stupid question

binarycool
binarycool Posts: 51
edited November 2009 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
just got my tsi500's finally =)

but i've never had speakers with 2 sets of those red and black things on the back. do i plug my speaker wire into the ones on top or bottom or does it even matter.

thanks
Post edited by binarycool on
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited November 2009
    Doesn't matter.
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited November 2009
    Congrats. No such thing, all questions are relevant. As indicated, it does not matter. Just remove one pair of plastic (red and black) post covers. I put all mine away for when I have to move / sell whatever.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • apphd
    apphd Posts: 1,514
    edited November 2009
    As pointed out it doesn't matter which you use (top/bottom) but do make sure the jumper is in place and all 4 are nice and tight.
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  • packetjones
    packetjones Posts: 1,059
    edited November 2009
    as others have said it does not matter. i normally put mine in the bottom but there is not really a difference. Just make sure the metal jumper is there and all the posts are screwed on nice and tight.

    Enjoy the new 500's. Post a review after you have put in some good time with them.
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  • binarycool
    binarycool Posts: 51
    edited November 2009
    xcapri79 wrote: »
    Why not ask your friends conducting their audio study?

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90820

    i dont know why im getting such grief for that. its a legit study. don't participate if you don't wwant i was just letting people know. my friend works for a marketing company that is doing it.

    and she knows very little about anything audio. her expertise is MARKETING. she just asks you a bunch of questions over the phone and if you qualify you either do an in home interview or make a video diary of yourself.

    i won't post anything related to it again.

    sheesh.
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  • binarycool
    binarycool Posts: 51
    edited November 2009
    apphd wrote: »
    As pointed out it doesn't matter which you use (top/bottom) but do make sure the jumper is in place and all 4 are nice and tight.

    Sorry - what is the jumper? lol.

    I have them hooked up so far so good.

    I ran out of wire from my old speakers. I had Monster that Best Buy talked me into years ago. Do I really need more monster cable or can I just buy the 16gage roll at Radio Shack for 12 bucks? (vs 40)
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited November 2009
    The jumper is the metal/wire that connects the top post to the bottom post. Black to black and red to red. These would come out if you bi-wired the speakers, which you are not.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • greg2350
    greg2350 Posts: 544
    edited November 2009
    binarycool wrote: »
    i dont know why im getting such grief for that. its a legit study. don't participate if you don't wwant i was just letting people know. my friend works for a marketing company that is doing it.

    and she knows very little about anything audio. her expertise is MARKETING. she just asks you a bunch of questions over the phone and if you qualify you either do an in home interview or make a video diary of yourself.

    i won't post anything related to it again.

    sheesh.

    Dont sweat it man people can be pretty harsh in here enjoy your new speakers.:)
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited November 2009
    greg2350 wrote: »
    Dont sweat it man people can be pretty harsh in here enjoy your new speakers.:)

    +1. Just ignore and enjoy.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited November 2009
    binarycool wrote: »
    Sorry - what is the jumper? lol.

    I have them hooked up so far so good.

    I ran out of wire from my old speakers. I had Monster that Best Buy talked me into years ago. Do I really need more monster cable or can I just buy the 16gage roll at Radio Shack for 12 bucks? (vs 40)

    if your speaker wire is older than a couple of years.. get rid of it..and get some new wire.. preferably not the same brand as your current wires. ;)

    Welcome to the club and congrats on your new speakers.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited November 2009
    Welcome to Club Polk & enjoy your speakers!
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • binarycool
    binarycool Posts: 51
    edited November 2009
    Thanks guys. Yeah speaker wire is about 8 years old will get replace soon... just curious as to why? It still is in good condition, does it go bad?
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited November 2009
    binarycool wrote: »
    Thanks guys. Yeah speaker wire is about 8 years old will get replace soon... just curious as to why? It still is in good condition, does it go bad?


    correction.. thanks guys AND girls. there are a couple of cool women who hang out in here too ;)

    and yes.. speaker wire oxidizes over time.. making it not as effective.. so replace those wires.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • binarycool
    binarycool Posts: 51
    edited November 2009
    awesome thanks again.

    and i'm from jersey i refer to everyone as "guys" lol, but good to know :)
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited November 2009
    danger boy wrote: »
    correction.. thanks guys AND girls. there are a couple of cool women who hang out in here too ;)

    Thank you Al!

