Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with stereo and speakers

Sounds Good...

madeinitaly — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:34:33 -0800

[Hi-Fi / HT filter] Help me find the right front speakers for my receiver, so that both music and movies sound good ! Hello.

I have a Harman Kardon AV 145 which i always used with the standard JBL 5.1 speaker set it came with (little and probably not so good satellites, but i really like the subwoofer).

I got my hands on a Mission m7c1 center speaker (got for almost free) and recently replaced the left and right front speaker (which previously were just little boxes) with some TEAC coming out of a compact system a friend was throwing away.

The difference since i put those left/right (sorry i don't have name or characteristics, but just imagine your typical 2 ways system from a 90s compact system) is amazing: music sounds much better - and i guess it's because now the left/right sound can manage some bass and the subwoofer just gives it a final touch.

The issue is that now when i watch a movie, i think the right/left sound too powerful compared to the middle - so you hear all the background noised much louder than the speech... and that's less than optimal. My receiver has the option to select if each speaker is "large" or "small", option that basically cross-overs the bass to the subwoofer or to the speakers themselves.

now... i think i might need to set the speakers as "small" in order to not overpower the middle... but then i miss the improvement i gained in the music listening area....

does this make sense? What would you do and/or what tests would you do ?

Secondly... I have now the chance to do two things

1) replace those TEAC speakers with the speakers that come from this Panasonic SC-DP1 system which actually sound _amazing_ and i would like to keep. Problem... these speakers have 4 wires coming out of them and my HK AVR 145 only has 2 plugs for each speaker... how do i connect them ?

2) someone is selling these amazing Mission 733 speakers for a very low price... i really like the idea of professional speakers but... will they be alright for the rest of my system or would i just add to the problem of left/right overpowering the middle ?

thank you all for your help!

What receiver and speakers should I purchase for under $400?

vmrob — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:58:51 -0800

I'm on a budget and want to upgrade my audio system. What receiver/speakers I should purchase to get the most for my money? I currently own a mini-hifi system from Sony (Specifically the MHC-GX45). I wouldn't mind reusing the receiver/amp from that system though I have a feeling to get the most out of the system, I'll be looking for a new receiver as the input options are very limited on the device.

The entire system will be used for stereo sources so surround isn't a priority though a dedicated subwoofer would be nice.

After a quick look online, I found a set of speakers from Sony (SS-F5000) that seem to fit my budget and have overall good reviews. If there is a better pair of speakers (floor standing would be nice, but not necessary) at about that price, what are they and where can I get them?

As for a receiver, I'm totally lost. I've never been in the market and I'm not sure what I need. Auto-switching sources would be nice though I don't know what other features I should be looking for. Recommendations?

My budget for the whole system would preferably be less than $400. If you point out a sub I could add later, bonus points to you. I know the budget will force me to make sacrifices to the sound quality and I'm ok with that, but I really want a system that sounds good. In other words, if I have to step up the price, I can do that, but my purchase will be a little delayed.

Noise canceling technology for a whole apartment?

gilsonal — Mon, 25 May 2009 11:29:39 -0800

Any good solutions for canceling out my neighbor's bass from their stereo without headphones? Headphones aren't an option all the time if I need to sleep. Are their nose canceling stereos? How well do they work? What else could I try? Just moved into a new place and my next door neighbors have about 20 people coming and going during the day, mostly right outside my patio door, and also have a huge bass hooked up to their tv and stereo. I'm a quiet person, and its starting to drive me nuts that I can't spend a day without hours trying to ignore it. I know this is the kind of situation that ends up in people being annoyed, and I'd like to get along with these guys. I'm prone to headaches and sleep day hours, and I don't want this to turn into a brawl. Its to the point I can't even spend time in my living room and I've taken to leaving my apartment altogether to escape the noise.

I see plenty of noise canceling headphones, and speakers for CB's but what I'd like is an audio player (kind of like a white noise machine) that would send opposing sound wave out. Using an old laptop with speakers to accomplish this as well would be doable.

