164 speaker wiring

[Lawrence Leong <leongccl@domain.elided>]

Steven Tucker asked:

>I have the alfa wiring diagrams from the Cardisk CD, but polarity
>isn't indicated.  I'm trying to (**cringe**) install new speakers, and
>I can't make out which terminal is power and which is ground.

NOt too fun if you short the wrong terminal to ground :-(

>One wire from each pair sports a black stripe, so I assumed that would
>be the ground.  

Sounds like the convention i've seen.

>However, wiring the speakers in that fashion produced
>poor performance.

I assume the equipment is ok?  Since you are installing new speakers,
did you check that the new speakers are of the correct impedence?  They
have to match the amplifier/head unit's impedence.  Also, do the speakers
specify minimum power, and a sensitivity?  If the min power is too high
(worse still the speakers have a much higher impedence than that expected
by the amplifier/head unit), you _will_ get poor sound.  I've been out 
of this audio game for too long to remember much, but these are some of 
the little traps that get you (don't ask how I know).  The more 
knowledgable audiophiles on the list can help more in this regard.

>Can anyone please tell me which color wire from any of the four
>speakers is positive or ground, or whether the larger or smaller
>terminal is pos / ground, or whether you can tell by simple left right
>orientation?

There may be some left/right orientation, if so, I'm unaware of it.

In my limited experience (installed the radio and 2 generations of 
speakers in my 33, installed a few radios for friends, cheap b*st*ard,
will work for food!), if you install it one way and keep it consistent, 
it will work.  If you mix it up then you get poor results.  I'm assuming 
in no case does the metallic frame of the speaker become part of the 
speaker circuit, if so, then polarity becomes a real issue.

Does the speakers have any "+" or "-" indication?  If so, use a convention
and stick to it.  Eg, use the black stripe for "-".  If the speakers 
don't have any indication, pick one tab (say the bigger one) for the 
positive and keep to that thru out.

Does your system have a crossover unit?  That may give some clues to the
polarity convention used.

If you mix polarity on either side, then the stereo imaging becomes 
confused.  

Hope this helps.  e-mail me if you need more info.

Cheers
Lawrence

86 33 1.5 QV (for sale)
92 164 2.0 TS

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