QuestionQUESTION: I have a new Harman Kardon 3490 receiver (120 RMS per channel). My mains are recent Klipsch RB-51 II. I just picked up a new center speaker JBL ESC25C and my intention was to plug it into my speaker B outputs. Towards this end I've also picked up used on Ebay a Niles SVL-1 volume controller. These center speakers (I tried the Klipsch RS41 too but I misunderstood the power limitations so I returned it. I did try powering it by twisting the ends of the left and right leads together, being careful for polarity, but I got ghosty, soft volume and it stressed out the amplification) seem to all have a single set of binding posts which I'm finding very confusing and their instruction books go into all the components of their home theater system but never mention the center speakers or the appropriate wiring once, ESPECIALLY in the non theater system (my interest for the speaker is audio only) application. I'm using fine 12 gauge cable. Please tell me how to hook this thing up before I assuredly break something! Thank you so much.
Alan
ANSWER: I guess I don't understand the question.
The Kardon 3490 receiver is a stereo music reproduction receiver and has no provision for a center channel. It is not a surround or home theatre system. It does have a B connection for a second room set of stereo speakers if that is what you want to do (but they should not be played at the same time as the A set of speakers except at very low audio levels as the impedance load on the amplifier when both sets of speakers are being played is dangerous to the internal audio power amplifiers.)
If you are talking about adding a subwoofer that is easily accomplished but you must have an additional external audio amplifier to drive the subwoofer.
Let me know it this helps; otherwise, please clarify your question.
Thanks.
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QUESTION: I think you've understood the question sufficiently well, but you're not really giving me the answer I wanted to hear. I've already got a powered subwoofer properly connected to the built-in subwoofer output. Both the Klipsch mains and the new JBL center speakers are fairly efficient. The receiver manual makes mention of running both sets of speakers at the same time and seems to have no prohibition against it. The mains are fairly wide apart. Playing them loud negates the need for a center channel but at low volumes the vocalist made to be front and center or the filling-in of the component sounds of a string quartet would be a very positive thing, provided I can make it to work. Therefore, I feel compelled to continue to research the issue. Sorry.
Perhaps however, may I impose upon you to answer me this: when using an external speaker volume control like the Niles unit I mentioned, would turning the volume down decrease the draw of the amplifier power?
Thank you
AnswerThe impedance rating of the amplifier is 8 ohms. If you are running both sets of speakers it means the load impedance is 4 ohms caused by the speakers being in parallel with each other. That is a problem unless the amplifier is very robust and can accommodate the lower impedance. I would caution you to be careful on that.
The Niles speaker volume control is putting a constant loading on the amplifier which is independent of the setting - at least that is how others work. Decreasing the volume does not change, materially, the loading on the amplifier.
If you need a center channel speaker the best way is to use an external amp and speaker with the amp fed by a mix of the left and right channels.
Wishing you the best.
PS: Good stereophonic recordings when played back with speakers properly located and balanced will reproduce the sound stage properly with just the two speakers. Where it does not it is usually a function of the master mixing from the recording company.
