Is anyone a (hi-fi) Speaker expert?

[bicker]

I've got some questions about speakers. I've asked the question on some hi-fi forums, but I suspect that the answers will go over my head. I've had good success with folks here on the DIS, who know technical stuff I don't know, helping me understand it in laymen's terms.

Here's my situation:

I purchased the matching-set Sony HT-SS360 and Sony BDV-S360, HTiB and Blu-ray Disc player. I'm mostly satisfied, but for one thing: The center speaker sounds like AM radio (if you know what I mean).

When playing Blu-ray Discs (connected to the Sony HT-SS360 via HDMI), the sound is great. But when sending my TiVo S3 through the Sony HT-SS360 (whether I make the connection via HDMI or via TOSLINK), the sound is much "tin-ier" than when I send my TiVo S3 through my old Samsung HT-Q40 (via TOSLINK -- the Samsung isn't an HDMI switcher, which was the main reason why I sought to replace it).

These were like-for-like comparisons -- I left the Samsung HT-Q40 in place and just overlayed the Sony HT-SS360 on top of it. I was able to alternatively mute one then the other (using the TOSLINK connection to feed the Samsung HT-Q40 and the HDMI connection to feed the Sony HT-SS360), to do a direct comparison. Swapping the speakers between the two systems (well, swapping five of them -- the sub-woofer couldn't be swapped because it was hard-wired) improved the sound from the Sony HT-SS360 a little bit, which made me suspect the speakers.

I've now hooked up to the Sony HT-SS360 a center speaker from two systems ago (my first surround sound system, a 3.0 system). Anyway, it is a lot better even as compared to the Sony HT-SS360 with the Samsung HT-Q40's center speaker connected to it. I noted that the speakers with the Sony HT-SS360 are 3Ω speakers, and this older speaker is an 8Ω speaker.

This is "good enough". It is at least as good as what I had (and of course, now I have BD and a HDMI switcher, which I needed and didn't have before).

However, now I am intrigued by the idea of getting better sound via better speakers. If this is "good enough", what would be "vastly better" -- or is the up-side with regard to sound limited by the Sony HT-SS360, itself?

So in a nutshell, I'm wondering what y'all think about replacing one or more of the speakers in the Sony HT-SS36

 

[Aardvarks]

The sony ht ss360 is an all in one box solution for home theatre.

It is designed to work with movies.

The amps inside are not good enough to use with music sources, even an ipod.

'The Sony HT-SS360 is an inexpensive home theater system with generous HDMI connectivity and satisfying sound on movies, but don't expect it to deliver with music.' from CNet review.

The speakers are small and not full range, that is why there is a powered sub woofer which makes up all the lower frequencies.

Enjoy it for what is made for....home theatre.


If you want better sound, you need to get a more powerfull AV amp which can handle music, or a dedicated music amp. Then there would be a good cause to upgrade the speakers.

So you need to find a store that can sell you separate items, amp. speakers etc. If you were in the UK, I would suggest Richer Sounds where for about £600 you could build a system to rattle the teeth outa the neighbours in the next county. It would also give you lovely music

I dont know what is available where you are but the following would be good makes to start out from

Cambridge Audio
Harmen Kardon
Yamaha
NAD
KEF

and if money is no object

Linn
Krell
Martin Logan
Cyrus
Naim

Added

Cambridge Audio is available in the USA and offers a massive bang for buck

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=139&Title=Azur+640R+7.1+HDMI+AV+Receiver

Spearit Sound
351 PLEASANT STREET


NORTHAMPTON,MA,01060

Massachusetts

01060

Telephone: (413) 584-9547

Fax: (617) 928-0606

Email: jtozzi@spearitsound.com

Web: www.spearitsound.com

 

[JR6ooo4]

The sony ht ss360 is an all in one box solution for home theatre.

It is designed to work with movies.

The amps inside are not good enough to use with music sources, even an ipod.

'The Sony HT-SS360 is an inexpensive home theater system with generous HDMI connectivity and satisfying sound on movies, but don't expect it to deliver with music.' from CNet review.

The speakers are small and not full range, that is why there is a powered sub woofer which makes up all the lower frequencies.

Enjoy it for what is made for....home theatre.


If you want better sound, you need to get a more powerfull AV amp which can handle music, or a dedicated music amp. Then there would be a good cause to upgrade the speakers.

