Question on Surround speakers

 

New member
Username: Manoj

Post Number: 4
Registered: Mar-04
Hi,

I have a Denon 1804 receiver and Mordaunt Short fronts and center speakers. The receiver o/p is 90 watt/channel.
I intend to buy a pair of locally made speakers for the surrounds. The specs for these are
Power Handling (long term / short term)
Full rage operation -40/55 watt
Low cut at 80 Hz or greater -60/85 watt
http://www.sonodyne.com/prodM.htm

Can I use these as these surrounds ?
 

Bronze Member
Username: Timn8ter

Seattle, WA USA

Post Number: 15
Registered: Dec-03
For movies almost any speaker can be used for surround as all you're typically requiring them to do is handle ambient sounds. If you're planning on using DVD-A or SACD multi-channel audio you'll want something that functions over a fairly wide frequency range and matches your L/R/C fairly close. Don't get hung up on power ratings. They can give you a guideline for power requirements but other than that they tell you almost nothing about the speaker. Since you've included something about "full-range" it seems they would work well. You can always adjust the output level at your preamp/receiver.
 

New member
Username: Manoj

Post Number: 5
Registered: Mar-04
Timn8ter,

Front speakers
===============
Model Avant 904
Frequency response (Hz) 50-22k
Sensitivity (dB) 89
Impedance (nominal) (Ohms) 4-8
Power rating (Watts RMS) 15-100
Drivers* (1) 130mm aluminium CPC mid/bass
(1) 25mm aluminium dome tweeter

Surround speakers
===================
Description : 2 way sealed micro monitor
Drivers : 1 x 3" coated cone woofer
1 x ½" polycarbonate dome tweeter
Nominal Impedance : 8 Ohm
Frequency Response : (+/- 3 dB) 120 Hz -- 20 kHz
Frequency Range : (-10 dB) 90 Hz -- 22 kHz
Sensitivity : (2.83 V -- 1m) 87 dB
Power Handling : (long term / short term)
Full rage operation :40/55 watt
Low cut at 80 Hz or greater : 60/85 watt
Crossover Frequency 5.5 kHz

When I connected these, I can barely make out the surround sound.
Will I damage these surrounds if I increase the volume level on the receiver as its O/P is more than the speaker rating ?
 

Bronze Member
Username: Myrantz

Post Number: 66
Registered: Feb-04
Remember that surrounds are mainly for effects. What are you listening to for testing?
Also, you should be able to calibrate your speaker settings with your receiver - levels, distance from listening postion and surround white/pink noise test.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Myrantz

Post Number: 67
Registered: Feb-04
Oh yes, I wouldn't worry about the power, The Denon 1804 will not rate anywhere near the maunufacturers power rating when driving all channels.
 

New member
Username: Manoj

Post Number: 6
Registered: Mar-04
MyRantz,

I played a Dolby Digital version of "Band of Brothers"
About the calibration,
I have set the surround to be 3 db each and the fronts to 0 db.
I changed the delay to 3m for the front and 2.2m for the surround
I have not tried noise test. how do I go about it ?
I feared increasing the volume as it might damage the speakers. The volume ranges from -70 to +20 , I've tried till -15. it was just OK.
Maybe I will try increasing the volume more since u say that power rating is not an issue.

What more can I change to make the surround perfom the best they can. I have actually borrowed them for testing purpose and need to decide if they are worth buying.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Myrantz

Post Number: 68
Registered: Feb-04
Okay, I am not familiar with the Denon's set up though there is usually a noise test for adjusting sound levels for all connected speakers. This is to set the noise levels equally. By ear or, the best method, by a SPL meter. Maybe the 1804 does't have this - hopefully another owner can help.

Haven't seen Band of Brothers - even though it's Dolby Digital does it say it's in 5.1 surround or is just 2 channel?
 

New member
Username: Manoj

Post Number: 7
Registered: Mar-04
Its a 5.1 surround format. The receiver too shows that on the display. Also , I can hear the sound from the surround, only that they are very weak.

Yeah , there is a test tone feature in this. I will try it out. Thank you.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Timn8ter

Seattle, WA USA

Post Number: 18
Registered: Dec-03
You're not going to hurt the speakers if you can't hear anything coming from them. If you'd like to check the level set your receiver to 5 channel stereo. You should get fairly even output from each speaker. For surround sound, if your listening area isn't in the exact middle between the front and rears, calculate the difference in distance, then use the rear delay setting at +1ms for each foot the rears are farther away than the fronts, reverse if they are closer. This concern about using a receiver that's RATED at 90 watts with speakers that are RATED at something lower is erroneous. You can use a 1000w amp with 30W peak speakers and not do any damage as long as you don't turn up the gain too far. If you can use them at normal listening levels without excessive distortion you'll be fine.
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