Computer Speakers - how to split?

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[Socalgal]

Hi All,

Quick update - Bought the Epson Projector on Ebay - Made screen with painter's tarp - bought Yamaha 5.1 HTIB. 

Well, we opened the Yamaha 5.1 system and I was overwhelmed by the whole setup. So after all my frustration regarding speakers we returned the system and used our computer speakers!!  They worked just fine for our small backyard.  We showed Transformers and actually had to turn the sound down.

So my questions is - how do I go about splitting the speakers?  The speakers we have are attached to each other. I want to split them to put one on each side of the screen.

Thanks so much for your help.   

[victor-eyd]

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=240-130&vReviewShow=1&vReviewRand=3881729



and don't forget to extend them
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=240-094



Victor

[Socalgal]

Thanks for the quick response Victor!

The speakers are connected with a cord and then the power cord comes from one speaker. The volume button is also on one speaker.  Do I cut the cord between the speakers? The speakers are Altec Lansing VS-2120.  I'm lost on this one.

Thank you.

[40-Dan]

OK, let me make sure I understand...

One speaker has the power cord AND the signal cable running to it.  The other speaker just has one cord running to the first speaker.  Right?

If so, the amp is in the first speaker.  It drives both of them.  The cable between the speakers is just a regular old 2-conductor speaker wire.  You can cut it and splice in an extra length as required.

Make sense?

Dan

[movielover]

OK, let me make sure I understand...

One speaker has the power cord AND the signal cable running to it.  The other speaker just has one cord running to the first speaker.  Right?

If so, the amp is in the first speaker.  It drives both of them.  The cable between the speakers is just a regular old 2-conductor speaker wire.  You can cut it and splice in an extra length as required.

Make sense?

Dan

that makes sense to me.
i started last summer with a pair of powered gateway speakers and had to extend the one. mine had a 1/8" plug that plugged into the main speaker so i just bought an extension.

for yours you can just cut the wire, splice in a longer piece that will work.

[Socalgal]

Thanks all -

Never have spliced wire before - can I splice the wire without soldering? 

[40-Dan]

Never have spliced wire before - can I splice the wire without soldering? 

Sure you can.  It's not hard at all.

Cut your existing wire, then split the two halves back an inch and a half or so.  Using wire strippers (or a sharp knife / razor blade) remove the insulation 1/2 from each end.  Do the same thing with one end of your "extension wire"  Twist the wires tightly together one conductor at at time, then wrap with electrical tape.  Make sure you tape each "half" of the wire individually to insulate the two conductors, then wrap the entire splice w/ electrical tape to protect the splice.

Repeat the above for the other end.

You can make your splice a lot neater by using shrink tubing instead of electrical tape - just make sure to put the tubing over your wires BEFORE you twist them together.  Then slide the tubing over the splice point and heat gently w/ a lighter until it shrinks tight.

Dan

[Socalgal]

Thanks Dan!

This will be my project this weekend.

[Sparge]

Make sure when you splice in the extra wire that you maintain the +/- polarity of the wiring.  Otherwise the two speakers will be out of phase with each other.  When speakers are out of phase it degrades the sound quality (most notably the bass).

Most 2-wire conductors have a marker stripe (often a black or white stripe or a raised ridge) on one of the wires.  Make sure that when you extend the wires the one with the marker is re-connected on the other end to the one with the marker (in other words, don't cross the wires).  If there are no marker stripes you can use a felt-tip pen to mark the wire before you cut it.

As far as wire is concerned, you may want to use a slightly thicker gauge of wire than the original.  This will help overcome signal loss in the longer run.

-Sparge-