Audio Systems: pre-wired sound system problem, hooking up an amplifier, output jacks

Question
Hi Robert,
I've got a pre-wired sound system in my home. I bought the house about a year ago with it already in and have not attempted to use it up until now. I have just bought some new speakers and have connected them to the output jacks in my living room. The input jacks are in my family room and have made this connection to the amp as per the cabling schematic. I turn on the amp and no sound comes out of these new speakers in the living room. Amp is working fine by the way. Any thoughts?


Answer
The correct way to trace your cables before hooking up an amplifier is to ring them out either with a meter, tone generator and induction amplifier or 9v battery. Each of these devices need to be connected to the speaker cable at the source end. Someone on the other side (termination)needs to check that there is either sound from the speaker or signal and the other end of the cable. If there are volume controls in the individual rooms they should be turned up in a fully clockwise direction. If you still are not getting a signal at the termination then you need to remove the volume control and check it there.