electricalhome-theaterspeakers
I have a Sony HT-CT150 that no longer outputs sounds.
Can I somehow use my mutli-meter to test the speaker output? Here's what it looks like
I want to make sure that the system is actually outputting sound, before I start ripping speaker wire out of my wall.
I just setup a 5.1 system and obsessed a LOT about this. The room has 8 foot ceilings but has 4 foot knee walls on two sides (with a 45 degree run of sheet rock up to the ceiling). Placement in the corners was the "proper" location for speaker separation as well as aesthetics (and to keep kids from bumping into them). However, I was worried if I put the speakers in the corners I'd get a lot of harsh echos from the walls. In my case, yes I do get echos at some frequencies and it's obvious if a test blip is played from that speaker alone, BUT when I'm watching a movie I don't notice it at all (the speakers were the rears).
What I'd suggest is to try out the speakers on temporary mounts near the ceiling if feasible (command strips or the like depending on how heavy they are). If the "voices from heaven" effect isn't a problem, then you're good.
In my setup the fronts are essentially right next to the TV and I find I still get enough stereo separation for me. So keeping them nearer the TV but closer together likely wouldn't be a problem either (especially if having them high is distracting)
If you simply used the ohm meter to check between the wire pair at each of the three terminus points then it is very likely that you would read infinite. The reason being is that the other ends of the pair are laying open someplace else.
To check for the wire routing you would need to check for continuity from one wire at say point C0 to one of the wires at point F.
The two pairs of wires at point F may have been connected to speakers located at or near that point. If that is the case then it is likely that all six of your speaker wires terminate at some location that you have not yet located. Some systems that people install put all the equipment out of site in a closet or adjacent room. This is particularly true for cases where the equipment is almost totally controlled through a user interface on the video screen.
You may have wire pairs looking something like this coming from a closet someplace:
You could investigate trying to trace the wire routing. There are tools that you can purchase that inject a signal into a wire from a battery operated transmitter. Then there is a separate receiver unit with a probe that you slide along the wall. The receiver module will produce a sound that chirps and varies in intensity depending upon how close to the driven wire it is located the probe. I own several of these units and have good to mixed results with them. Here is a link to the unit that I have had reasonable success using.
You can find this unit at better hardware stores, big box locations or online. The price showing at the link above is decidedly better than what I paid for the same unit about 10 years ago.
Best Answer
Yes, flip the meter to "AC". You should detect a fluctuating AC voltage when sound plays. Some amplifiers also put a DC bias on speaker circuits, you can check for that too by flipping the meter to "DC".