Do unsightly wires and cables hanging from your speakers make you uneasy? Do you prefer a clean and tidy look when setting up your audio or home theater system? If yes, then you must consider getting a speaker outlet wall plate.
Speaker outlet wall plates are essential accessories for building an organized audio or home theater system. They are mounted on the walls and you can use them for connecting speaker cables through the plate.
In this post, we’ll discuss why you should invest in speaker outlet wall plates, things to consider when buying them and their installation technique. Read further to know more.
Why Invest in Speaker Outlet Wall Plates
Here are seven reasons why you should consider investing in speaker outlet wall plates:
They Can Significantly Enhance the Visual Appeal of Audio Setup
If you are looking to build a clean, uncluttered and professional-looking audio setup, we highly recommend using speaker outlet wall plates to conceal untidy speaker wires and connect speakers in an organized manner.
They Help Protect Children and Pets From Exposed Wires/Connections
Speaker outlet wall plates can help a great deal in keeping your kids and pets safe from exposed speaker wires or connections. They minimize the risk of electrocution or other accidents by concealing exposed wires and connections inside the wall.
They Are Useful for Wire Management
Wire management is not limited to concealing or securing hanging speaker wires and cables. It also ensures you are able to identify and access wires or cables connected to individual speakers as and when required. This is where speaker outlet wall plates fit the picture. They come with different binding posts or connectors for speaker wires.
They Can Preserve Your Speakers’ Sound Quality
Yes, that’s right. Hanging or unsecured speaker wires or cables can lead to sound quality issues, such as sound distortion, signal loss, and so on. Speaker outlet wall plates can contribute to improved sound performance by securing your speaker connections.
They Are Easy to Install
Most speaker outlet wall plates on the market come with user-friendly designs. Therefore, you can easily install them with basic DIY skills. You don’t need to hire an installation expert to add a professional-look to your audio or home theater setup.
They Are Versatile
Speaker outlet wall plates are available in different shapes and sizes, with different binding posts or connectors. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about finding the right speaker outlet wall plates for your speakers.
They Can Increase the Resale Value of Your Home
These days, many modern home buyers prefer homes with organized and professional-looking audio systems. Therefore, consider investing in speaker outlet wall plates to get rid of unsightly clutter in your audio setup and differentiate your space in a high-end real estate market.
How to Find the Right Speaker Outlet Wall Plate
Here are the things you need to consider when looking to buy speaker outlet wall plates:
1. Connector Type
These days, you can easily find speaker outlet wall plates with different connector options, such as:
Banana Plug Sockets
These are the most commonly found connectors for speaker outlet wall plates. You can use them to easily install or remove banana plugs attached to your speaker wires and ensure secure connections. You can use banana plug sockets for speaker wires with attached banana plugs or bare wires.
RCA Connectors
RCA connectors are not as common as other connector types. Some speaker outlet wall plates comprise female RCA sockets for line-level signals or subwoofer connections. Cables with male RCA plugs can be attached to the female RCA sockets on the speaker outlet wall plates.
Spring Clips
Spring clips are also popular as push-in or push-type connectors. They come with a spring-packed mechanism that enables them to securely grip speaker wires with stripped ends. To grip a wire using a spring clip, all you need to do is press down on the clip, place the wire inside the opening and release the clip.
Screw Terminals
Speaker outlet wall plates with screw terminals comprise binding posts or screws to grip the speaker wires. In the case of the binding posts, you can either wrap a stripper wire around the post and tighten the screw-down cap to hold the wire or insert a banana plug into the hole in the post. On the other hand, in the case of screw terminals, simply place the stripped wire end or speaker cable into the terminal and secure the connection by tightening the screw.
Therefore, when buying speaker outlet wall plates, thoroughly assess and evaluate the available connector types and choose the ones that best suit your requirements.
2. Number of Speakers to be Connected
Next, determine the number of speakers you plan to connect and select speaker outlet wall plates with enough connectors to accommodate your audio setup.
3. Durability/Material
Thirdly, look for speaker outlet wall plates that are durable and sturdy. Per our experience, some of the most durable speaker outlet wall plates are made from high-quality plastic or metal for extended use.
Also, check the material of the connectors to ensure reliable connections and good sound performance. Poor-quality connectors can lead to connection issues and sound distortion.
4. Design
Ensure the speaker outlet wall plate’s appearance and design complement the decor of your room. Nowadays, you can easily find wall plates available in different colors, designs, and finishes.
Also, check if the wall plate is suitable for the type of walls (e.g., plaster or drywall.
in your home to determine the need for additional installation equipment.
5. Ease of Installation
Ensure the speaker outlet wall plates you are planning to buy are easy to install (preferably DIY) and come with detailed installation instructions. Some speaker outlet wall plates also come with a low-voltage mounting bracket/box. In other cases, you may have to buy the low-voltage mounting bracket/box separately.
How to Install a Speaker Outlet Wall Plate the DIY Way
Tools and Materials Required to Install Speaker Outlet Wall Plates
- Pencil
- Measuring tape
- Stud finder
- Drywall saw or utility knife
- Level
- Low-voltage mounting bracket/box
- Screwdriver
- Wire stripper
- Speaker outlet wall plate
Step-by-Step Instructions to Install Speaker Outlet Wall Plates
Follow these steps carefully to install speaker outlet wall plates in your home:
- Use a stud finder to find the studs in the wall and determine the exact location where you want to install the wall plate.
- Ensure the installation location is near the audio source or your speakers.
- Turn off the power to the room where you are mounting the wall plate.
- Measure the dimensions of the low-voltage mounting bracket and draw its outline on the wall using a level and pencil.
- Cut a hole in the wall large enough to snugly fit the low-voltage mounting bracket or box using a utility knife or drywall saw.
- Be cautious of any hidden plumbing or electrical wiring behind the wall.
- Run the speaker wires from your audio source to the hole you have cut in the wall.
- Leave enough slack on the wires for easy connection to the speaker outlet wall plates.
- Place the low-voltage mounting bracket or box inside the hole in the wall and secure it per the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Strip the speaker wires until you see bare copper endings.
- Attach the speaker wires to the connectors on the wall plates.
- Ensure you connect the wire ends to the correct positive and negative terminals.
- Place the faceplate on the mounting bracket using screws and a screwdriver.
Final Words
Now that you know how speaker outlet wall plates can enhance the visual appeal of your audio setup and help you organize speaker connections, are you planning to get them soon?
Speaker outlet wall plates can be a great investment for anyone looking to elevate their home audio experience. We hope our quick guide has provided you with all the information you need and the confidence to choose the right speaker outlet wall plates for your home.
Go ahead and upgrade your home audio setup with speaker outlet wall plates!