Are there systems out there? How well do they work? Any other non-confrontational, non-passive aggressive ways to deal with this?

Do I really need two or three separate boxes for just-OK computer audio?

amtho — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:53:33 -0800

Do I really need two or three separate boxes for just-OK computer audio? I need some kind of speaker to hook up to my laptop-used-as-a-desktop, but having three or even two separate components is cumbersome. I also don't think I really need an expensive, fancy system. The sound from this JBL Creature system has been fine, but now I need to use it for another purpose. It was always kind of a pain, anyway, because the sub woofer wouldn't fit on my crowded desk, and it houses the on/off control, so I'd have to crawl under my desk to turn off the power. (the power brick gets alarmingly warm, too, but that's another issue). I always kept the two little "stereo" speakers right next to each other, anyway -- I'm not looking for a "you are there" sound experience from my computer.

I'd love something smallish that will fit on my desk, ideally with a flat surface on top so I can stack something on it. I don't think I need a whole bunch of bass, but enough sound quality for movies and the occasional foray into music (I'm enjoying Admira's classical guitar tracks, thanks!) would be nice.

The speaker built into my tiny Thinkpad is too quiet to even hear most movies, so I need _something_.

I've tried shopping in a couple of local stores, but it seems like everything comes in sets of two, three, or even five separate speakers. Apparently, marketing departments everywhere think that all purchasing decisions are made by teenage boys.

I'd like to spend maybe $50 for something, or maybe a little more if necessary, but it seems like I should be able to find something for less -- used would be OK, even. Is this realistic?

Brand/model recommendations would be extremely welcome.

How do I stop my surround sound system cutting out?

Beep — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:26:46 -0800

My surround sound system keeps cutting out at higher volumes. Please help me find a way to stop it happening. I'm using a Panasonic SC-AK600 receiver; it has 5 speakers and is programmed to receive digital signals. It's plugged into both my DVD player and Xbox 360 through a coaxial cable and optical cable, respectively. When the volume is at higher levels, all but the center speaker cuts out. And it cuts out at a single instance of sound (such as a sudden explosion or noise in the movie/game). I know that this may be some kind of safety feature to keep the speakers from becoming ruined, but I feel that the volume should be able to be higher.

Important point: the volume only cuts out when it is receiving a signal in 5.1 surround sound. If I'm not watching something in that configuration (ie, noise is still coming from all speakers; it's just not in 5.1) I can turn the volume up as high as I want, and nothing happens. So, I know that the fact the volume can't be higher is something to do with it receiving a 5.1 surround signal. The receiver is meant to be able to play this, so I don't know why this keeps happening.

Also, my left surround speaker has some additional speaker wire I had to hook up to it to extend the length, and has a lower volume than the right surround speaker. I don't know if that's a result of the additional speaker wire or not. I know it has nothing to do with settings on the receiver because I've checked that. Anyway, does this lower volume or additional speaker wire on the left surround speaker have anything to do with the speakers cutting out in 5.1 surround sound? I'm no sound expert, but thought I'd throw that out there for anyone who may know.

While I'm at it, there seems to be a slight difference between the audio coming from the TV and from the receiver's speakers (again, only in 5.1) when using the DVD player. I usually just turn down the TV's volume to 0, but feel as I shouldn't have to. There's an HDMI cable running from the DVD player to the TV. And again, the receiver is hooked up directly to the DVD player.

Thanks for reading this whole thing. Please help me with any knowledge/experience you may have.

How to place a good speaker in a bad corner?

aladfar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:28:20 -0800

How to place a good speaker in a corner? After investing in some decent audio gear, I find that I cannot avoid placing the left speaker in a corner due to space constraints. As expected, this emphasizes low the frequencies on that side and makes the sound stage a bit wonky. Short of moving the speaker, is there any way to mitigate this somewhat?

Where can I find a specific stereo speaker to replace my old one?

