Audio Systems: speaker connections, center channel speakers, sony receivers

Question
I just hooked up a pair of outdoor speakers to my Sony FM stereo receiver.  I already have surround sound system inside.  There are still two available speaker inputs (jacks) but once I hook up the outdoor speakers I still get no sound.  The existing speakers are hooked to Front A and Front B and Center and the remaining jacks say (surround sound R and surround sound L which I used for the outdoor speakers).  In all there are 7 speaker jacks so I don't understand why I get no sound.  I now have 7 speakers hooked up on all available jacks.

Answer
Dear Erik,

You're getting no sound at all? Or are you only not getting sound out of the outdoor speakers?

Most Sony receivers have A/B options for the front channel speakers. You can play full range speakers from either set of outputs, tho' in a surround sound application, you want to use only one of them.

Further, Sony receivers generally default to Dolby ProLogic when playing a CD. ProLogic is a music algorithm, which uses the front channel and center channel speakers; as opposed to Dolby Digital which sends discreet signals to the front, center, surround, and rear (if you have them) channels when you play a DVD.

If you've hooked up the outdoor speakers to a surround sound output, then one of two things is happening. First, the receiver is defaulting to Dolby ProLogic when you play a CD, in which case no sound is sent to the surround channels. Second, the receiver is not defaulting to ProLogic, and only surround signals are being sent to the outdoor speakers. Of course a CD doesn't have surround signals; hence, no sound.

I recommend that you (1) use the B front channel speaker outputs for your outdoor speakers, and (2) use the surround sound outputs for surround sound. BTW, all the second set of front channel speakers (the B output) do is give you the same sound as the A channels. You're not getting true surround sound.

If I've missed what you're experiencing, by all means write back and set me straight.

In the mean time, good luck. And thanks for choosing allexperts.com.

Kindest regards,

Kevin