Where to buy wall mounted hifi connectors?

Question

As the title suggests I'm, looking for wall mounted plates that fit a normal single electrical back box.

I'm after concealing speaker cables under the floor for my surround system but want a bit of flexibility so I can unplug without messy cables laying about everywhere.

I'm after the following

2 off single speaker connections

1 off double speaker connections

2 off single phono (for the subwoofer)

I've found some by QED but they're pretty expensive - The system doesn't warrant that kind of money spending on it so does anyone know a decent, quick source of these items?

Cheers for any help

C.

Dave Walsh · Accepted Answer

I would use connectors known as XLR's. Theyre used in pro audio. What you would need is inline male XLRs for the cables on the speakers,

formatting link

and in the floor you can get some nice floor boxes that would take a panel mounted female XLR. You can even do the sub connection using a floor box and a D-type phono connector. The D-type refers to a standard used in pro audio which designates the size of the hole on a panel required to fit a panel mount D-type connector. (And yes to those who are in pro audio I am reversing the male female standard for safety reasons better to have a female connector exposed to the public when its carrying amplified signal than a male)

here are some things to look at;

a floor box:

formatting link

mount onto a wall;

formatting link

connectors;

formatting link

you could use Speakons but these are a bit large and garish for domestic use

formatting link

look floor mount XLR connectors

formatting link

wiring convention for XLR seakers is pin1 negative and pin2 positive, pin 3 has no connection.

there are also speakon connector panels available

formatting link

this helps

Glukk Dave W.

Dave Gibson · Answer

I buy the plain blanking plates and then fit them with whateversockets/terminals I need for the application. also available in a range of other finishes if you look.Dave

Andrew Gabriel · Answer

CPC sell some. Depends what type of speaker socket you want.I made my own using blanking plates and the raw socket parts.

Dave Plowman (News) · Answer

Easiest way is to make them.Blank plates to match your existing sockets will be available from anelectrical wholesaler. The sheds may also have the common makes.I'd use Speakon connectors for the speakers. Maplin etc. They'll also havephono sockets designed for panel mounting.Best way to cut the hole for the Speakons in a plastic plate is with ahole saw used at slow speed in a drill.

Dave Plowman (News) · Answer

Speakons are not only a better connector for speaker use, but more robust.No modern pro gear uses XLRs for speakers these days. Apart from perhaps100 volt line.

completely made up · Answer

Cheers everyone,I hadn't thought of making them myself - Looks like the best idea.

Simon Stroud · Answer

I just bought a load of these from CPC.The wall-mounted screw terminals seem OK. Gold-looking plated and windy"binding posts" with holes drilled through to take wires.BUT the specially-for-speaker spade terminals (on the same page in thecatalogue) were totally useless. They have three "steps" in the spade thingto supposedly fit three different terminal diameters. BUT they aren't bigenough to fit either the wall-mounted terminals or the terminals on the backof my speakers. So I haven't bothered using them. Ebay here they come! Justwhacked the ends of the wires into the holes in the binding posts.Regards,.Simon.

Owain · Answer

"completely made up" wrote | I hadn't thought of making them myself - Looks like the best idea.There's an article about making outlet plates at

Peter · Answer

Actually B&Q now sell these plates, well the local (Reading) Warehouse does. next to the TV aerials and computer bits.Not sure of the cost.

Where to buy wall mounted hifi connectors?

Join the Discussion

Didn't find your answer?