SIGNATURE 1.3 (serv.man5) - Harman Kardon Audio User Guide / Operation Manual. Page 9

6

Cable with a diameter of 1.0mm

2

may be used for short

runs of less than 4 meters. We do not recommend the use
of cables with a smaller diameter 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 the 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 applicable building or electrical
codes in your area.

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. 

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 1.3 and your speakers.
The negative wire should be connected to the black
terminal on the 1.3 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 connec-
tions, 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.

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.