5.1 Surround Speakers

garyhopef2s

Hi,

I was hoping someone could give me some advice. I have a Sony STR-DH500 AV Control Center. I am currently using some old Samsung speakers from a 5.1 dvd player (no sub). The model number of the centre speaker is PS-CTHX22. The problem I have is that it's sometimes hard to hear what people are saying so I believe I need at least a new centre speaker. Would it be worth buying a set of 'Hyundai Multicav Surround Sound Speaker Set 1150 Watts MAX' for £100 from ebay? The specs for these are:

335W RMS total power output (3 x 50W + 2 x 180W) - equivalent to 1150W max.
2-way centre speaker with 2 x 10 cm woofers and a Neodymium Tweeters
2-way satellite speakers with 10cm woofers and Neodymium Tweeters
3-way Floor standing speakers with 16cm woofer, 16cm and mid range and Neodymium Tweeter
Impedance center and rear speakers: 4 to 8 Ohm
Front speaker impedance: 4 Ohm
Frequency Response Center and Satellite Speakers: 80Hz to 20kHz
Front speaker frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz
Connections: Center Speaker: clip connectors, Rear satellite speakers: clip connectors, Front speaker connections: screw terminals

Would it also be worth buying an active sub woofer to go with them? I was thinking VIBE OPTISOUND £15 also on ebay.

Basically I don't want to waste my money so would like some advise if possible.

Many Thanks in advance

Gary

googler

Just spend the £100 on a centre speaker, not a whole new system.

garyhopef2s

So would replacing just the centre speaker fix my problem?

also the instructions for the Sony say my speakers should be 8ohm, but they are only 3ohm so should I not replace them all?

cheers

woodworm001

You may be better asking this question on AVForums or similar.

I don't understand this exactly, but I'm pretty sure your amp is working harder than it wants to trying to drive 3ohm speakers, it's possible this is why you're getting channels drop out.

This is a quote from http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-AmplifierLoudspeakerAndOhm.htm

"If speaker impedance is too low the weak power supply of the amplifier gets problems. Too much current will run through the AV receiver's output transistors, causing the receiver to overheat and shut down. If you get 4-ohm speakers, make sure your AV receiver is able to drive them easily."

Euphoria1z

before buying anything further, make sure your current set up is correctly configured. make sure everything is wired properly, check the control settings to make sure things like treble, bass, fader and all other settings have been fine tuned.


personally, I would disconnect all speakers apart from the centre speaker and then have a listen to see what its like and how it sounds, fine tune the audio controls with just the centre speaker working then once your happy, add the other speakers in.


if you have done all this, then go to richer sounds, and speak to their staff and explain the problem to them, they will advise on your set up, explain ohms/watts and watt not.

Strider590

Make sure you haven't wired any of the speakers backwards, this has the audible effect of them cancelling each other out at certain frequencies. I don't know why they still make speakers with those silly grip terminals and bare wires.

garyhopef2s

The speakers are wired in the correct way. I recalibrated the system (it's automatic as it has a mic which you put where you sit) and it was a little better, but during films it's still hard to hear what people are saying without turning it up which makes everything else loud. I have also tried altering bass, treble, etc manually.

I have been asking friends and family if they have some speakers I could borrow to try, but nobody does.


I thought about richer sounds, but they would not advise me on the Hyundai Multicav which I was thinking about buying using nectar points, converted to ebay credits. Richer sounds systems are much more expensive and I don't really want to spend any money.

I will have another play with the settings now

Strider590

garyhopef2s wrote: »

during films it's still hard to hear what people are saying without turning it up which makes everything else loud.

That's normal, that's why I never use external speakers with my TV.

garyhopef2s

I have had another look on richer sounds and they have some cheap surround sets reduced to £50, but they don't look very big in size and look a similar size to what I have already, but the impedance is 8ohm so I think I will give them a ring tomorrow and see what they say.

thanks

blackshirtuk

i have a similar issue with an Onkyo av receiver and cambridge audio speakers.

The auto set up on the onkyo (with mic) puts the centre speaker at -7. I downloaded the app for my phone and just up it to zero if causes an issue.

may not need to spend on speakers, just adjust the settings

garyhopef2s

The auto setup puts the volume of my centre to +2. I have tried it higher, but it doesn't really make a difference.