So you need to find a store that can sell you separate items, amp. speakers etc. If you were in the UK, I would suggest Richer Sounds where for about £600 you could build a system to rattle the teeth outa the neighbours in the next county. It would also give you lovely music

I dont know what is available where you are but the following would be good makes to start out from

Cambridge Audio
Harmen Kardon
Yamaha
NAD
KEF

and if money is no object

Linn
Krell
Martin Logan
Cyrus
Naim

Added

Cambridge Audio is available in the USA and offers a massive bang for buck

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=139&Title=Azur+640R+7.1+HDMI+AV+Receiver

Spearit Sound
351 PLEASANT STREET


NORTHAMPTON,MA,01060

Massachusetts

01060

Telephone: (413) 584-9547

Fax: (617) 928-0606

Email: jtozzi@spearitsound.com

Web: www.spearitsound.com

WOW!
I was just going to suggest that you make sure your wiring polarity is correct. Heheheheheee

 

[Aardvarks]

WOW!
I was just going to suggest that you make sure your wiring polarity is correct. Heheheheheee

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Er.....and yeah.........wot he said...........

 

[bicker]

Enjoy it for what is made for....home theatre.

To be clear, that's all I'm using it for: I've got my TiVo S3 connected to it, and a new Blu-ray Disc player, and there's an empty slot for an XBox 360 my wife has her eye on.

To be clear, I'm not looking for a new amp. I just bought this one. Its price and specs look right. It has gotten great reviews for what it is, and what it is is what I need. I definitely don't have more money to spend for a better amp. I'm just trying to find out if there is a relatively inexpensive way to make this one sound better. I have already done so, as I mentioned, by swapping in an older speaker. I'm just wondering what are the dynamics of such swaps. Is there something you can recommend, in terms of replacing that one (center) speaker, to make it even better, without spending a bunch more money.

 

[bicker]

I was just going to suggest that you make sure your wiring polarity is correct.

Yup, checked that. Thanks.

 

[Aardvarks]

To be clear, that's all I'm using it for: I've got my TiVo S3 connected to it, and a new Blu-ray Disc player, and there's an empty slot for an XBox 360 my wife has her eye on.

To be clear, I'm not looking for a new amp. I just bought this one. Its price and specs look right. It has gotten great reviews for what it is, and what it is is what I need. I definitely don't have more money to spend for a better amp. I'm just trying to find out if there is a relatively inexpensive way to make this one sound better. I have already done so, as I mentioned, by swapping in an older speaker. I'm just wondering what are the dynamics of such swaps. Is there something you can recommend, in terms of replacing that one (center) speaker, to make it even better, without spending a bunch more money.

Ok, my bad. I understand.


Speaker placing has a big effect on sound, especialy how the speakers interact with the room.

For a warmer sound. try using blue tack to hold the speakers down to whatever suface they are sitting on.

Sitting them on wooden furniture as opposed to metal or glass topped tables will tame down some of the high end frequencies.

Placing a rug between where you sit and the speakers can warm up sound by trapping higher frequencies.

Putting small speakers with their backs against a rear wall can have an effect, try also altering the height relative to where you are sitting

Play around with the sound shaping functions and pre set effects.

example

can you switch between Pro-logic, dolby digital, dolby stero?

can you switch between Theatre, sports hall, live venue, etc

Each of these settings will change the way the amp adds treble and bass to the sound.

There is nothing wrong with using other speakers, but try to match the resistances.

 

[bicker]

Match resistances? What happens if you go up? What happens if you go down? (I thought one direction was okay...)

 

[Aardvarks]

Match resistances? What happens if you go up? What happens if you go down? (I thought one direction was okay...)

Example

Amp rated at 100watt into 4 ohm will deliver 50watt into 8ohm and should not cook itself.

Amp rated at 100watt into 8 ohm will deliver 200watt into 4 ohm and could get rather warm!!

Essentially you should not use loads LESS than the stated load

Hence you ought to be safe using an 8ohm speaker against a 4 ohm load.

How load it will sound will depend on how sensitive the actual speaker is, not just how much resistnce it offers.

It looks as though the system is powerfull enough to take other speakers. If you had some bigger 4ohm speakers in wooden speaker boxes, this would add more body to the sound, however from what I have read, it is just the centre speaker that seems to be rather small.

Do have a play around with the digital processor, they can mess up the sound quite a bit

Edit

Found a nice review. They say that spending time to set up each speaker level manually gives a better result than by using the self diagnositc microphone thingy

http://g4tv.com/attackoftheshow/gadgetpr0n/67789/Sony-HT-SS360-Home-Theater-System-Review.html

Best of luck and sorry about my first reply......Varky

 

[bicker]

Thanks for the detail and the link.