How can you tell which audio speaker wire is the positive one?

whezz
whezz Posts: 3
edited May 2014 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
how can i tell which of the two splits is the red (positive) one or black (negative) one??

Both wires are the same bronze color. One wire has letters on it the other one doesn't.

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Post edited by whezz on
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,981
    edited May 2014
    The one with writing on it is normally positive
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  • Msabot1
    Msabot1 Posts: 2,098
    edited May 2014
    It doesn't matter which one you use for +or- what does matter is that you don't cross em....use the lettering as a reference and keep it the same at both ends....
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  • deafbykhorns
    deafbykhorns Posts: 150
    edited May 2014
    Msabot1 wrote: »
    It doesn't matter which one you use for +or- what does matter is that you don't cross em....use the lettering as a reference and keep it the same at both ends....
    This is not always true, especially on a SDA speaker....
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited May 2014
    Msabot1 wrote: »
    It doesn't matter which one you use for +or- what does matter is that you don't cross em....use the lettering as a reference and keep it the same at both ends....
    deafbykhorns wrote: »
    This is not always true, especially on a SDA speaker....

    ???

    What is wrong with that statement? It does not matter whether the lettering side, or the other side, is used for the positive or negative. The point others have made is that once you pick a side to be positive then the amp side and the speaker side positive terminals use the same side, and the negative terminals use the other side.

    Are you saying SDA speakers require the +/- wires to be swapped at each end?
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  • deafbykhorns
    deafbykhorns Posts: 150
    edited May 2014
    It sounded like you could of been talking about phasing and as long as each end is the same you are OK.
    If you are referring to just the wire itself then I see your point.
    Just wanted to make that clear to someone reading this.
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