    Cathy:)
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited November 2009
    binarycool wrote: »
    Thanks guys. Yeah speaker wire is about 8 years old will get replace soon... just curious as to why? It still is in good condition, does it go bad?

    No need to replace your wire, it doesn't go bad. If it's oxidized, you may want to clip a inch off the end and expose fresh wire, I've never had to do that though. Wire will last longer than you will.
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  • dirhyplac
    dirhyplac Posts: 1
    edited November 2009
    binarycool wrote: »
    awesome thanks again.

    and i'm from jersey i refer to everyone as "guys" lol, but good to know :)

    Thanks guys. Yeah speaker wire is about 8 years old will get replace soon... just curious as to why? It still is in good condition, does it go bad?
    Comparatif mutuelle sante compl
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  • CoolJazz
    CoolJazz Posts: 570
    edited November 2009
    If the speaker wire is the cheap stuff that William often recommends, then clipping off the end and restripping may not help at all.

    You see, what he doesn't know is that often the clear jacket type of wire thats commonly available, oxidizes the conductors from the chemicals leaching out of the jacket material, not just from air contact. You can tell if this is going to be the case, if you restrip the jacket material off and the wire isn't bright and shiny, but is instead a dirty brownish kind of color.

    In a pinch, I pulled some off a shelf this week to use for a minute. Spooling it off and stripping it, I ran into this vary problem. Clipped off a little more and retried, hoping, but nope, low quality is just low quality and makes poor contact and is bad for audio!! I just threw it and the whole spool away rather than risk a problem then or at a later date.

    I ran across some of this a couple years ago attached to something that'd been around for a several years. Don't know for sure, but likely it was 6 to 8 years old or so. It really caught my eye, because right through the clear jacket it could see it was green! Not just a little green, a LOT green! You see, long before it turns to a greenish dust (which it does!) it's oxidation on the cable creates problems. It starts kind of brown, then gets green and eventually falls apart to a powdery substance that you'd never know was a wire at one time! Kinda of shocking actually!

    You just have to remember that there is a lot of bad, incorrect information on the web. Sometimes, it's even repeated over and over like that's going to make it true. Even what will appear to be the majority opinion sometimes can even be wrong. About the only way you can sort out what to believe is either look a lot or look for the tips and little comments that ring true and can give a reason that the flip side of the situation is the correct one in your case.

    Good luck!

    CoolJazz

    PS...reported post #19!!
    A so called science type proudly says... "I do realize that I would fool myself all the time, about listening conclusions and many other observations, if I did listen before buying. That’s why I don’t, I bought all of my current gear based on technical parameters alone, such as specs and measurements."

    More amazing Internet Science Pink Panther wisdom..."My DAC has since been upgraded from Mark Levinson to Topping."
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  • sTiLlLeArNiNg
    sTiLlLeArNiNg Posts: 805
    edited November 2009
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    No need to replace your wire, it doesn't go bad. If it's oxidized, you may want to clip a inch off the end and expose fresh wire, I've never had to do that though. Wire will last longer than you will.

    Agreed, also if you want to maximize your current setup without spending extra cash rip the stock jumper plate's of and run your speaker wire's to the bottom first, then use a small section of speaker wire to connect to the to post's ;) Exercise caution though because i'm a mad fool! :D

    Like so:
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited November 2009
    If the speaker wire is the cheap stuff that William often recommends, then clipping off the end and restripping may not help at all.

    You see, what he doesn't know is that often the clear jacket type of wire thats commonly available, oxidizes the conductors from the chemicals leaching out of the jacket material, not just from air contact.

