SCS 135 SAT - JBL Audio User Guide / Operation Manual. Page 5

Separate and strip the 
ends of the speaker wire 
as shown. Speakers and
electronics terminals have
corresponding (+) and (–)
terminals. Most manu-
facturers of speakers and
electronics, including JBL,
use red to denote the (+)
terminal and black for the 
(–) terminal. To use the
spring-type terminals, simply
press the colored terminal,
insert the bare end of the
wire into the hole, and
release. The clip inside the
terminal grips the wire. Tug
the wire gently to make sure
that it has been inserted
properly.

The (+) lead of the speaker
wire is usually indicated by 
a stripe, ridges in the wire
insulation, or gold-colored
strands inside clear wire
insulation. It is important to
connect both speakers
identically: (+) on the
speaker to (+) on the
amplifier and (–) on the
speaker to (–) on the
amplifier. Wiring “out of
phase” results in thin 
sound, weak bass and 
a poor stereo image.

With the advent of
multichannel surround-
sound systems, connecting 
all of the speakers in your
system with the correct
polarity remains equally
important in order to
preserve the proper
ambience and directionality
of the program material.