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connecting additional speakers to a 5.1 receiver

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marcoangels

hi, I purchased 2 more speakers for my 5,1 surround sound system, thinking there was a second speaker channel (A+B), but there's not. Because of the thickness of my 16 gauge wire, I cannot input more than one speaker into my receiver, so I've serialed or paralleled them together (L from Sp 1 to L of Sp2, R from Sp1 to R of Sp2). Am I damaging my receiver? Is there a better way, other than buying a different receiver? Thanks, in advance...Johnny

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Re: connecting additional speakers to a 5.1 receiver - mauimusicman 14:48:42 06/01/03 (0)
Why on EARTH would you do this? If people only knew how to assemble an audio system in the FIRST place, they wouldn't stoop this low. I take it your un-satisfied with your systems sound? Start at the begining, not the end. More, or better speakers can do two things. Neither of them good. More speakers, as you now have, mess everything up. Sounds pretty bad, i'd bet. Better speakers will only more clearly reveal all the things you don't like about your system now. Again, start with the source. If you mainly listen to CD's, buy a better sounding cd player. Then the pre-amp, amp and lastly, the speakers. Any other way will result in more frustration on your part till you finally decide you don't even like music and buy a Bose Wave Radio.
Maybe I am oversimplifying things........ - bwkendall 10:21:58 05/30/03 (0)
but since you indicated you thought you could switch from speakers A to speakers B, you really wanted to have two sets of main speakers for use at your option, or for second-room listening purposes. Right?
The gents below have given you very sound advice. You don't want to risk any damage to your receiver. So what I would suggest you do is go to The Good Guys or visit www.Crutchfield.com, and pick up one of their least-expensive Niles speaker selectors. The cheapest one they carry will allow you to connect up to four pairs of speakers. You can even get them with adjustable volume controls for each pair of speakers. You can probably get one of these for $69 - $99.
Re: connecting additional speakers to a 5.1 receiver - Rob Thomas 22:05:49 05/29/03 (5)
Parallel will halve your impedance, serial will double it.
Very low impedance could damage your amp, high shouldn't.
Getting it balanced and imaging properly may be the bigger issue.
- Re: connecting additional speakers to a 5.1 receiver - marcoangels 22:28:00 05/29/03 (4)
  Okay, sorry, let me re-phrase this dilemma....I have a Pioneer 5.1 receiver and purchased 2 additional speakers, thinking I could hook them up as additional L-R speakers to fill out the dead spots in my room. My old Sony receiver had a Speaker A and/or B switch, but this receiver doesn't. Because of the thickness of my 16 gauge wire, I cannot twist and connect the second speaker wire to my receiver, so I've opted to twist and connect via the speaker terminals...I've connected the L terminal of Lspeaker1 to the L terminal of Lspeaker2 and the same for the right speakers...will this damage my receiver's poweramp and/or, is there a better way to connect the 2 sets of L-R speakers? The reason I've added the 2 extra speakers is because of my room's odd dimensions, I can get a wider L-R separation...Johnny
  - Re: connecting additional speakers to a 5.1 receiver - BrassMonkey 07:46:13 05/30/03 (3)
    If I understand correctly, this represents how you have it wired:
    BreceivrR
    | |
    | |
    | |
    | |
    Bspeak01R
    | |
    | |
    | |
    | |
    Bspeak02R
    that is parallel, and halving you impedence. This is probably working your receiver too hard.
    Try wiring the speakers like this:
    |---BreceivrR---|
    | |
    Bspeak01R |
    | |
    | |
    | |
    | |
    Bspeak02R
    and see how it sounds. It will be easier on the amplifier.
    - Re: connecting additional speakers to a 5.1 receiver - mauimusicman 14:54:37 06/01/03 (1)
      Might be easier on the amp but it will be 100 times more painfull to the EAR. Do you work for Bose or something? This is how the 901's are wired. Driving speakers off the output of speakers is insane. Stop screwing with the series wiring while your ears still function.
      - What? Are you talking to me? - BrassMonkey 21:16:49 06/08/03 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Re: connecting additional speakers to a 5.1 receiver posted by mauimusicman on June 01, 2003 at 14:54:37:
        
        I don't work for bose, and I'm not screwing with series wiring.
        I was just trying to clarify what I understood as a suggestion from another post. I certainly wouldn't recommend driving speakers in series - or parallel for that matter.
        All I said was that it would work the amp less.
        Grow up.
    - drat. let's see if this looks better. - BrassMonkey 07:52:28 05/30/03 (0)
      Ok, well my ASCII diagram keeps getting mutilated by the website software.
      Try this:
      Go from receiver+ to speakera+
      From speakera- to speakerb+
      and from speakerb- receiver-
      That will be wired in "series", and work your amp less...

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