    Not with the inexpensive wire I recommend, none of which has clear jackets BTW. I always recommend quality in wall speaker wire.

    Why don't we re-wire all the AC circuits in our homes every 5 years or so? Hate to see it turn to dust.
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  • CoolJazz
    CoolJazz Posts: 570
    edited November 2009
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    Why don't we re-wire all the AC circuits in our homes every 5 years or so? Hate to see it turn to dust.
    Well, if we shopped for AC wiring at Walgreens automotive department, like your speaker wire, then we probably would be changing it...or risking fire!! :rolleyes:

    I sure if we check with the godfather of all bad wiring advice, :D he'd instruct that as long as it's 12 guage, it'd be just fine!!
    A so called science type proudly says... "I do realize that I would fool myself all the time, about listening conclusions and many other observations, if I did listen before buying. That’s why I don’t, I bought all of my current gear based on technical parameters alone, such as specs and measurements."

    More amazing Internet Science Pink Panther wisdom..."My DAC has since been upgraded from Mark Levinson to Topping."
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited November 2009
    CoolJazz wrote: »
    Well, if we shopped for AC wiring at Walgreens automotive department, like your speaker wire, then we probably would be changing it...or risking fire!! :rolleyes:

    I sure if we check with the godfather of all bad wiring advice, :D he'd instruct that as long as it's 12 guage, it'd be just fine!!


    Why the insults? Don't you have anything to back up your claims?

    And please show where I have recommended bad speaker wire. Maybe a link or two?
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2009
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    Why don't we re-wire all the AC circuits in our homes every 5 years or so? Hate to see it turn to dust.
    In wall is solid core and less problematic compared to Walmart special cable.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • greg2350
    greg2350 Posts: 544
    edited November 2009
    Guy asking about the jumpers turned into the great wire debate :rolleyes::rolleyes:
    TV: Philips 42" LCD 1080p
    Front Speakers: Polk Audio RT800i
    Center Speaker: Polk Audio CS1
    Surround Speakers: Polk Audio R50's powered of Denon AVR
    Subwoofer: Polk Audio DSW pro500
    AVR: Denon 3801
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    Sat: Directtv HD 10
    Front Speakers Amp: Rotel RB 890
    Center Speaker amp: Rotel 970 BX
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited November 2009
    Face wrote: »
    In wall is solid core and less problematic compared to Walmart special cable.

    You buy wire at Walmart? The OP said his cable was Monster, not Walmart.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2009
    Shhh...don't let me secret out.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • quadzilla
    quadzilla Posts: 1,543
    edited November 2009
    binarycool wrote: »
    just got my tsi500's finally =)

    but i've never had speakers with 2 sets of those red and black things on the back. do i plug my speaker wire into the ones on top or bottom or does it even matter.

    thanks

    Technically, it shouldn't matter. But since the signal has to go through those thin brass jumpers, some people report a slight difference in detail, depending on which ones they plug into. Most, I believe, agree that replacing the factory jumpers with some made from the same wire you're using for the speakers gives at least a slight improvement.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,997
    edited November 2009
    cfrizz wrote: »
    Thank you Al!

    Cathy:)

    Your a girl!!!????

    When the hell did that happen?:D
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  • quadzilla
    quadzilla Posts: 1,543
    edited November 2009
    It's also highly worthwhile to consider anti-cables. At least in my system, they work extremely well, and are at the low end price-wise of "audiophile" grade speaker cables.

    Also, I feel compelled to point out that there are no stupid questions, but there are an awful lot of inquisitive idiots ;)
    Turntable: Empire 208
    Arm: Rega 300
    Cart: Shelter 501 III
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  • eprater1
    eprater1 Posts: 175
    edited November 2009
    so since solid wire (like that used in your homes electrical system) doesnt have the up keep of speaker wire why not use it instead of speaker wire????

    (pretty sure i know the answer but just wanna here it from one of yall, prob has something to do with resistance and signal clairity but what do i know ;) )
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