Speaker Polarity
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=11504
Printed Date: August 15, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Topic: Speaker Polarity
Posted By: Lumpy
Subject: Speaker Polarity
Date Posted: March 26, 2003 at 10:41 PM
Can speaker polarity be measured with a VOM? If so, would the readings be DC or AC voltage? And what would a typical voltage be?
Replies:
Posted By: wvsquirrel
Date Posted: March 26, 2003 at 10:50 PM
I'd just use a 9v battery and pop the speaker. It's easier, and there's no question about the outcome (either is in phase with the correct + and -, or it isn't). I've never heard of anyone using a VOM to test polarity before, but I'm not a pro so I'm sure there are alot of little unknown tricks out there ------------- Squirrel
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Posted By: Powerslave0
Date Posted: March 27, 2003 at 8:07 AM
The speaker has two terminals, beside each one there is usually a + or - indicator, or one connector is smaller than the other. Using a battery, test the polarity. If the speaker EXTENDS, you have the right polarity.
Only connect and observe for on second, then remove the pattery. You can blow the speaker out if you tru again too soon, or leave the power in to long.
Posted By: esmith69
Date Posted: March 27, 2003 at 6:35 PM
You can check the polarity of speaker wires coming from an amplifier using a DMM. Just hook positive DMM lead to one speaker wire, then negative DMM lead to the other wire, and test for voltage. Positive voltage indicates the wire that the positive lead is touching is the positive speaker wire; negative voltage indicates the wire that the negative lead is touching is the positive speaker wire. Oh yea I should mention the amplifier has to be turned on for this test to work. Course if you're talking about the other end, to a speaker, only way is to do the speaker popper method. But if you have both ends of the system (factory speakers and factory amp) you can usually just look at the wiring on the output side of the amp, and use the above method to test the polarity of those output wires. Then just match up colors to the wires that go to the speakers. I've never heard about waiting for a few seconds before trying to pop them again...it just never really occurred to me, but I guess it's probably good advice---better safe than sorry!
Posted By: Lumpy
Date Posted: March 27, 2003 at 10:30 PM
esmith69, your first paragraph answered my questions in part. That is exactly what I am trying to accomplish, trying to figure out which speaker wire when energized is the + and which one is -. The factory neither has a color or designation as to which is which. The speakers actually have 4 wires, so I am trying to figure out which 2 and their polarity to use so I can take off of them and send them onto the amp.
Does anybody know what the voltage should be at the factory speakers?
Thanks everyone else for your responses. Lumpy
Posted By: x6369x
Date Posted: March 27, 2003 at 10:38 PM
What kind of vehicle are you working on? What speaker and what colors are you dealing w/?
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