I would recommend Monoprice High-Quality Banana Binding Post Two-Piece Inset Wall Plate for 2 Speakers. ImproveCarAudio also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. You might find them as banana plugs in some instances. Generally, car speakers use three types of wire connectors with the speaker cables: Fork connectors, ring connectors, banana plugs, spade connectors, or pin connectors, depending on the speaker terminal design. Solder the positive terminal of the speaker wire to the middle pin of your RCA and the negative to the outer lead. However, some banana connectors come with a screw, thus making the connections as secure as spade connectors, but they are a bit more expensive than spade connectors. Unfortunately, Quadlock may not be the description used by manufacturers of the connector components. Were authorized to sell these top brands online and in-store. Also, ensure you notice and match the correct polarities (positive and negative) of the wires and connectors so that you correct your audio equipment in phase. As an Amazon Associate, ImproveCarAudio will receive a small commission from qualifying purchases made through the links in this article. To make this connection, just strip the wire insulation with pliers and insert the bare wire end into the speaker terminal. Tighten the threaded end cap to the connector and make sure your connection is secure. Using speaker wire connectors can prevent headaches or confusion in many people, particularly those with multi-channel home stereo systems. However, they dont have the spring contact that the banana plugs do. Their benefit is also their downside, that of popularity. You can use these accessories for other parts of a cars electrical system, too. What Happens if a Car Stereo is Not Grounded? Therefore you are required to check the connection if you reconnect them regularly. Pin 3 is optional; used for reversing lamp signal on Becker radios with navigation. Moreover, it is possible to have a variety of connections on the rear end of your stereo equipment. Be keen on which the positive lead is and which is negative using the color codes. RCA is for Radio Corporation of America, and their work was developing this connector in the early 1940s for use in home audio equipment. The wires have changed over the years, so make sure youre not using old connectors on new wiring and vice versa. They are a smaller version of banana connectors without spring contact and are only used with binding posts with holes in the center of the threaded rod. Before removing isolation, you have to work with each individual wire to make the job easier, so pull ends of the cables away from each other for a length of around 5 inches. People initially used two-conductor phone connectors for professional audio speakers before the invention of the Speakon connector. Each speaker connector is easy to install, needing only a few simple tools. These connectors come in different styles, with crimp-on connectors being the most popular type. With the right wiring, every media player, sensor and gauge will give you the good times you want or the important information you need like where to find the best burger in a strange town youre rolling through or whether theres a speed trap around the next bend. You spend a lot of time researching the right speaker wattage, subwoofer size, amplifiers and multimedia players to make your vehicle sing. The most popular application of a stereo jack connection is a headphone output on keyboards, pianos, recording equipment, guitar amplifiers, mixing tables, and hi-fi systems. Shop now for the right car stereo wires and terminals with a 60-day guarantee and fast, free shipping in the U.S. All aftermarket car stereos can use the same wiring harness. Sometimes it appears as one 20-pin connector, often red in colour, or it may be divided into three separate connectors which may be hooked together, in which case C1 is usually yellow, C2 is usually green and C3 is usually blue in colour. By: joseph mathara | Last Updated: January 21, 2022 | This post contains affiliate links. You can find three design types of banana plugs: Banana plugs also come with color-coding: Connection of the banana plugs with the wires is not complicated, and it requires a few steps to complete the task: The purpose of a connector, as the name suggests, is to connect two things. The Quadlock connector consists of a block of 16 flat pins analogous to the two main ISO 10487 connectors. You should always consider the current rating, circuit density, wire size, voltage configuration and bonding force. Many factory car stereos, however, require specific wiring harnesses to connect. When wires are in place, screw the back of the banana plug to lock and secure the wire. For instance, if you require to connect high-level subwoofer input from the front left and right speaker terminals. Privacy Policy | Cut the end of the speaker cable to avoid having any exposed copper wire from sticking out. Just strip the wire up to inch and then twist it at the end using your forefinger and thumb. This is beneficial if you require to connect many speakers to a similar terminal. Having good car speakers enhances your listening experience and doubles your enjoyment, but have you ever wondered which connectors should be used for the car speakers? There are many ways to connect speaker wires to speaker terminals, but it really depends on which terminals your speakers have. View details. Insert the bare speaker cable into the hole in the post or insert a spade connector around the base and tighten the cap. Also, if a wire has a stripe, this usually means it is the negative wire. Spade connectors are used for speakers with screw terminals or with binding posts. Speakers that use binding posts might not have an opening at the end to insert a banana plug. Now take the pin connector and insert it onto the wire. They are also called phono connectors. To make a soldering connection, you need to complete the following: First, strip the speaker wire up to half an inch and heat the soldering iron to the appropriate temperature. It is crucial not only for the stable connection but also for its