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Installation and Connections
6
Signature 2.1
Cable with a gauge of 16 may be used for short runs of
less than ten feet. We do not recommend the use of
cables with an AWG equivalent of 18 or higher due to
the power loss and degradation in performance that will
occur.
Cables run inside walls should have the appropriate
markings to indicate listing with UL (“CL-2/CL-3”), CSA
(“FT-4”) or appropriate safety agency standards that may
be required in your area. Questions about running cables
inside walls should be referred to your installer or a
licensed electrical contractor who is familiar with the
NEC and/or the applicable building or electrical codes in
your area.
Connections to Speakers
The final step of the installation process is to connect the
amplifier to your speakers using high-quality cable. A
pair of binding posts is provided for each channel output.
These posts will accept bare wire or banana-type plugs.
Note that one conductor of the speaker cable will have
no markings or an indication of “
-
” for negative polarity,
and the other will have a red line, brand-name markings,
a colored thread or some other positive-polarity
indication.
The wire with the positive indication should be con-
nected to the red terminals on both the 2.1 and your
speakers. The negative wire should be connected to the
black terminal on the 2.1 and the speakers.
If bare wire is used for connections, strip approximately
3
⁄
4
˝(20 mm) 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.
Next, loosen the knobs of the speaker output terminals
far enough so that the cap moves back on its threads past
the holes at the rear of the terminal. Making certain that
you observe polarity by connecting the negative (
-
) wire
to the black terminal and the positive (+) wire to the red
terminal, pass the exposed wire through the hole until
the wire is visible from the bottom end. Holding the wire
in place, twist the cap back so that the connection is
secured. Do not overtighten or use tools, as this may
damage the plastic terminal cap or break the delicate
wire strands and decrease system performance.
Important Note: When making speaker wire connec-
tions, be certain that none of the strands from one lead
touch any other lead. This will cause a short circuit and
may damage your amplifier or speakers. Damage from
short circuits caused in this manner is not covered by the
product warranty.
Connections may also be made using spade lugs or stan-
dard 4 mm OD banana plugs. Before using a banana-type
jack, make certain that the plastic screw caps on the 2.1
are firmly tightened by turning them clockwise until they
are snug against the chassis. This will ensure that the
maximum surface area of the plug is in contact with the
jack. Once the wire has been attached to the banana
plug following the plug manufacturer’s instructions,
simply insert the banana plug into the hole provided on
the rear of the colored screw caps on the terminal posts.
Be certain to observe proper polarity.
Finally, run the cables to the speaker locations. It is highly
recommended that the length of cable connecting any
pair of speakers be identical. For example, make certain
that the cable length connecting left and right front or left
and right rear (surround) speakers is identical, even
though one speaker may be physically closer to the
amplifier than the other. Do not coil any excess cable, as
this may become an inductor that creates frequency
response variations in your system.
Connect the wires to the speakers, again being certain
to observe proper polarity. Remember to connect the
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 standard of using black terminals for negative
and red ones for positive, some manufacturers may not
adhere to this configuration. To ensure properly phased
connections and optimal performance, consult the identi-
fication 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.
Sig 2.1 om (d) 9/17/98 10:27 AM Page 6