Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
speaker polarity
#198958 03/04/08 05:06 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2
M
newbie
OP Offline
newbie
M
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2
How can you check the polarity on speaker wires when they are not color coded and hidden behind molding or in the walls? I have a couple of Axiom speakers coming and would really like to hook them up right. Dumb question but maybe someone can indulge me.

Thanks

Re: speaker polarity
mthome07 #198960 03/04/08 05:09 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
If you get a test disc (such as Digital Video Essentials) it runs a polarity test (you can hear the difference with their test) to check that. Alternately, you get the speakers, put them face to face, and hook 'em up. then switch the wires on one of them. Whichever way has louder bass is the correct polarity.


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: speaker polarity
mthome07 #198966 03/04/08 06:33 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
07, welcome. Yes, without a special disc or instruments the bass test Ken described is about the simplest method. Also, even if they're not color coded, you should check carefully for some more subtle indicator, such as a rib or pattern on one wire, which is often the case.


-----------------------------------

Enjoy the music, not the equipment.


Re: speaker polarity
JohnK #198976 03/04/08 10:13 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420
J
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
J
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420
Some of the newer avr's will test the polarity for you as well when going through the speaker setup routine. I hooked one of my speakers up crossed on purpose to see if it actually would catch it and it did.


Jason
M80 v2
VP160 v3
QS8 v2
PB13 Ultra
Denon 3808
Samsung 85" Q70
Re: speaker polarity
jakewash #198984 03/04/08 01:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,840
Likes: 13
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,840
Likes: 13
Can you see the wire strands, normally one side is tin coated and the other side will look like copper. Can't you temporarily remove the wall cover plate?


M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85


Re: speaker polarity
SirQuack #198986 03/04/08 01:39 PM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,955
axiomite
Offline
axiomite
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,955
Some have hard to spot gauge numbers and other codings written on only one wire of the pair. My Home Depot stuff forced me to get my glasses out.

I bought Monoprice for the new room because everyone here recommends it and the price beats the heck out of anything local. It just arrived on Sat. I'm sure it will sound no better but it sure will be easier to work with. Home Depot has all the flexibility of rebar.



Last edited by Murph; 03/04/08 01:40 PM. Reason: spelling

With great power comes Awesome irresponsibility.
Re: speaker polarity
mthome07 #199037 03/04/08 07:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,270
connoisseur
Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,270
Hi,

If you can see the ends of the wire, look for a colored thread on one side of the conductor. The rubber or plastic insulation may have have a ribbed pattern on one side to indicate polarity.

Regards,

Alan


Alan Lofft,
Axiom Resident Expert (Retired)
Re: speaker polarity
alan #199089 03/05/08 03:26 AM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,488
connoisseur
Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,488
an easy way to do it is to just clip on a 9v battery on one and and mark polarity. Then test the other end with a DMM and mark the polarity.

(Dont have the wires plugged into your speakers when you do this!)

Re: speaker polarity
Haoleb #199581 03/08/08 11:50 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2
M
newbie
OP Offline
newbie
M
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2
Thanks to all for the sound advice. With the help of an electron microscope I was able to find a small white stripe down one side of the speaker wire so I'm in business.

Thanks again


Moderated by  alan, Amie, Andrew, axiomadmin, Brent, Debbie, Ian, Jc 

Link Copied to Clipboard

Need Help Graphic

Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics24,940
Posts442,457
Members15,616
Most Online2,082
Jan 22nd, 2020
Top Posters
Ken.C 18,044
pmbuko 16,441
SirQuack 13,840
CV 12,077
MarkSJohnson 11,458
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 386 guests, and 4 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newsletter Signup
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4