How to Hook Up an AMP to a CD Player

By James Clark

Hook up an amplifier to a CD player with stereo cables
i amplifier image by Eray Haciosmanoglu from Fotolia.com

A CD player needs power to pump up the volume to a level it can be heard. Although the headphone jack on a CD player provides a small electrical charge sufficient to drive a headset for private listening, an amplifier (AMP) must be hooked up to use full-size speakers. The amplifier connects to a CD player using a standard set of audio cables equipped with 1/4-inch jacks on each end. Setting up the components takes less than a minute.

Step 1

Insert the red and white plugs on one end of the stereo cables to the red and white audio output jacks on the back of the CD player.

Step 2

Connect the plugs on the other end to the audio input jacks on the amplifier, matching the white plug to the left audio channel and the red plug to the right. The jacks also should be color-coded to match with the plugs.

Step 3

Plug in the electrical cords for both components and press the "Power" buttons.

Step 4

Set the component selector knob on the front of the amplifier to the audio jacks connecting it to the CD player. On amplifiers with a display screen, dial the knob until "CD" or "CD Player" appears on the LED panel.

×