Multible speakers?

[Shaun b]

Ok I know to all of you this might be a stupid question but I havent messed with this kind of stuff before so bare with me. I have a Lower end technics reciever model number SA-GX290 that someone is letting me borrow tilli can get one. I have had a pair of Polk Rt7 speakers for a while that have been hooked up. Yesterday my mom gave me a pair of Bose 501 speakers. So heres my question, how can I hook upboth pair and get the best sound? Do i even want both pair on at same time? Both sets are 8ohms and fir this reciever, all mustbe 8 ohms. Reciever has left and right inputs, so is that really 2 seperate channels? Can i parallel one of each speKer to left side and the other to right side? Im lost. Thanks for any advice

 

[faber12]

Better go for a series connection, to avoid damage to the receiver. A parallel connection should give you a 4 ohm load.

 

[darkblue94]

In short, if you hook up both pair you won't get the best sound. Best to try both pairs of speakers separately and choose which pair sounds the best to you, then go with those speakers. If you absolutely must connect both pairs simultaneously it would be best to wait until you have a better receiver/amplifier to do so.

 

[OMGCat!]

I'd also go with trying both pairs separately and see how they sound. I've never really had good results mixing different brands of speakers.

I had a set of 501 series 3 and they were nice sounding speakers.
You might want to research your particular version to make sure that the surrounds don't typically need replacing.
Those speaker grills are a pain to remove but if you're careful they can come off without damage.

 

[Putterman]

Actually because the SA-GX290 is a Dolby Surround receiver with no 'B' speaker connections, you can't actually hook up 2 speakers in parallel. You can however hook a 2nd pair of speakers as surrounds. I suspect that you'll get the best sound using the Polks as the mains and the Bose as surrounds, but knock yourself out and try it both ways, or either the Polks or the Bose as the only speakers.

 

[Shaun b]

thanks darkbue. I dont have to do that to know the answer. The polks sound better to me. There pretty big for bookshelves but they sound great. The bass isnt gonna knock anything over but it will surprise at times. What should i look for in a reciever to give me the most options because idealy i would love to have both and have the option of listening to one or both and even surround sound eventually. Thanks again

In short, if you hook up both pair you won't get the best sound. Best to try both pairs of speakers separately and choose which pair sounds the best to you, then go with those speakers. If you absolutely must connect both pairs simultaneously it would be best to wait until you have a better receiver/amplifier to do so.[/QUOT

 

[Shaun b]

Thanks all. Im going to use the polks for now and just get a new reciever in a week or two. This Technics needs to be returnd to my buddy anyway. I want pre-80's reciever anyway. Your right OMGcat, the bose really do sound good and they will get pleny of play time but the polks really surprised me. I didnt expect them to sound ss good as they do. For me personally i cant go wrong either way. They both sound great to me, just different

 

[Bodyblue]

I have Polk TSx 110bs (two sets) and love them for my bedroom systems and I also have a set of Bose 201 Series ll as my front main on our HT setup in the front room. I have a set of 301 Series V on the way to replace the 201s. I love all of them but they absolutely sound different! It takes a bit of time to set up the Bose units to get the best sound while the Polks sound great very easily.

 

[stereofanboy]

I'm not familiar with your particular series of 501s, but each of the several pairs I've come across within the last twelve years either needed refoaming, or had had refoaming done to them recently.

Every minute you play a driver that needs refoaming, you are risking serious damage to the driver.