Speaker Wire Connections - Harman Kardon PA 2000 Owner's Manual

Speaker Wire Connections

Regardless of the channel configuration used, the
final step of the installation process is to connect
the amplifier to your speakers, using high-quality
cable. The PA 2000 is equipped with binding post
terminals that accept bare wire, spade lugs or
banana-type plugs, when they are permitted by
local safety agencies. Once you have located the
proper speaker terminals for the type of output
configuration in use, connect your speakers using
the following guidelines.
To ensure that the high-quality signals produced
by your PA 2000 are carried to your speakers
without loss of clarity or resolution, we recom-
mend that you use high-quality speaker cable.
Many brands of cable are available, and the
choice of cable may be influenced by the distance
between your speakers and the amplifier, the type
of speakers you use, personal preferences and
other factors. Your dealer or installer is a valuable
resource to consult in selecting the proper cable
for connections between your amplifier and
speakers.
Regardless of the brand or type of cable selected,
we recommend that you use a cable constructed
of fine, multistrand copper with an area of 2 mm
or larger.
Cable with an area of 1.5 mm 2 may be used for
short runs of less than 4 meters. We do not
recommend that you use any cables with an area
of 1 mm 2 or lower, due to the power loss and
degradation in performance that will occur.
Cables that are run inside walls should have the
appropriate markings to indicate that they are
approved for such use. Questions about cables
inside walls should be referred to a qualified
installer or a licensed electrical contractor who is
familiar with local building codes in your area.
If bare wire is used for the connections, strip
approximately 1.2 to 1.8 cm of insulation from
the end of each wire and carefully twist the
strands of each conductor together. Be careful not
to cut the individual strands or twist them off; for
optimal performance, all strands must be used.
Then, loosen the knobs of the speaker output ter-
minals far enough so that the pass-through hole
is revealed. In order to preserve proper stereo
imaging and low-frequency reproduction, it is
essential that proper polarity be observed when
connecting speakers to the PA 2000. Be sure to
connect the negative terminal for each channel
on the PA 2000 to the negative terminal on the
speaker, and the positive terminal on the PA 2000
to the positive terminal on the speaker. Note that
one conductor of the speaker cable will have no
markings and the other will have a red line, brand
name markings, a black thread or some other
positive indication. Follow the proper connection
instructions for your system with regard to which
terminals are used. The small speaker icons next
to each pair of terminal posts will guide you to
the correct connections. When the connections
are made, twist the cap back so that the connec-
tion is secured, but do not overtighten or use
tools, as this may break the delicate wire strands
and decrease system performance.
If you are using spade lugs, connect them to the
wire using the manufacturer's instructions and
then loosen the caps on the speaker terminals.
2
Place the lugs between the plastic cap and the
back of the terminal, as if it were a horseshoe on
the game's post. Be sure to observe proper polari-
ty, using the appropriate speaker hook-up icons
for your system's configuration. Tighten with your
fingers to obtain a positive contact.
When banana plugs are permitted, connections
may be made by simply inserting the jack affixed
to your speaker wire into the hole provided on the
rear of the colored screw caps on the binding
posts. Before using banana-type jacks, make cer-
tain that the plastic screw caps are firmly tight-
ened down by turning them in a clockwise direc-
tion until they are snug against the chassis. This
will ensure that the maximum surface area of the
plug is in contact with the jack. Be certain to
observe proper polarity.
Finally, run the cables to the speaker locations.
Where possible, it is recommended that the
length of cable connecting any pair of speakers be
identical, even though one speaker may be physi-
cally closer to the amplifier than the other. Do not
coil any excess cable, as this may become an
inductor that creates frequency response varia-
tions in your system.
Finally, connect the wires to the speakers, again,
being certain to observe proper polarity.
Remember to connect your "negative" or "black"
wire to the matching terminal on the speaker.
Similarly, the "positive" or "red" wire should be
connected to the like terminal on the speaker.
NOTE: While most speaker manufacturers adhere
to an industry convention of using black terminals
for negative and red ones for positive, some man-
ufacturers may vary from this configuration. To
ensure proper phase connections and optimal
performance, consult the identification plate on
your speaker terminals, or the speaker's manual to
verify polarity. If you do not know the polarity of
your speaker, ask your dealer or installer for
advice before proceeding, or consult the speaker's
manufacturer.
As a general rule, avoid running input signal or
speaker wire connections in parallel with each
other, or with AC power cords. This can result in
undesired hum or other interference that will
greatly degrade signal performance.
SPEAKER WIRE CONNECTIONS
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