How to Wire Speakers in Series – Detailed Guide

After upgrading your car speakers, the next thing you should do is to connect them to an amplifier or head unit. You need to get the connection right for the best sound output. Failure to connect them properly may lead to low sound quality and risk your speakers or amplifier to damage. In this article, we will show you how to wire speakers in series and whether it is recommended.

Wiring Speakers in Series vs Parallel – Which One Is Better?

Generally, it is not recommended to wire speakers in series since doing so often results in less than optimal sound reproduction. With speakers connected in series, there is reduced clarity due to impedance mismatching. Consequently, you may damage your speakers. In fact, many speaker manufacturers void their warranty if you wired the speakers in series.

Also, connecting two or more speakers directly together will drain your car battery more quickly than when wiring them through a resistor pack. When using a resistor pack, it means the car speakers receive power from a source with more voltage than the car battery. With a resistor pack, you can use another powered speaker as a “dummy load” for the battery-powered one.

In most cases, speakers should be wired in parallel for high-quality sound output. There are a few instances where some types of speakers have to be wired series without lowering their sound quality. These instances include very low volume stereo speakers or subwoofers and small satellite speakers used alongside high-end audio equipment, especially where there are equalization circuits and a Hi-Fi built-in crossover.

How to Wire Speakers in Series – Step by Step

1. The first step is to take the red wire and connect it to the positive terminal of the first speaker.
2. Connect the red wire to the positive terminal of the amplifier.
3. To get the signal to the second speaker, take a yellow wire and connect the negative terminal of the first speaker to the positive terminal of the second speaker.
4. Take a black wire and connect the negative terminal of the second speaker to the negative terminal of the amplifier.
5. To connect 3 speakers in series, connect a red speaker wire to the positive terminal of the third speaker, then connect it to the negative terminal of the second speaker. Next, connect the negative terminal of the third speaker with a black wire to the positive terminal of the second speaker.

You can then follow the same steps for all of the speakers to connect them.

Things to Keep in Mind on How to Wire Speakers in Series

When wiring speakers in series, there are certain considerations to make including:

1. Always match the wire colors of your speakers and amp or receiver!

Use the included color code in the instruction manual to determine how many wires to connect from each speaker to the amplifier or receiver terminals. Speaker wire colors correspond to the numbered terminals on most gear. For example, the red terminal marked “+” on the amp connects to the red wire and the black terminal marked “-” connects to the black wire on the speaker.

2. Use the correct size wire for your speakers!

Speakerwire is usually 18 gauge or thicker. The lower the gauge, the thicker the wire. For instance, 12 gauge speaker wire is thicker than 14 gauge speaker wire. If your speakers have a binding post on the back of the cabinet, you should only use speaker wire of at least the same size (e.g. 16 gauge speaker wire or thicker) for best results. Smaller gauge wire will not work as effectively and you will sacrifice maximum power transfer from your amplifier to the speakers if you use the smaller gauge instead.

3. Make sure the connections are tight!

It is important to make sure the connections between the speaker and amplifier or receiver are tight. Otherwise, the connection may become loose with use and the sound quality may suffer as a result.

4. Use an amp tester to make sure your connections are safe!

We recommend using an amp tester to make sure all wiring and connections are secure. Testers can monitor for blown fuses as well as open circuits and short circuits. They can also indicate when low impedance loads are present on one or more channels on an amplifier or the receiver itself, which can damage the speaker.

How to Wire Speakers in Series- Summary

When wiring speakers in series, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, make sure to match the speaker wire colors to the corresponding terminals on your amp or receiver. Second, be sure to use the correct speakerwire gauge when connecting your speakers. Third, make sure the connections are tight. Fourth, use an amp tester to make sure your connections are safe. Finally, use speaker wire connectors to make the connections less likely to loosen over time. Good luck!