aesthetic. Some receivers might have a plastic cap over the end, which you must remove first. Screw the bottom of the banana plug to ensure the wires are tight. The connector D is for satellite navigation systems. However, they may also have a screw-in connection. Stand Bags - Speaker, Microphone, Lighting. Use the wire stripper, but do not apply too much pressure on it, otherwise, you will cut the wire. You can also use pin connectors with binding posts by inserting them via the central hole in the center and tightening the cap, even though this is not the usual way of using them. It has 10 pins. Then plug in the chuck into the wire with the rounded side looking at the interior of the bushing. Use our wiring terminals and connectors to string your new cable together. Hence push the clip down and insert the pin into the hole. This plug is occasionally known as a balanced 1/4 jack. The benefit of using speaker wire connectors is they make it easy to plug and unplug the speakers from the stereo or amplifiers. There are various types of wires available, like solid wire, stranded wire, flat strip wire, etc. There is a varied range of banana plugs, but most usually have a spot to insert the wire and a screw to tighten the wire in place. In addition, connectors increase the stereos sound quality and minimize signal loss. You might not need to do this regularly, but at times it is essential. Speaker connectors are for Hi-Fi systems, loudspeakers, and other audio appliances. They are available in either a two, four, or eight pole design. The pin is usually straight, or you can find them with angled pins. The stereo needs a ground wire to function. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. On the other hand, the eight-pole design is physically more significant than the two and four-pole. I would recommend TICINO XLR Female to 1/4 Inch (6.35mm). Call our experts Monday-Friday if you need assistance. I think these reasons are enough to convince you to use speaker wire connectors. Even though they made many connectors to work with the most popular wire sizes (12 18 AWG), some designs for larger or smaller wires, so be keen on the dimensions to ensure compatibility. You must also note that the bare wire is unreliable if the space between the terminals is enclosed because the strands can short circuit with other cables. Banana connectors are widely used in car audio, but not all speakers can accept this type. While selecting speaker connectors, ensure they match your speaker wires gauge. Binding posts are the most popular type of connector you will find. Therefore, plugging a connector in terminals is more straightforward than a bare wire. Pin 1 is optional; used for speed dependent volume control and possibly navigation. When connecting either car radio or amplifier with speakers, you have to search for connectors that are compatible with speaker terminals, provide a secure connection, and minimize signal loss. They are the fastest ones for connection and disconnection. Splicing wires used in car audio are mainly for power, ground, amplifier and antenna, speakers, phone and others. This will twist the wire deeper into the connector, giving a better connection. They now can be used extensively for professional audio connections for years. They comprise male panel sockets and female plugs.Typically, the female pins connect to male panel sockets and consist of a twist-lock mechanism that secures them into the socket. Thus, making them very common. There are various advantages of using banana connectors over the bare wire. Moreover, they use crimping or soldering to connect them. It is crucial to ensure that you start and finish each end of the wire, installing the connectors before going to the next. Like banana plugs and spades, strip some insulation from the wire and attach the pins to the bare wire. In this article, I will explain how to connect your car speakers with wires using different connector types. Minor connector C has 12 pins for various audio sources such as CD-changers, MP3 players. Make sure to get a car circuit breaker, too these auto shut-offs will protect the electronics from surges and overloads to prevent lasting damage to your gear and your wallet. Each pair of cables will use one red striped banana plug on the positive wire and one black on the negative wire. In addition, banana plugs may attach to the cable in various ways. With banana connectors, you will get a clean installation, and these connectors also boost the signal transfer speed. Now you can switch on the receiver and adjust the settings without worry. Speaker connectors make it significantly easier to plug in and unplug your sound equipment. You can now fix the connectors after forking the speaker wires with exposed ends. Premium speaker terminal connectors are crucial. Moreover, quality connectors are an obvious way of minimizing high-frequency noise. If other parts of the system have binding posts, you should consider banana connectors or spade connectors. They have a spring-sided design that ensures good contact, even after repeated connections. Contact | On the other hand, Banana plugs are not bolted with the terminals. Connecting speaker wires to binding post terminals is straightforward. Their design creates a robust electrical contact between your gear and the speaker wire. Your email address will not be published. Your car stereo may have used more than one type of connector. Car audio systems have been my hobby for a long time. Once your spades are attached to the wire, unscrew each binding post and push them into place. that interferes with the audio. Instead of attaching a bare wire to the speakers terminal, you first attach the connector to the speaker wire and then connect it with the speaker. Pick a car stereo wiring kit to give you everything you need to install, upgrade or repair your system. Finally, to connect the speaker wire to your speakers, insert the red plug into the red binding post of your speaker and the black plug into the black critical post. I would recommend TICONN 100 Pcs Nylon Spade Quick Disconnect Connectors Kit. Apple flux onto the soldering iron, place the speaker wire on the speaker terminal and make a joint using soldering iron and solder. Minor connector B has 12 pins for audio output signals. Furthermore, it would be best to consider knowing the gauge of your speaker wires before purchasing any connectors. Watch our video and read our blog for step-by-step instructions documenting the installation of a aftermarket car stereo receiver. They are U-shaped connectors. Your vehicle will be alive with the sound of music, sports or movies when it has the best vehicle wiring accessories from OnlineCarStereo.com. Copyright 2022 Audio In Car. Spade connectors ensure that you capture all the wire strands in the connection and aid in guarding the wire ends against getting unraveled. Banana connectors are gold plated, and they didnt get attacked by rust as bare wires are more prone to rusting. Strip off the insulation on each end of the wire to expose 3/8 to 1/2 inch of bare wire. