiles listen to music, they often prefer a “pure direct” 2-channel mode. This mode bypasses all signal processing. There are people that derive intense pleasure from getting sound around them, they bask in it.
Enhancing Compressed Music
You may get dull and boring sound performance from mediocre music sources like streaming services and internet radio. A plethora of receivers have hidden features that can augment the sound performance of those programs. However, you must have it in mind that the special setting is embedded in the scene button.
Augmenting Your Sound
When watching a TV show or movie, you may notice that you can barely hear what the actors are saying. To correct this, double check if your receiver is has a special feature that allows you augment your sound level. If your receiver has it, then you are home free.
Conclusion
Most individuals spend extra money after purchasing floor-standing speakers and/or receivers just to get them installed. However, you do not have to go through all that process because this concise guide will make the process seamless for you.