I’m currently hooking up a surround sound system using Monster XP speaker cable (XPNW MS Navajo White). One thing I notice when stripping the wires to hook them into the speaker is that, after the insulation comes off, there’s still a cellophane-like coating around the copper wires. Uh…am I supposed to keep that? Stripping the wires is a breeze if I keep the coating on, but a royal pain in the butt if I strip it as well, which leads me to believe that I’m supposed to keep it. Anyone ever deal with this stuff? I’m digging around online (would it kill them to include a manual for this sort of thing?) but haven’t come up with anything yet.
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If you’re stripping wire insulation to make a crimp or solder connection or splice, it is pretty crucial to get down to the bare metal. That thin layer of cellophane or whatever will insulate the connection you’re trying to make rather than conducting properly.
For car or home audio with bare-wire press tabs or screw type terminal strips, I’ve made a habit of tinning the stripped wire ends with a bit of regular solder to keep them from fraying and the copper from oxidizing and weakening.
Thanks, jnglmassiv. For the last few wires, I used a higher gage and stripped a little bit closer to the end, and it came right off. Makes sense; I imagine the coating is for the rest of the length, not the speaker/amp connections. It was a stupid OP. Forget I asked. This is what happens when you try to install a surround sound amp and DVD in an entertainment armoire. 