Need heme theater help...pool related

xianmacx

xianmacx

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hey guys,

Let me start this with saying I am A/V dumb, I mean real dumb. So in the words of michael scott, "talk to me like I'm 8"

Just moved into new house and got my Diamond installed. It is surrounded by 4 in wall polk Audio speakers. I have a $99 walmart special receiver that I hooked up and I cant get all 4 speakers to work at the same time. They each work plugged in individually, but more than 2 at once, and they dont work. I am sure my receiver needs to be replaced so I need some help.

I want to spend minimal money but make sure all these speakers can play at once. I also want a receiver that has a setting to just play all 4 speakers at the same level, not where the front are louder and the backs are just for surround stuff.

Again sorry for sounding like an idiot, I can't help it...haha

here are the specs on the speakers if it helps.

Product Features
Pair of 2-way in-wall speakers timbre-matched to the Polk Audio RTi Series for seamless imaging
Equipped with one 6.5-inch dynamic-balance, mineral filled polymer-composite cone
Frequency Response: 32Hz - 20kHz
Equipped with one 0.75-inch dynamic-balance, metalized soft dome tweeter with swivel mount
Constructed of durable, moisture-resistant materials for use in bathrooms, saunas, or under outdoor eaves
Technical Details
Brand Name: Polk Audio
Model: AW0065-A
Color Name: White
Speaker Amplification Type: Passive
Speakers Maximum Output Power: 200 Watts
Height: 12.0 inches
Width: 8.5 inches
Weight: 8 pounds
 
DoubleD said:
How big is your room?

Unless the room is HUGE, I'd be much happier with a simple stereo setup. Having four channels the same volume is going to sound really confusing, especially as you move around the room playing. Two channel will at least give you a chance of having a soundstage (i.e. it will seem like you can locate the band).

I spent a lot of time playing with multi-channel and ended up scrapping it all and going with a stereo setup for both music and movies.

You'll probably want to look for a little subwoofer for those speakers. Any receiver you buy should have a built in crossover (cuts the signal to speakers, sends it to subwoofer). You'll probably need to set the crossover at 80Hz.

dld
Click to expand...

Gotcha, so is there a certain watt receiver I need to make sure all 4 speakers can be powered? Like I said, my current receiver cant get all speakers to work at the same time on any setting.
 
Generally speaking many receivers will only power two speakers if the sound is in stero. If the sound coming through is digital it may power all four.

See if you can find a digital (HD) or similar station and then find out if all four are working.

Polk has a sub woofer for your system. Check on line or at Best Buy (they often carry Polk equipment). A reasonable amp usually cost about $500.00 or so. You can get them cheaper but usually you get what you pay for. If you look around many audiophiles upgrade and sell off their old equipment cheaply so you might get a deal from someone with a 5.1 system who upgraded to 7.0. It is worth looking around as you can save 50% or more of the cost of a good amplifier. And you might get some help setting it up.
 
Last edited:
You need a surround sound receiver...One that will power the speakers like 4 x 50 watts or more each speaker will get the same amount of power.

Sorry to tell you a Walmart special is'nt going to work...You need to spend at least a couple hundred bucks to get a decent unit, and generally the more you spend you get a more powerfull receiver.

You have nice speakers do them justice by getting the proper juice to run them
 
Do you have specs for the receiver?

I am thinking you have too many speakers attached (well, you do) but what I mean is the way they are attached could be the problem as it drops the load below what the amplifier can handle.

If the receiver is rated for an 8 ohm load, and you connect two 8-ohm speakers, you are good (4 ohm load). Connect four of them, and the load is too low ( 2 ohm load) and the amplifier shuts off.

See here:

http://www.carstereo.com/help/Articles.cfm?id=35

You need to know the resistance (impedance) of the speakers and the lowest possible load for the amplifier. I have a feeling the lowest load is 2 ohms (may be higher) and you are at or below that now. Note that 8 is common for a speaker; however an in-wall 2-way speaker could easily be a 4-ohm load too.
 
what you have is a surround sound unit by the sounds of it, nowadays receivers wont play all 4 speakers because true stereo effect is only 2 speakers the rear channels are only meant for special effect (surround) sounds. if you want hook the rear speaker to the front channels along with the other 2 there are a couple different ways of wiring this, but with todays stereo units either ways would be fine, I can get into a whole discussion on OHMS and such but i think you get the point. If you want i can talk you through this by phone just let me know ( you said talk to you like an 8 Y.O.)

just read all the post above, With my experience with home audio 95% of home speakers are either 16 ohm or 8 ohm, therefor you can wire 2 sets of 16 ohm speaker in parallel per channel, making it have an 8 ohm load, or if you wire 2 8 ohm speakers the same way you have a 4 ohm load, most receivers wont like this but will do it, if not played at full volume for long periods of time (heat)

so i'd check the back of the speakers and the receiver and see what the specs are
 
Last edited:
You could hook all 4 speakers to the main left/right speaker outputs if you hook them up in sets of two - wired in series. You won't be able to get as much volume this way, but it should work.

Receiver L+ to Spkr1 + to Spkr1 - to Spkr2 + to Spkr2 - to Receiver L-

Repeat for the right side and the two remaining speakers.

Be worth a try.
 
Cue Guru said:
If the receiver is rated for an 8 ohm load, and you connect two 8-ohm speakers, you are good (4 ohm load). Connect four of them, and the load is too low ( 2 ohm load) and the amplifier shuts off.
Click to expand...

