Speaker wires

[kgzero1]

Hi guys,

I would like to know if the wires that power the speakers need to be attached to a specific polarity on the amp. My friend says it doesn't matter. But, I was thinking that this could be one of the sources of the noise I get.

The wires are clear (the insulator), with one that has a blue stripe going through it. The completely clear one is a copper colored wire and the one with the blue stripe is a silver color.
Would the one with the stripe be negative or postitve?
And would having them connected to the wrong place damage the speakers?

Thanks.

[theprodigy79]

As long as you have the polarity correct (+amp to +speaker, -amp to -speaker) it should not make a difference. GENERALLY SPEAKING, the pos wire has a stripe running down it, or some other marking (in your case the blue stripe)... but that is more to trace out your connections... Even if you reverse your polarity (+amp to -speaker, -amp to +speaker) it is not damaging, and should not produce any additional "noise"... Your sound staging, however, will not be accurate.

-James

[kgzero1]

Cool thanks, prodigy!
Man I love this forum and all its helpful people!

[cklinh]

On some wires, if you look REALLY REALLY closely, the blue stripe has little horizontal lines on them too... making little pluses...