I have a surround sound speaker system built in, at this place I'm staying. The hook up for it looks like one of those bare wire plug in deals, with a red wire and a black wire, that plug into a spring loaded latch that holds the wire in place.



I don't have any audio devices that currently utilize this technology.

I went to best buy and to HHGregg to see what I could find but I couldn't find any adapters. Any idea if an adapter exists to take, say, the RYW connectors and do some electronic magic and turn those into the bare metal deal?

4/17/2008 12:27:48 PM

a pair of scissors and some teeth would do the trick

4/17/2008 12:30:23 PM

You don't have any audio devices that utilize speaker wire?

4/17/2008 3:53:11 PM

^compile error, missing required "sense of humor"

4/17/2008 4:05:05 PM

I dunno, i assume the worst on here. Anyway, what he probably needs is a line output converter. They are used in cars a lot to connect aftermarket amps to factory wiring. Something like this.

http://www.installer.com/hilo/

Not really something I'd use for home theater, where you might care about quality.

[Edited on April 17, 2008 at 4:26 PM. Reason : :]

4/17/2008 4:23:19 PM

what ?!

I'm thinking all he wants are connectors similar to rcas or something

I mean i wired my whole house to use banana plugs...

please clarify mr. rednex

is what mine look like


[Edited on April 17, 2008 at 4:34 PM. Reason : .]

4/17/2008 4:32:34 PM

Well, he mentioned RYW connectors, which I understand as the 2 L/R RCA cables and a composite video cable. Sounds like he wants the RCA cable output converted to plain old +/- speaker level inputs.

4/17/2008 4:40:35 PM

Quote :

"a pair of scissors and some teeth would do the trick"

Hahaha, yep. I make sure to use our good kitchen ones too so I can piss off the wife.

4/17/2008 4:52:31 PM

Quote :

"I don't have any audio devices that currently utilize this technology. "

Before we go any further, I think the best question to ask is "What do you have?". At the very least take a picture of the connections for whatever it is you're trying to feed the speakers with.

4/17/2008 4:54:53 PM

if he has Sony's Dream Theater, then he has some funky ass phone plug looking deal. But those are used to hook into the system. The other end can be cut and used as a standard speaker wire.

4/17/2008 6:50:47 PM

By the sound of it he must be trying to run a preamp or other source device directly to the speakers. ie - He does not have an amplifier.

Answer: buy an amplifier.

4/18/2008 11:57:59 AM

yes

if all you've got is line level outs (say, from a DVD player's RCA outs)

you'll need an amplifier to drive the speakers - you can't just cut the ends off of one side of the RCA cable.

4/18/2008 12:03:02 PM

And on that note I'm extremely shocked more people haven't been flaming this guy to holy hell.

4/18/2008 12:05:18 PM

me too, i was surprised at the relative tranquility of my response


i think it has something to do with him being named Redneck Bob... there is something to be said for self-acknowledgment.

4/18/2008 12:11:51 PM

buy a really cheap 2 channel receiver
...
profit

4/19/2008 12:47:05 AM

And if you need a receiver, just do a search for one on http://www.bensbargains.net and buy one from a semi-reputable (or better) reseller. Sometimes you can find ones on there for 40-60% off that are on clearance because they're "older models". Most of the ones on there will still blow the neighbors up.

4/19/2008 2:08:58 AM

Finally hooking up my HTIB in my bonus room, which is pre-wired for surround sound.

Got all my satellites up, but have a similar issue here.

from my receiver/dvd player it's a standard speaker +/- wire, which goes into the wall. on the other end of the room, the sub connector is an RCA jack. the connector on the sub, like the receiver, is meant for standard speaker wire. Since the output on the receiver is powered, can i simply cut one end off an RCA mono cable and strip the two wires, and connect it to the sub?

8/27/2008 11:52:39 PM

^ You're saying someone pre-wired the room and the wall jack for the wall-to-sub is RCA? But the receiver-to-wall jack for the sub is speaker wire?

.....i'm not sure what they did. You'd have to look behind the wall...

8/28/2008 3:32:12 PM

maybe you and http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-34453.html could swap stuff?

8/28/2008 3:58:32 PM

Quote :

"can i simply cut one end off an RCA mono cable and strip the two wires, and connect it to the sub?"

that's exactly what i would do.

the cable on the inside (that's insulated) is positive, the cable threads that wrap around the insulation are negative.

[Edited on August 28, 2008 at 5:26 PM. Reason : .]

8/28/2008 5:25:28 PM

alright, i decided to try it out, works like a champ.

maybe one day i'll stop being a cheapass and get a proper home theater system with a powered sub.

8/28/2008 5:44:53 PM