front speakers a + b

[dragonschmuck]

i was just wondering if anybody else has tried this layout or is currently using this layout for their system. what i have are four speakers for fronts (2 floorstanding, 2 bookshelf) and 1 center as well as 2 surrounds and a sub for a total of 8 speakers. i used the front A and front B speakers together and i must say it sounds a lot better to my ears. it just sounds a lot fuller and richer but i'm wondering if there are any disadvantages on setting up my system this way like overheating or stuff like that.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by dragonschmuck

i used the front A and front B speakers together and i must say it sounds a lot better to my ears. it just sounds a lot fuller and richer but i'm wondering if there are any disadvantages on setting up my system this way like overheating or stuff like that.

Most receivers use the "B" as an option for listening to "STEREO" in another room. Are you using this setup for 5.1? If so, and again, "most" receivers treat the "B" speakers as STEREO only, your essentialy adding stereo and 5.1 together.

Can you throw us some more details? Like maybe the receiver brand/model and the speakers along with their respective ohm ratings? It's possible you are looking at an overheat situation, but give us a little more to chew on.

[dragonschmuck]

equipment: how its currently hooked up

tv: sony kps57ws510.

reciever: sony str-de595.

front speakers A: sony ss-u421av (old floorstanding speakers that still sound great; 220 watts).

front speakers B, center, sub, and surround. onkyo sksht510.

2 weeks ago i was just using the sony floorstandings for my fronts. then i bought the onkyo speaker package open box for 180 because i needed a sub and so placed the onkyo fronts on top of the sony floorstandings using the sony's as temporary stands until i could get proper speaker stands. not wanting to part with the sony floorstandings i came to remember about the available front speaker B's and decided to try them out together with the onkyo's.

i too feared it would only be stereo coming out, but fortunately i was wrong. listening to different dvds with discrete sounds like the 25th hour confirmed that all four front speakers were in fact being produced in 5.1. in other words, the exact same sounds coming from the "A" speakers are also coming out of the "B" speakers. not just stereo and 5.1 together.

as far as ohm ratings are concerned, i've often come across these terms on these boards as well as others and still don't know what exactly they mean so no info there.

[Iguana Man]

Well that's cool that the receiver lets you run A&B together and still get 5.1. Hmmmm, that's news to me. I wonder though, are you still getting discrete sound from the rears? Does the B side let you send the seperate center signal, and the seperate rear channels? I'm still a bit puzzled with this setup. But hey, if it works, it works

[dragonschmuck]

"I wonder though, are you still getting discrete sound from the rears?"

i most definately am. i even put my ears right next to the B speakers to confirm it and the sounds from the rears (like dialogue from the 25th hour example) weren't there although i could hear it from the rear speakers...thats what you mean by discrete, right?

"Does the B side let you send the seperate center signal, and the seperate rear channels?"

not sure what you mean by this but if you're asking if the center channel is discrete the answer is yes. all front dialogue is coming from the center like its supposed to.

[Iguana Man]

Well then....it sounds like you're set! If it sounds good to you, and you're happy with it:

I guess I'd keep an eye on the receiver if your cranking the volume up on a long movie just to be sure it isn't getting too hot.

Enjoy!

[dragonschmuck]

thanks for your responses iguana man

yeah i'll make it a mandatory awareness as to avoid overheating. now, i'm currently thinking of new placement for the bookshelves for optimum sound! maybe place them on corner shelves instead of just on top of the floorstandings.