Concepts

Pair

Two passive speakers of one zone wired as Left and Right on one cable — SP-3L and SP-3R, or FL and FR in a surround.

A pair is two passive 8Ω speakers of the same zone wired as Left and Right. They share one number with the side after it — SP-3L and SP-3R — because on four-conductor wire they share one cable: from the rack or panel, or a volume control, to the nearer speaker and on to the other. A pair of two types keeps each speaker's own number: SP-3L and IW-5R.

A zone set to wire As pairs pairs its speakers in the order they join it, by chain placement or connecting: the one already there is Left, the newcomer Right. The odd one out shows no pair and has its own run. Zones on drawings from before cabling start as Each speaker.

In a surround wired As pairs, as a newly placed one is, a left role pairs with its right one, FL with FR or SL with SR, never the centre or a subwoofer; the speakers keep their roles as labels and the roles decide the sides.

A pair counts only while both speakers are passive 8Ω, neither stereo nor a subwoofer, surround roles that are partners, in one zone, and going to the same place. Otherwise it rests, and comes back when they qualify again.

Swap L/R changes only which conductors are Left and Right: where the cable enters and its Cable ID stay. Unpair ends the pair; it is not the soundbar's Unpair.

Tasks: Wire speakers as pairs.