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. Unscrew the underside of the banana plug to ensure the hole is open. Separate Wires. Now tighten the caps until it fully covers the hole. From 2000 and onwards, manufacturers, such as BMW, Citron, Ford, Mercedes Benz, Peugeot, Volkswagen, Rover, Audi, SEAT, Opel or koda have sometimes started using a 40-pin connector instead, called the Quadlock. We explain wire-by-wire what these connections do for the installation of an aftermarket car stereo receiver. Therefore, only select these connectors if you are ready to break out a soldering iron. How to Tell Negative and Positive Car Speaker Wires? Watch our video and read our blog for the proper wiring colors and their definitions. Our inventory of premium car speaker wire connectors ensures you will get the most out of your system. Generally, the thumb rule is female plugs usually receive output signals from devices (e.g., a microphone), and we use male XLR plugs to plug into inputs (e.g., An active studio monitor or a microphone pre-amp on a mixing desk), with male ones plugging into the female ones or vice versa. ImproveCarAudio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The contact spacing is narrower than the other connectors, so the C connector is sometimes referred to as mini-ISO. Your email address will not be published. Their most significant downside for professional audio is easily disconnected if the cable is stepped on or kicked. Generally, this speaker wire termination is ide for spring clip connections. This pack includes 4 binding posts style design banana connectors and four screw-type banana connectors. This creates enough room to work. To select the best kind, you must first look at the terminals available on your equipment. They are still the most popular connector for home audio because they are cheap and easy to use. Several types of connectors for car audio systems are used. Two other common configurations are silver positive and copper negative or white/yellow positive and green negative. The last step is to connect the banana plugs to the speakers or the amplifier. Pin 6 is optional; used for vehicle instrument illumination, Part 1: Dimensions and general requirements, This page was last edited on 29 March 2022, at 07:35. The type of connector you need for the speaker terminal depends mainly on the application type and whether you want to make a strong joint or temporarily connect them. Even though you could also use a knife or scissors, I highly recommend strippers because they enhance safety. I would advise you to look for Monoprice 109438 High, RCA connectors are RCA plugs, Phono plugs, and Cinch plugs, often incorrectly known as an Aux cable.. Let the solder cool, then slide the shell over the solder joints and tighten them onto the RCA jack with screws. An important thing to remember is to select the correct size of the pin connector to match the wire gauge. In addition, if your amplifier or receiver has binding posts, I recommend you choose either spade connectors or banana plugs. I will always choose banana plug connectors over bare wire connections to get a neat, safe, and secure connection. Insert the cable into the opening at each side of each post. Pin plugs come with pins that are generally almost 2mm in diameter. These connectors appear like forked metal that can use screw terminals and binding posts. Gently pull the speaker wire to ensure you have a solid connection. Strip Away the jacket at a length of approx 0.5 inches from the end of the wire. Universal steering wheel control interface, ISO 10487 Passenger car radio connections, Molex part information for MOST Frame Receptacle Housing with Lever and Cable Cover A.K.A Quadlock, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Connectors_for_car_audio&oldid=1079903057, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Phone: the cable to mute when receiving a call, is, On some cars the +12V Ignition and Battery positions are reversed, such as later. Founded in 1999, the OnlineCarStereo.com team has worked to put together one of the largest selections of car audio/stereo in this country. For example, text, stripes, or dashed lines show the positive terminal. Consult our Vehicle Fit Guide for more. Got your wires crossed? Apart from this, the speaker wire connectors ensure a solid connection if you follow all the steps correctly. How to prepare speaker wires for connectors, Easy Ways of Testing a Car Amplifier with a Multimeter, Steps to Connect a Subwoofer to your Car Stereo Without an Amp, Easy Steps of Mounting a Subwoofer in Trunk. Release the clip, and the connection should be firm, but that depends on the springs force. However, there are banana plugs that come with screw-in connections, and they work perfectly without soldering so long as you are cautious when joining them together. Peel off the cut section of the insulation using the wire stripper but be watchful not to accidentally cut the copper below as it will expose the bare wire. Not all speaker wires have two-tone insulation or evident labels for easier identification. Others may require soldering. A positive terminal (+) is red, and a negative (-) is black. This could be a great solution if you dont want to solder the wire.