Hooking up your CD changer at home is a breeze if you have the necessary cables and components. If the unit is new, it should come with the proper cables. Almost all home audio components use RCA cables (or phone plugs, as they are also known as), and these will go directly into the back of your amplifier. This article will cover the process to ensure you've got proper connections, the changer is operable and the audio is functioning.

Connecting the CD Changer

After removing the CD changer from the packaging, find the cables that come with it. You will find one cable with red connectors and one with white (the most common color combination), and they should be an attached pair. This is a stereo connection. If you did not get cables with the unit, you can generally find them at an electronics or stereo store---or online. They are not expensive, so don't get the cheapest brand as they are most likely to fail. You don't need the deluxe gold-plated ones either, which are a waste of money. Find the input plugs on the back of your CD changer. You should see an two female RCA plugs that will match the colors of your RCA connectors. (If they don't, it doesn't matter, just ensure that when you attach the cables to the amplifier later that the left signal from the CD goes to the left input on the amplifier--ditto, right--or you will reverse the signal.) Plug the RCA connector from the cable to the matching female connector on the CD changer. Look at the back of your amplifier. You should see an array of female RCA inputs that the cables attach to, marked Phono, Aux, CD. Plug the connectors from the other end of the cable into the back of the amplifier where it is marked CD. If there is no CD marking, use the Aux plugs. Plug in and turn on the CD changer. Turn down the volume on the amplifier and turn in on. Open the CD Changer door and place a music CD in each of the slots. Select "Play" on the CD Changer. Select "CD" or "Aux" (depending on which plugs you used on the back of the amplifier) on the component selector on the front of the amplifier. Turn up the volume. If you have sound, flip through all the CDs on the CD changer to ensure it is working correctly. If there is no sound, try a new set of RCA cables. If there is still no sound, check to see if other components play through the amplifier, and try a working component played through the CD plugs on the back of the amplifier. If that works, you may have a faulty CD changer that needs to be checked by a technician.

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Yamaha Electronics: Hook Up Diagrams