Connecting neg speaker leads together

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=78591
Printed Date: May 19, 2025 at 6:06 AM

Topic: Connecting neg speaker leads together

Posted By: robertm
Subject: Connecting neg speaker leads together
Date Posted: June 01, 2006 at 9:37 PM

Hi Everyone,

I just bought a new CD/MP3 deck (Model No. JVC KD-G320) for my 1984 Chrysler New Yorker. I'd really like to use the factory speakers and wiring to keep things simple and cheap.

It turns out that the factory speaker wiring has the negative speaker leads of each side connected together...i.e., left front negative connects to left rear negative, and same on the right side (front negative connects to rear negative). On the other hand, the left and right negative wires do not connect, and none of the positive speaker wires connect.

Can anyone tell me whether this will cause any problems? I'm asking because the installation manual and a sticker on the deck itself cautions not to connect the negative speaker leads together, but I'm wondering whether this is a problem only if the right and left channels connect....I'm hoping it will be ok if the front and back negative leads (on each side) happen to be connected.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Rob

Replies:

Posted By: ferretvw
Date Posted: June 01, 2006 at 10:49 PM

It's called a common ground system and if you connect the aftermarket deck that way it will either cause the deck's internal amplifier to go out or cause it to go into protection mode. You need to build a floating ground for it which I have completely forgotten how to do but maybe someone else can help. Or the other option is to run new speaker wires to each speaker.

Posted By: auex
Date Posted: June 01, 2006 at 10:57 PM

Best option is to rewire the speakers.

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Posted By: xtremej
Date Posted: June 02, 2006 at 9:15 AM

Go to your local shop and see if they have any scraps laying around. Every time new spekers are installed they usually have 12' or so of wire left that they get in the box with new speakers. Even if they charge you I don't think it will be much. Oh, my suggestion is just to re-wire also posted_image

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Posted By: robertm
Date Posted: June 04, 2006 at 9:30 PM

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the helpful replies. I ended up following your suggestions and just rewired the car...a bigger job than expected but it turned out well and the stereo works great! Thanks for all of your help.

Rob

Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: June 05, 2006 at 12:25 AM

Another Canadian, where are you posting from Rob?

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