This is correct if you have the speakers wired in parallel, which I'm assuming you do since the amp seems to be shutting off. You need to either get a surround sound receiver so you will actually have outputs for all four speakers, or you will have to get an impedence leveling device of some sort. I had speakers in four different rooms in my previous house, with volume control knobs on the walls in each of the rooms. I used a speaker control switchbox (monster offers one for $50-$60) to turn the rooms on and off, and the device had built in impedence leveling so it put the proper load on the amp whether I was running 2 speakers or 8 speakers. Aside from wiring the speakers in series, a switchbox like this is probably the cheapest solution available to you.


Aaron
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the posts...I'm going to do some online shopping and maybe post a few receivers...
 
For once a question up my alley. (This is what I do for a living.) For what you are trying to do, you do not need to buy a surround sound receiver. Not all audio sources work well for surround, and not all surround receivers will utilize the rear speakers for "regular" sound. Surround sound receivers are designed to send seperate audio to each speaker, from a source that delivers the encoded sound. That's why you get the special effects from the rear speakers in a movie environment. Not the best for regular music listening. (Again, some receivers will allow you to switch the rear speakers to a more regular mode. Not all of them, though.)

Just purchase a receiver that has seperate "A" and "B" speaker outputs, and allows you to use both "A" and "B" at the same time. This used to be standard on stereo receivers for years, nay, decades, but with the advent of the home theater style surround sound receivers it is not nearly as commonplace. I would advise against ganging them up, as that makes the receiver work harder than it is designed to do. (You could get a switch box that impedence-matches, and do it that way, if need be. About $40 or so at retail, no doubt much less online.)

Still, they are out there, I'm certain. I would advise getting one with 80-100 watts per channel, which should be quite easy as well. Much less and the system won't deliver the bass as well, even at moderate volumes. The bass is the hardest part of the sound to reproduce for the amplifier. More wattage makes it work easier, thus less potential distortion. These receivers shouldn't have to cost more than $150 at retail. It will probably be easier for you to determine by actually going into the Best Buy to look at the units, spin them around to see if they have both "A" and "B" (not "Rear", thats for surround) and to see if the unit will let you run both "A" and "B" at the same time. It won't be a big selection, as non-surround receivers aren't as big a seller these days.
 
Re-reading your original post, I wonder why your existing receiver won't let you use both "A" and "B" at the same time. You sound like you've tried everything, but perhaps you've missed something. Are there seperate buttons for "A" and "B", or is it in a menu? Often times, there is simply the choice between just "A", just "B" and then for both.

When you get us that model number I'll see what I can find online about it. Maybe you don't have to buy anything just yet...
 
If you REALLY want all 4 speakers playing at the same level , AND have a soundstage effect , you need to come up with an old Marantz , JVC , or Magnavox amp with the word "quadraphonic" printed on the front, or at least over the speaker jacks . Quads were the forerunner to surround sound , but they allowed equal volume levels at all four corners . 70's Pink Floyd and Yes albums (among others) were recorded in quads , and you could actually experience the music moving around the room. Todays surround systems have nothing on those old-time quads - which were discontinued because CD's don't offer 4-track sound reproduction or reproduction of true highs . (but you can connect cd players to the RCA 'in' jacks of a quad amp - you just won't get the same effects you get with vinyl or 8-tracks.

(benefits of being really , really old . . . . )
 
ridinda9 said:
If you REALLY want all 4 speakers playing at the same level , AND have a soundstage effect , you need to come up with an old Marantz , JVC , or Magnavox amp with the word "quadraphonic" printed on the front, or at least over the speaker jacks . Quads were the forerunner to surround sound , but they allowed equal volume levels at all four corners . 70's Pink Floyd and Yes albums (among others) were recorded in quads , and you could actually experience the music moving around the room. Todays surround systems have nothing on those old-time quads - which were discontinued because CD's don't offer 4-track sound reproduction or reproduction of true highs . (but you can connect cd players to the RCA 'in' jacks of a quad amp - you just won't get the same effects you get with vinyl or 8-tracks.

(benefits of being really , really old . . . . )
Click to expand...

Damn I'm getting old. Almost forgot about those old quad systems.

Justadub is correct, if your current receiver does not allow you to choose both A and B speakers, pick up an inexpensive receiver that does and your set. As he stated, make sure it allows you to turn on BOTH sets at once. I think the Denon DRA-297 ($300) and Teac AG-790A ($150) do but I could be wrong. I'm sure there are others as well.

Cheers,
RG
 
ridinda9 said:
If you REALLY want all 4 speakers playing at the same level , AND have a soundstage effect , you need to come up with an old Marantz , JVC , or Magnavox amp with the word "quadraphonic" printed on the front, or at least over the speaker jacks . Quads were the forerunner to surround sound , but they allowed equal volume levels at all four corners . 70's Pink Floyd and Yes albums (among others) were recorded in quads , and you could actually experience the music moving around the room. Todays surround systems have nothing on those old-time quads - which were discontinued because CD's don't offer 4-track sound reproduction or reproduction of true highs . (but you can connect cd players to the RCA 'in' jacks of a quad amp - you just won't get the same effects you get with vinyl or 8-tracks.

(benefits of being really , really old . . . . )
Click to expand...

And don't forget the first album produced for quadraphonics... "Quadrophenia" by The Who.

"Reign O'er Me", "Dr. Jimmy"... good stuff.
 
justadub said:
And don't forget the first album produced for quadraphonics... "Quadrophenia" by The Who.

"Reign O'er Me", "Dr. Jimmy"... good stuff.
Click to expand...

My favorite off that album is 5:15. I have the album, just not in quad.

Cheers,
RG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top