Some Setup Questions

JiB

Where to start...

I currently have a Yamaha YHT-6030 (probably not very good), just set up an Energy ESW-C10, and decided to order a pair of Monitor 70s online, YAY!

I guess the first thing i should ask is whether the reciever is enough to power the speakers properly, the output is supposedly 100W per channel (500 total) and the speaker say they run from 20-275W.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that I am very new at this stuff...basically i know the difference between a sub and a speaker.

kawizx9r

Welcome to CP!

Not familiar with your sub but I know Energy makes some nice musical subs, and good start with those speakers!

Your receiver is not really pushing 100watts, but the Monitor line of Polk speakers are fairly easy to run and won't really require external amplification. I will tell you however, that any and all speakers will benefit from external amplification! It's not just so you can play it louder (though you can do that too), but even at lower volumes you'll hear things with more detail, music/movies will sound more dynamic and clearer than if you would run them off an AVR.

This is just the start, so I hope your wallet's ready!

-Freddy

JiB

This is gunna sound really newbish, but what exactly is an external amp. I get the concept but do you use a car amp, or is this some specific extremely expensive piece of equipment?

mole'

kawizx9r wrote: »

Welcome to CP!

Not familiar with your sub but I know Energy makes some nice musical subs, and good start with those speakers!

Your receiver is not really pushing 100watts, but the Monitor line of Polk speakers are fairly easy to run and won't really require external amplification. I will tell you however, that any and all speakers will benefit from external amplification! It's not just so you can play it louder (though you can do that too), but even at lower volumes you'll hear things with more detail, music/movies will sound more dynamic and clearer than if you would run them off an AVR.

This is just the start, so I hope your wallet's ready!

-Freddy

qouted for the TRUTH!!!

welcome to CP!

kawizx9r

It can be expensive, it can be cheap.

The concept is the same, but there are amps available for home audio that have one sole responsibility...power your speakers!

I haven't looked up your AVR (I'll do it in just a sec) but if you've got a set of preamp outputs, you'll be able to use your AVR to run an audio signal out and into an external amp. The speakers at this point would be connected to and powered by the external amp.

-Freddy

kawizx9r

Added note, your AVR (receiver) does not have preamp outputs.

BlueFox

Welcome JiB.

I have no experience with any of your gear, but that does not matter. The main thing you need to be concerned with is this, "Are you happy". If what you are hearing, and seeing for HT, is making you happy then you are on the right path.

However, if things are happening that are making you unhappy then you need to know there is a solution. But, the solution will require time, research, and most likely, money.

You will "hear" a lot of advice from this forum, or any other. It is your job to do the research so that you can understand if the advice is usefull or BS. That is the time part.

I can guarantee you this. If you are interested in good sound then you have a long way to go. Each step will bring an improvement, but that will only make you realize that if step "X" made such a difference then what about step "Y". It never ends.

The point I am trying to make is this. Enjoy your gear. It is doing it's job. Yet do not forget you are only scratching the surface of what is possible in either stereo, multi-channel, or HT.

djperez81

Good luck i got into home theater not to long ago and im addicted now. once you get your first setup your gonna want to upgrade to better and its a never ending story from there. Just hope your wallet can handle it.

JiB

Unfortunately I'm going to have to make due with what i got. Was looking for a reciever with preamp outputs and i couldnt find one within my price range (like 400$). A few last things before these bad boys come in the mail, as i understand it there are a few sets of hookups for these things, which should i use or is it going to matter. Is 16 guage speaker wire good enough? And finally is "Break-in" a real thing or just something the company makes up as an excuse to deny you warranty? I don't know about the monitors yet, but my sub was recommended for 50 hours of break-in which seems like over kill.

Thanks,
JiB

wutadumsn23

Don't sweat the Yammy, it will power your 70's just fine. Like Freddy said, they are a very easy speaker to drive, and while they would sound better with more power, I have yet to come across an AVR that didn't make the 70's sound good. As for the hookups, I am assuming you are talking about the speaker terminals on the back of the 70's? There are two sets, but as long as the metal jumper is connecting the two sets, it won't matter which ones you use. Positive to Positive (Red to Red) and Negative to Negative (Black to Black) on your speakers and AVR. I would go with atleast 12-14 AWG speaker wire, and you can get it on the cheap from places like Monoprice.com and Bluejeanscable.com. If you already have the 16 AWG though, it will work until you have time/money to upgrade it. Break-in is real, IMHO and even if it wasn't, no reason not to protect your investment by being careful with the volume knob for awhile anyway right? As far as how many hours, I will leave that to the pro's. Good luck and those 70's will not dissapoint, I love mine!!

-Jeff