How to Connect Speaker Wire to Speakers and Banana Plugs

As part of our Fluance Ultimate Guide to Home Theater Setup, we will walk you through how to connect your speakers using speaker wire and binding posts. We will also show you how to bi-wire a speaker, use speaker wire with the older style spring clips, and how to install banana plugs.

Speaker wire is measured by gauge. The smaller the gauge, the thicker the wire. We recommend 12 gauge copper speaker wire. Thicker wire allows electrons to move more freely, so it has a lower resistance and can carry a greater electrical current. However, thicker wire is also heavier. All of these factors are important considerations for a home theater system.

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How to Connect Speaker Wire and How to Use Banana Plugs

Speaker wire: what type do you get? How do you hook it up? We'll tell you how.

Speaker wire is measured by gauge. The smaller the gauge rating, the thicker the wire. We recommend 12 gauge copper speaker wire. FYI: Wire thinner than 18 gauge can produce excess heat and resistance which can change the sound of the speakers. Before inserting your wire into the connections, be sure to strip some of the insulation off the end of the wire to allow a proper connection.
The terminals are the positive and negative connections to which your speaker wires will connect on the speaker and amplifier. These are normally colour coded in black and red.

Terminals come in a number of different types, like spring clips. These terminals have a spring loaded clip holding the wires in place. To connect wires to these connectors, push the clip down and insert the wire into the hole. Once the clip is released, it will hold the wire in place. These are often found on older and entry level equipment.

Then, there's binding posts. Binding posts will consist of a post with a threaded cap. Loosen the cap until you can see a hole running from one side of the post to the other. Insert the wire through this hole and tighten the cap. Some binding posts may not have the hole through them. In that case, wrap the wire around the biding post and tighten the cap.

If the speaker has two sets of posts with a pin or bridge between them, you can connect them like so.
These speakers have two sets of posts so they can be bi wired. Bi wiring is when the receiver connects to the speaker with not one, but two sets of wires. This enables the receiver to power the low frequency driver, and the combined higher frequency drivers, separately, resulting in improved bass response and treble smoothness.

To bi-wire speakers, you will need to remove the bridge plates or pins between the binding posts and connect two sets of speaker wire to the amplifier, then connect one set of wires to the top set of binding posts, the other set to the bottom binding posts.

If you find yourself frequently moving your speakers, or simply want a simpler way to plug them in, you can use banana plugs like so.

[terrigargis]

Thank you. I need to change the wiring on my speakers. At 77, you are never too old to learn.

[jankrygier]

Thank you! You saved the day. I donated an entertainment unit. The stereo and speakers were housed in it. Well...the loaders undid the speakers to get everything out. Well...what do I know? At first I thought they actually cut the wires to get everything apart! I thought they ruined my speakers and was getting ready to donate all that as well. Then I found your video. Great video. One suggestion...clarify that even though the red and black wires are wrapped you have to separare them at the end to put one in the red port and the other in the black one. I was confusing myself which one of 4 to use. Finally figured it out! Duh. Thanks a lot...and also for getting right to the point, avoiding more frustration. Now I can rock out!!

[roddyhillcock]

Thank you. That was super easy and helpful. I've just had a Sunday roast and a few pints and I was still able to follow it.

[annascott]

That background music is so soothing. I dig it. Thanks extremely helpful.

[NashKetchum]

Immensely helpful and simply presented, thank you!!

[AbdulMunemChung]

Thank you. What a concise video! Straight to the point and educational.

[maxdavids]

This was a really nice, chilled and informative video!

[reneem.fountain]

Very helpful! Thank you! The speaker wires work well. But connecting to amplifier is more complicated as access to the post is limited. My guage is a 12 so wrapping does not work. So I put it in as best I could and twisted rg cap down. Seems archaic! My amplifier is old, but good. Can I replace this amplifier connection?
One last question, thanks in advance, so I have double speaker connections. I assume the top wires go to A on th amp and the bottom speaker wires go to B. Seems obvious, but wanted to check.
Thanks so much! As others have said you explained everything extremely well!
Heck, maybe you have another video that explains the (older) amp wire connections? ❤

[justinmayfield]

This was the most informative video I found. Good work!

[drowningcucumber]

do i tighten it a lot or no? because when i tighten it enough the wire makes a crunch sound and i don’t think thats good

[ericw]

For the wire connection with the spring loaded clips, what is needed on the other end to plug into the amplifier? An adapter, I would assume, but what adapter please? Thanks

[robbielex]

Excellent information but can a banana plug be used to connect a banana phone?

[hipidipimax]

Do I need two plugs for each speaker? Do those work like RCA cables?

[BunnyRodriguez]

perfect information! thank you for your help!

[dinosaurinvestigator]

Ok say I lost a bridge plate, i only got 3 of the 4. Can i substitute it for something or do i have to get a legit replacement. I tried bridging with wire but no luck there

[TabLe_]

what about the other end of the wire? do you need an amp with wire terminals as well?

[ramilin]

Thank you! Very informative and helpful.

[anthonymaerin]

Why use binding posters .solder direct to crossover gives improved presence to sound stage .that’s what I found with my set up.happy listening

[teknomonk]

everytime I use bare wire on those kind of binding post, they shear off the wire when "tightening". so now i always crimp on a U clip.

[AryanSingh.]

how to give input to them. Most of the TV have either HDMI port or AV port and sometimes Optical port. How to give input to these speakers?