Beep — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:25:55 -0800

Where can I find the correct speaker for my Panasonic CD Stereo System, model number SC-AK600? It still works quite well except for the left surround speaker. I need to find a replacement speaker. Any websites out there that sell these?

Which speakers should I get for my Mac?

OmieWise — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:17:32 -0800

I'm going to be relying on my iMac and the music stored on it for a while. I would like to get a set of speakers so that the computer sounds better. What reasonably-priced powered speakers have folks had success with? I'd rather not get a separate subwoofer. I'd be willing to get a small amp and use my small stereo speakers if all the other options are too crappy. Thanks.

Will my head explode if I wear my earphones the wrong way round?

grumblebee — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:01:43 -0800

stupid question: why are there left and right stereo speakers? Okay, I understand (and appreciate) that there are two sets of sounds and that they're separated in space. But I don't get the specificity of left and right. On my headphones, one speaker is labeled L and the other is labeled R.

Several times a day, I start to put them on without first checking that I'm matching the speakers to the correct ears. Then I realize what I'm doing and check the labels. Part of me feels like it's a good thing I'm doing this; another part of me feels like a lemming, mindlessly following directions to march off a cliff.

Would it make any difference if I listened to L with my right ear and R with my left ear? When I've boldly (and guiltily) done this, I haven't noticed any difference. Is this because L and R are bullshit labels? Or is it because I'm not a sophisticated enough listener to appreciate L and R? Would a real audiophile exclaim, "What's going on? Why is the string section on the right?!?"

Bi-amping: How to using cheap t-amps?

humblepigeon — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 10:16:32 -0800

Bi-amping two cheap Sonic Impact T-amps — is it worth it? I've got two of the notorious Sonic Impact T-amp amplifiers on order. I'm not into audiophilia at all (which is why I'm asking this question here rather than on an audiophile forum). But I really want a clean and distinct sound, and my current amp isn't providing it. I listen to mostly classical and am mostly penniless.

I have Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 speakers, that have bi-wire connections on the back, and my plan is to simply use two line outputs from my CD player for each amp. Wiring from amp then goes to either the low or high posts of the speakers (amp 1 = high inputs, amp 2 = low inputs).

I don't intend to use a preamp because they're too expensive. I'll just adjust the volume of each amp in unison.

Will this work? Is it wise?

Can I hook up my speaker system to both computer and stereo?

prior — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:40:56 -0800

I just bought a "Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX Certified Computer Speaker System," thanks to recs from another post on mefi. I'm wondering if I can buy a cable that will connect the system to my computer AND my stereo--some kind of splitter? I'm pretty clueless about this stuff, so the more detail the better. Thanks.

How do I perfect my new speakers?

werty — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 21:38:29 -0800

Got great new speakers for my stereo. Now comes the hard part: I need to find a particular kind of stand, and my satellite radio sounds funny. Suggestions? I went looking recently for an unobtrusive satellite/subwoofer system for the stereo in my smallish living room. I wound up with a set of Paradigm Atom speakers instead.

Having sacrified the original plan (read: my wife wanted little ceiling-mounted Bose satellites), I now need to find somewhere to put the speakers. They're bookshelf-sized, but I don't have a bookshelf in the area they're being placed, and they're too bulky to ceiling-mount per our original plan. Three-foot-tall floor stands are too imposing for our room. I'd like to find floor mounts that will support the speakers low to the ground and angle them into the listening space. I know they exist, but I can't find them. Pointers? Alternates?

In addition, now that I have speakers with a robust dynamic range, my XM Radio sounds dull. CDs and even MP3s sound good, but the XM lacks depth, like a movie in a theater with the surround sound turned off. What can I do to improve the satellite audio? Would a newer receiver--mine is from 2003--have better performance? Installing an equalizer just for this is a bit heavy-handed of a solution.

