Harman Kardon SIG2.1 Owners Manual - Page 8
Installation and Connections
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Signature 2.1 Installation and Connections Cable with a gauge of 16 may be used for short runs of less than ten feet. We do not recommend the use of cables with an AWG equivalent of 18 or higher due to the power loss and degradation in performance that will occur. Cables run inside walls should have the appropriate markings to indicate listing with UL ("CL-2/CL-3"), CSA ("FT-4") or appropriate safety agency standards that may be required in your area. Questions about running cables inside walls should be referred to your installer or a licensed electrical contractor who is familiar with the NEC and/or the applicable building or electrical codes in your area. Connections to Speakers The final step of the installation process is to connect the amplifier to your speakers using high-quality cable. A pair of binding posts is provided for each channel output. These posts will accept bare wire or banana-type plugs. Note that one conductor of the speaker cable will have - no markings or an indication of " " for negative polarity, and the other will have a red line, brand-name markings, a colored thread or some other positive-polarity indication. The wire with the positive indication should be connected to the red terminals on both the 2.1 and your speakers. The negative wire should be connected to the black terminal on the 2.1 and the speakers. If bare wire is used for connections, strip approximately 3⁄4˝(20 mm) of insulation from the end of each wire and carefully twist the strands of each conductor together. Be careful not to cut the individual strands or twist them off; for optimal performance, all strands must be used. Next, loosen the knobs of the speaker output terminals far enough so that the cap moves back on its threads past the holes at the rear of the terminal. Making certain that - you observe polarity by connecting the negative ( ) wire to the black terminal and the positive (+) wire to the red terminal, pass the exposed wire through the hole until the wire is visible from the bottom end. Holding the wire in place, twist the cap back so that the connection is secured. Do not overtighten or use tools, as this may damage the plastic terminal cap or break the delicate wire strands and decrease system performance. Important Note: When making speaker wire connections, be certain that none of the strands from one lead touch any other lead. This will cause a short circuit and may damage your amplifier or speakers. Damage from short circuits caused in this manner is not covered by the product warranty. Connections may also be made using spade lugs or standard 4 mm OD banana plugs. Before using a banana-type jack, make certain that the plastic screw caps on the 2.1 are firmly tightened by turning them clockwise until they are snug against the chassis. This will ensure that the maximum surface area of the plug is in contact with the jack. Once the wire has been attached to the banana plug following the plug manufacturer's instructions, simply insert the banana plug into the hole provided on the rear of the colored screw caps on the terminal posts. Be certain to observe proper polarity. Finally, run the cables to the speaker locations. It is highly recommended that the length of cable connecting any pair of speakers be identical. For example, make certain that the cable length connecting left and right front or left and right rear (surround) speakers is identical, even though one speaker may be physically closer to the amplifier than the other. Do not coil any excess cable, as this may become an inductor that creates frequency response variations in your system. Connect the wires to the speakers, again being certain to observe proper polarity. Remember to connect the negative or black wire to the matching terminal on the speaker. Similarly, the positive or red wire should be connected to the like terminal on the speaker. Note: While most speaker manufacturers adhere to an industry standard of using black terminals for negative and red ones for positive, some manufacturers may not adhere to this configuration. To ensure properly phased connections and optimal performance, consult the identification plate on your speaker terminals, or the speaker's manual to verify polarity. If you do not know the polarity of your speaker, ask your dealer or installer for advice before proceeding, or consult the speaker's manufacturer. 6
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