Setting up my speaker system Help Please!

[voyaging]

So I just received a set of speakers and other electronics from my uncle and am looking for help as to whether I have everything I need and how to set it up. I currently have a NAD preamp, NAD CD player, Carver power amp, and 2 tower speakers. How do I set this thing up? Thanks!

Edit: If you need more info let me know!

 

[jamie2112]

Plug your cd player into "cd" input on the preamp. Then take the preamp output to the input of the power amp. Then hook up your speakers to the power amp. Turn it on and enjoy......

 

[mtrycrafts]

So I just received a set of speakers and other electronics from my uncle and am looking for help as to whether I have everything I need and how to set it up. I currently have a NAD preamp, NAD CD player, Carver power amp, and 2 tower speakers. How do I set this thing up? Thanks!

Edit: If you need more info let me know!

Just in case: the cable between the preamp and power amp is an interconnect cable, usually with red and white ends; speaker wire to the speakers from the power amp. Hope these cables were passed on to you as well.

 

[voyaging]

Thanks guys, think it's just about set up! There is no sound however, and I think the problem lies in my connection from my CD player to my preamp. I currently am using the red + white audio cables coming out of the label "FIXED" on my CD player, going into "CD" on my preamp.

 

[Adam]

Thanks guys, think it's just about set up! There is no sound however, and I think the problem lies in my connection from my CD player to my preamp. I currently am using the red + white audio cables coming out of the label "FIXED" on my CD player, going into "CD" on my preamp.

In no way is this intended to be patronizing - have you selected the "CD" input as the source on the preamp?

 

[voyaging]

In no way is this intended to be patronizing - have you selected the "CD" input as the source on the preamp?

Yep

10char

EDIT: There is now sound! However, it is only coming out of one speaker and is extremely quiet. Problem with the speaker cable maybe? Which cable goes into the red and which into the black? The insulator on one end of each cable has a white line.

 

[jamie2112]

You want to make sure that you plug the cables in correctly. On you speaker cable there should be some kind of writing on 1 side and the other side should be blank. This is how you tell you are not wiring "out of phase" Meaning red on the amp posts to red on the speaker posts and black to black from amp to speakers. I use the side of the speaker cable with the writing on it for black and the side without writing red. Unless of course you have standard black and white wire. Make sure the rca cables are plugged in red to red black to black as well.The white line side hook up to the black on each end of your cables and hook up the side without the white to your red outputs and speaker inputs

 

[voyaging]

I think the problem lies in my speaker cables. If I switch the cables around, then the OTHER speaker is the only one that works, so my speaker cables must be broken.

Would i be able to cut a bit of the speaker cable off and it would work? Or do I need to buy a new one?

 

[jamie2112]

Go ahead and try it . Do you have red and black hooked up to both sides correctly?

 

[mtrycrafts]

Yep

10char

EDIT: There is now sound! However, it is only coming out of one speaker and is extremely quiet. Problem with the speaker cable maybe? Which cable goes into the red and which into the black? The insulator on one end of each cable has a white line.

I would perhaps suggest you try the variable output on the CD player.
The white line of the speaker cable should go to the same colors on the speaker as the power amp. If only one color, perhaps red, is common to both, then connect them with the white striped wire and the other on the remaining terminal for each side. This will keep them in phase.
Also, be careful that wire strands are not hanging out to short together.

 

[voyaging]

Fixed it! The "Tape Monitor" button on the preamp was pressed in

However, now the sound is only coming out of one speaker.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Fixed it! The "Tape Monitor" button on the preamp was pressed in

However, now the sound is only coming out of one speaker.

Not sure of the component ages you have, but some older gear had a channel balance under another knob. Check to see if you have one and turned all the way to one side?
Check speaker connections; swap speaker connections to make sure speakers working properly, etc.

 

[voyaging]

Not sure of the component ages you have, but some older gear had a channel balance under another knob. Check to see if you have one and turned all the way to one side?
Check speaker connections; swap speaker connections to make sure speakers working properly, etc.

You're a genius! The balance control was inside of the volume knob, just thought the knob was loose .

Thanks so much for everyone's help!!

 

[mtrycrafts]

You're a genius! The balance control was inside of the volume knob, just thought the knob was loose .

Thanks so much for everyone's help!!

Well, not a genius, just beat that TLS guy to the punch since he has been around a long time and know of older gear