For the record, I'm excited to have the Atoms. They sound terrific across a wide variety of music; the dynamic range is far more robust than any sat/sub combo I tested. The Atoms are also more affordable than anything with similar performance. I considered many $600-900 speakers (Kef, Totem, Dynaudio and others) and the Paradigms are equal or better and just $249/pair list. Highly recommended.

Too lazy to flip a switch

jak68 — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 20:25:58 -0800

automatic audio switch: Does it exist? (Two computers, One pair of speakers). (an automatic switch, not a manual one) I know the manual ones exist, I'm wondering about an automatic switching one, where it switches to the active audio or the most recently turned on audio (exactly like the radio shack RF modulators do when they switch automaticaly between your PS3 and your DVD and your cable tv).

Searching on google/ebay/amazon has not been fruitful. Plenty of manual switches, havent found an auto-switching one.

Which speakers would fit this home entertainment system?

gtr — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:33:25 -0800

I'm putting together a basic home theatre system but I know nothing about speakers. Any suggestions? I'm setting up a second home entertainment system in my bedroom. I recently bought this 2.1 channel receiver. It's paired with a hdtv and a basic samsung dvd player.

I didn't want to deal with more speakers, nor do I care about surround sound. This basic setup is perfect for what I want. But I have no idea what speakers would pair well with this system. I'm overwhelmed by the choices on amazon. If anyone could point to something appropriate I'd appreciate it. I don't want to spend too much but I'd like something decent (also, is a subwoofer normally included or is that a separate purchase?).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Temporarily connecting stereo speakers

ObscureReferenceMan — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 09:56:26 -0800

Stereo speaker cable length AND connection questions... I've got two sets of speakers hooked up to my Onkyo receiver. I want to (temporarily) put the downstairs speakers (Bose 161) in the window so people sitting outside can listen to music. However, the 161's are already on about 50 feet of cable (standard 16 gauge wire). The questions: 1) Can I add another 15-30 feet without effecting performance? 2) How to splice them together? Just twist and cap them off? (Putting them back is no problem - I'll just cut and reconnect.) Thanks!!

Help me install front door speakers on my Accord.

lou — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 19:13:12 -0800

How do I install these speakers on the front doors of my 1999 Honda Accord? Should I even try to do it myself? So here's the situation. I bought a '99 Honda Accord a few years ago, used, and the front door speakers have never worked. (I'm pretty sure there's something in there, though.) I finally decided to get new replacement speakers for the front door, and I got a pair of Sony XSV160HP's at a *really* good price -- it was the store's display model and the last one they had. Unfortunately, that meant it didn't come with instruction manuals, or whatever extra parts would normally be in the box (connectors, clips, wires, etc.). The store's installation fee would be about twice what I paid for the speakers, and since I actually installed a new receiver myself a year ago, I thought I might give it a go myself again. However, I'm stuck. I've got so many questions:

1) Is there a way to get a copy of the XSV160HP's manual? I couldn't find one in my online searches.
2) How do I get inside the car's front doors? There's no visible screws on the panel and grill over the speakers don't appear to come off easily.
3) On the entirely possible chance that this is just something I can't easily DIY, what are recommendations for some reliable and reasonably priced car audio installers around me? I'm the San Francisco Bay Area - preferably East Bay and North Bay (where I live and work, respectively).

And really, any other tips that I might have not even thought to ask about would be welcome too.

Small, inexpensive speakers

Gilbert — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 08:39:48 -0800

Help me replace my big ugly speakers with smaller, out-of-the-way ones. I have a pair of ancient Pioneer speakers connected to my stereo that are no longer worth the space they're taking up. I'd like to replace them with some relatively inexpensive bookshelf style speakers that are powerful enough to fill the room with sound, and that I can mount from the ceiling. Since I'm not really an audiophile, I think I will be just fine without the high-end stuff. Any suggestions on names or places to shop? How much can I expect to pay?

Two different sets of speakers on amp/receiver.

