How To Install Your Stereo

Installing a stereo can be a daunting task for some, but for the most part it is pretty straight forward, your amplifier is the heart of your stereo. This can be in the form of either an amplifier or a stereo receiver the difference is that an amplifier does not have an FM or AM radio transmitter attached.

Wiring stereos have three different styles of wiring, your speaker wire, RCA cables and your power cables.

The speaker wire is used to connect the amplifier to the speakers, most speakers do not have to be plugged in they run on the electrical signal of the amplifier. Speaker wire should be of an appropriate gage for the speakers that are being used and wire that has good shielding will help in improving the quality of signal that your speakers are receiving. The speaker wire connections should also be clean, if the wire is old an rusted or frayed cut the wire and strip a new end on it, if you have a soldering gun you can either add some solder to the wire end or add a cable connector to prevent future fraying.

Your RCA cables are used to connect the audio signals from your music players (ie. record player, CD player , tape deck etc.) Record players are the only unique playback devices that you will need to pre-amplified, most amplifiers will come with a RCA phono input on the back, any other peripheral can be plugged into the AUX or tape deck input on the back of the stereo receiver or amplifier.

Your power cables should be plugged into a properly grounded outlet you can easily check if an outlet is grounded be plugging in a power bar/surge protector that has the red green ground indicator light on it. Also plugging your stereo into a ups or power conditioner will help stabilize the power of you amplifier reducing fluctuation during heavy loads of use or unstable power from your wall socket.

As for speaker placement of your home stereo try to mount your speakers at ear listing level pointed toward a targeted spot moved out a little from the corners of the room (the corners of the room create a dead sound space where your speakers will sound duller.