wiring speakers

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=42562
Printed Date: July 14, 2025 at 12:02 PM

Topic: wiring speakers

Posted By: bluesfan
Subject: wiring speakers
Date Posted: November 08, 2004 at 10:15 PM

I would like to know how to tell which wire is positive and negative when wiring up car speakers ? I have a sony head unit 4 x 40 watt , I had put in some 6.5 mtx speakers in the back of the car and they now sound like crap when any bass is heard , I was told that I more than likely hooked them up wrong , meaning the positive wire to the neg. post on the speaker and vice versa....there is no amp in this set up....do u think I need one

Replies:

Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: November 08, 2004 at 10:58 PM

Adjust fade to rear only. Then reverse the wiring on one rear speaker only. Listen to it, and if it sounds better than the way it was before, the two rears are now in phase. Now check the rear phase against the fronts (fade back to the center). Position yourself equally between front and rear. Are they the same volume? In phase. Rears can't be heard? Switch the wiring on both rears. It should be good to go.

If the bass is still substandard to what you expect, then you are expecting too much from the head unit and indeed should look into amplifying.

-------------
Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.

Posted By: jeffchilcott
Date Posted: November 08, 2004 at 11:02 PM

Typically the larger of the 2 post's on the speaker is your postive terminal

-------------
2009 0-1000 Trunk WR 154.0DB 2009 1001+ Trunk WR
2007 USACI World Champion
2007 World Record
2006 USACI Finals 2nd Place