ObscureReferenceMan — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 20:33:37 -0800

Will two different pairs of speakers work and play well with my new Onkyo receiver? Hot on the heels of this question... I have a new Onkyo TX-8222 receiver. I've got two pairs of speakers; Boston Acoustics CR-57's in the living room (channel A), and Bose 161's downstairs (channel B). Reading the specs for the receiver, it says that when connecting two sets of speakers, their impedence should be between 8 and 16 ohms. The BA's are rated 8 ohms (OK), but the Bose are rated "4-8" ohms (that's what the spec sheet says). What does that mean? I guess the real question is; why does Bose list a range, and not a single number? Every other speaker I've seen lists a single number.

Will I be safe? I am 99% sure I will, but the left channel on the old receiver (TX-26) blew just two weeks ago. I had it running with the BA's and Bose 161's, and everything sounded fine (both channels on at same time, even running loud). I just assumed that it was an old age thing (the receiver's, not mine, dag-nabbit!).

Specs on the new Onkyo here.

P. S. I did send an email to customer service via the Bose web site. No reply yet.
P. P. S. I found a guy through a friend who buys old stereo components. I'll be calling him tomorrow. If you're on Long Island, and have stereo equipment gathering dust, let me know.

2.0 + 3.1 = ?

daver — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 12:30:14 -0800

Surround Sound 2.0 setup: What do I do w/ my new amp and old speakers? I have 2 old Boston Accoustic "a150" 100 watt speakers, and a powered yahama 'inline' subwoofer. My old amp is dead, now I have a new (to me) Denon AVR-2700 surround sound amp.
Basic question: do I now also need 3+1 more speakers to make life complete? Or can I get reasonable performance from my old speaker setup?

Additional info: I'm just fine with how music and movies sounded on my old Stereo amp.

Extracredit:
* If I need 5.1 speakers, do I need to go out and get matched speakers, or can I use my 2 A150s as 'fronts'
* Is it reasonable to run my built in TV speaker (from a huge old Toshiba Cinema Series TV) as my 'center' channel?
* What am I loosing out on if I don't move to a 5.1 speaker setup?

Thanks in advance...

Stereo / amp question.

starman — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 13:47:51 -0800

Looking for advice on stereo speakers (and an amp setup). I have a 5.1 setup that I'm pretty happy with, but I recently came into posession of a 15-plus year-old Yamaha R-30 "Natural Sound" receiver that I'd like to use just for music (anyone else have one of these older Yamaha receivers, have any thoughts on them?)

Question is: what can you recommend for a decent set of speakers to plug into it? They don't have to be that powerful - maybe some bookshelf speakers that have a good range? Or if you have a suggestion for some floor speakers that are a "great find." Let's say the price range is $200-300 but don't hold back.

Part 2: I also have an unpowered, 80-watt subwoofer. Left and right stereo wire inputs. Any recommendations for cheap-ish amp for it? The amp output has to be a single RCA.

Help me wire this crazy-ass layout for surround sound...

twiggy — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 20:32:20 -0800

Help me inexpensively and at least somewhat discreetly wire my place for surround. The problem: Really challenging room layout and a tight budget. The short version of what I'm looking for is:
- Recommendations of quality but affordable speaker cable (please, no Monster)
- Ideas on how to find out if/how I can drill into the soffit safely (if you need pics, I can put some up)
- Ballpark figures on having a room wired for surround if you've had it done
- Creative ideas for semi-attractively achieving this wiring without going into the wall
- Or .. point me to a magical tool that will let me go through the wall with minimal damage and easy/inexpensive repairs?
- I already have the surround system, and I'm house-poor - please do not recommend I purchase wireless speakers

