Speaker configuration

[johnnyiebuck]

I have a Sony STR-DE545 Stereo Receiver with 5.1 capability that is beginning to have occasional dropouts of audio. I can't afford to have it repaired. I also have a Sony STR-AV900 Stereo/AM-FM Receiver that I used before I got the DE545.

I have 6 speakers: 2-front (R-L); 2-rear (R-L); Center; and Sub-woofer. I would like to connect all the speakers to the AV900 and then INPUT audio from my TV, CD/DVD player, VCR and Verizon TV service. Is there some way to do this by connecting the various speakers in Series/Parallel, etc.? If so, can you recommend the configuration. (The speakers do NOT MATCH--except for the 2-front and the 2-rear--and the front and rear do not match.)

I have read about impedance settings and do not know the impedance of all the speakers.

My major use has been playing the TV audio thru the DE545 and occasionally playing the Verizon TV service AUDIO thru the DE545 for audio only.

Can this be done? Or, will I only be able to use the 2-front and 2-rear speakers with the AV900 which only has outputs for 2-front and 2-rear?

Thanks for your input.

[Steve R Jones]

You must have a Receiver with 5.1 capability and it'll come with all the speaker hookups

[SuperSparks]

There won't be any problem with connecting the speakers in series, even if you don't know the impedances, the worst that will happen is that you will reduce the volume. It is connecting speakers in parallel that causes damage if the impedance goes too low.

You could hook up the front and rear speakers in series without any problem. Unfortunately there is no way (or at least none that I can think of) to connect the centre speaker and sub-woofer.

[und3rtak3r]

Depending on the Power Output Per channel of the Amplifier, and the Mean Power handling capability of the speakers will be the very first point in this.

If the Amplifier you connecting to has an RMS Power output of 100w per channel and the speakers have a Mean Rating of 30W (Peak 45W) you will run the risk of Damaging the speakers.

I am assuming you are taking speakers from a 5.1 system to a 2 channel system. IF your speakers are in the safe zone (ie Amp is 30W Channel and speakers are <=30W Mean) check this page http://www.termpro.com/articles/faders.html scroll down to the Fader section.. That will be the best.. it gives you the ability to adjust the output to the speakers to allow for room acoustics.
Your Sub will not be of much use unless there is a dedicated Filter/Amplifier...
Again with the Centre Speaker.. Filter and Amp required

BTW.. If I am speaking above anyone's head please let me know and I will try to translate to English

[johnnyiebuck]

und3rtak3r, Part of what you sent I understood. But, at least as much, I didn't. I can get the specs of the Sony Receiver/Amplifier and send to you and maybe you can warn me of what to look for.

My present thinking is to put my Rear Right and Front Right speakers together and do the same with Rear Left and Rear Right.
My Sony Sub-woofer has OUTPUTS that I can connect to each of those pairs. The sub-woofer has settings that allow me to vary the cutoff.
I then planned to connect my Sony Center speaker to another output from the Receiver/Amplifier.
I am not sure whether to connect the pairs in SERIES or PARELLEL. ALL of the speakers are 8 Ohm, and the two rear speakers can be connected to be
either 4 Ohm or 8 Ohm.
Do you have any recommendations as to the best wiring configuration and Impedances?

Thanks again for taking the time to help me. If all this isn't worth the effort and/or would take too much of your time to aim me right, I certainly understand.

Incidentally, I am retired and with limited funds, so I can't replace my 5.1 Receiver/Amplifier and thought the repair costs wouldn't be practical as well.
Best wishes, johnnyiebuck

[SuperSparks]

If you are certain that the speakers are 8 ohms, then you will be OK to connect them in parallel, which will give an impedance of 4 ohms for each pair. But [u]only[u] connect them in parallel as long as you are certain of the speaker impedance being 8 ohms. If in any doubt, connect them in series which is always the safe option.

[SuperSparks]

It's a bit technical, but here is an excellent article on series and parallel speaker connections:

http://www.audioholics.com/education...nection-basics