The more detailed notes with regard to this challenge:
- Floors are hardwood, I can't tuck wiring under baseboards or carpet, unfortunately
- It shouldn't make a huge difference, but the system I have is 6.1 surround (3 rears), not just 5.1
- Ceilings are somewhat high (9 feet). There is a soffit running around the perimeter (from the left of the entertainment center toward right, all the way around the wall with the balcony doors, and over to the kitchen), but it is unclear if I can drill into this soffit safely. Ductwork definitely runs through it, but it seems awfully big for all of that space to be air duct. Is there a safe way to find out if/how/where I can drill in and pull cables?
- Note all the doorways / hallways in the floorplan below. I was going to buy that white conduit-type tubing you can run along your trim, but it seems like it'd look awfully goofy going around so many doors or hallway openings. Please excuse my really crappy and not at all to scale MS Paint mockup of the room's floorplan:

- I'm very house-poor having just spent most of my savings on this condo, so I'm afraid spending several hundred dollars having an electrician pull cables is probably out of the question, though I don't know how much that costs.

I fully understand that waiting until I have the money to have a professional run cables is an option. However, I have 2 cats and leaving the wiring running all over the floor temporarily is not really an option as they like to muck with things once in a while, so right now I can't hook up the speakers at all. I'm really really missing the ability to listen to music and watch movies with decent sound.

So now that I have all this stuff...

devilsbrigade — Tue, 23 May 2006 15:21:05 -0800

Speaker/ReceiverFilter: I have a recently acquired NAD 7240PE receiver, and a pair of older but fairly decent (I think) floorstanding speakers. The input source is clean (its a CD player that has its own headphones jack, and that's clean), but I'm running into a problem with the speakers + receiver. Basically, when I first turn on the system, there's quite a lot of hiss/buzz. When the speakers are selected on the receiver, this is also audible through the headphones jack on the receiver (when the speakers are turned off on the receiver, the headphones jack is clean). About 4 or 5 minutes into the speakers being on, there's a loud pop & the hiss/buzz goes away, and I get very nice high quality sound. Also occasionally, for the first few minutes, the right channel doesn't work. I assume these are separate problems. Where should I be looking? I'm decently comfortable with electronics in general, although I don't know much about stereo/audio electronics other than the absolute basics.

Bonus question: The receiver has RCA inputs. I have a SBLive card. What would be the cheapest solution to get good audio quality from PC->Receiver? Are 3.5mm -> RCA cables sufficient, or is there a medium step before SPDIF->DAC->Reciever? What's my range of options with this?

Bonus question #2: Is there a good standard book for stereo/audio stuff of this nature?

I need some help with home audio.

Optimus Chyme — Sun, 03 Jul 2005 15:20:27 -0800

I need some help with home audio. I know absolutely nothing about home audio, so I turn to you. I'm looking for a system that is compatible with a Sharp 32C540 television, can play CDs and MP3s on burned CDs (the latter being very important), with a couple of good stereo speakers. Surround isn't critical to me, but hey, it might be cool. I'm also looking to spend less than $600, if that's at all possible. What should I be looking for? What should I watch out for? I've read the rec.audio FAQ, but it was written in 1999 and I'm sure much of it has changed. I also read this previous AskMe question, but that's more for those who would be running it through their computer. Thanks again.

Small audio amp?

cccorlew — Sun, 08 May 2005 12:07:04 -0800

I have a small Soundworks subwoofer with satellite speakers I want to use with my Mac. I need a small, no frills amp just to, well, amplify. Is there such a beast at a reasonable price?

Build my stereo system

scazza — Sat, 26 Feb 2005 22:55:47 -0800

1. I want to buy/install small satellite speakers for my TV and to play music through my computer (AirPort Express). Do I need an amplifier or a receiver? Can someone guide me through this? Please help! I got rid of my old bookshelf system before I moved, and now all I want are 2 or 3 small speakers. I don't need a CD player, tape player, subwoofer or any of the rest. I've always liked the Orb Mod speakers, and they use no amplifier.
2. Anyone have any suggestions for building a simple system (more than 40 watts)?
3. I live in a loft so cords are going to be a problem (no walls to run them along). I read that wireless systems still suck, are there any new innovations in the feild that I should look at?