Stacking speakers

[Harvey/ Ga]

I'd like to tinker with stacking speakers, and would like to understand some theory behind this. Is it like the cabs with 2 woofers ??

I recently bought a Yamaha CR-2020. It has 3 sets of speaker outputs. One is A+B. Would this be appropriate for stacked speakers, or would I connect them is series out of the same set of outputs??

 

[majick47]

With the multiple hookups for speakers on your receiver you can do it, give it a try and I'm sure it will work. My guess is that this feature was intended for speakers in more than one room or outside on patio. If you stack two pairs of speakers in one room I'll leave it to you to judge the results. I'v tried it, my brother tried it and neither of us were pleased with the results.

 

[Zilch]

I'd like to tinker with stacking speakers, and would like to understand some theory behind this. Is it like the cabs with 2 woofers ????

Multiple outputs are provided for extension speakers, presumably in different listening areas.

It's axiomatic: Multiple sources playing the same program material in the same space will interfere with each other:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=109584

http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=114319

http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=119405


The known benefits are:

1) They'll play louder with less distortion, but not appreciably so, 3 dB max. Get better speakers.

2) If the woofers are in close proximity, they will mutually couple and provide additional (3 dB max) low frequency response. Use competent subs, appropriately crossed and integrated, instead:

 

[speakerlust]

Here's the skinny, Put big cabinets on the bottom and fairly big cabinets on the top. That way you still have a good solid bass at the floor and the high sound pressure levels coming from the upper woofers can hit you at chest level while your standing. 18 inch woofers on the bottom, 15 inch woofers on the top. Or, 12 to 15 inch woofers on the bottom, and 8 inch woofers on the top. I find many times with an agressive speaker on the bottom growling away and a weaker 8 inch speaker up top that can only reproduce kind of a pop, that it's a nice mix or blend if you will, for, "some" music types like dance beats, but try various combinations and see what, "you" like.

 

[merrylander]

Harvey, it works best with matched pairs, frex my original Advents are stacked tweeter to tweeter, one pair connected to A the other pair connected to B on the CR-2040 and selector to A+B. This presents a 4 ohm load to the 2040 so stacked speakers must be 8 ohms or 16 ohms, never 4 ohms. Also don't pair 8 ohm speakers with 16 ohm speakers.

 

[ManFromPorlock]

I suspect one advantage of stacked speakers is that the tweeters in the upside-down top units are about at seated ear level. Since we locate sounds better at higher frequencies, this improves the soundstage. Try putting unstacked speakers upside-down on two foot high stands and you'll probably hear an improvement.

 

[merrylander]

One of the advantages of the way my Advents are hooked up is that I can listen to the bottom ones or the top ones and there is a definite difference. For this reason all of my other speakers are on stands.

 

[RawDeal]

I use a Monster Cable speaker switch with my system. I have Pioneer HPM-60s sitting on top of Beta Sound 3ways w/ 12"woofers & horn mids & tweets. I have also run some bookshelf Mission 70MkII at the same time. The switch makes experimenting easy. The results vary greatly with the type of music. Sound stage is not very good with both sets running. If I want it loud it works like a charm. But, don't expect a huge sonic improvement. I am bidding my time until the right speaker comes along.

 

[similost]

Lotta nice JBL's there Zilch.. those all yours?

 

[ozmoid]

If you stack two pairs of speakers in one room I'll leave it to you to judge the results. I'v tried it, my brother tried it and neither of us were pleased with the results.

I think it really depends on what you're stacking - I've had some terrible sounding stuff, and some very complimentary pairs too. Play around and see if something integrates well for your ears. YMMV.

 

[dnewma04]

One point that was made that I didn't see addressed is the power issue when running in series. The net affect would be a theoretical halving of power (-3dB) but the doubling of diaphragm area would add the 3dB back into the mix. I would not expect a discernible difference in output between the two methods, and if there was a difference, I'd expect the set run in series to be capable of possibly a little more output, especially if they began as 4 ohm speakers, initially.

 

[bowtie427ss]

or would I connect them is series out of the same set of outputs??

Series connecting speakers is least desireable and should always be a last resort, in a series circuit each speaker acts as an inductor to the one it's in series with.

 

[Zilch]

Lotta nice JBL's there Zilch.. those all yours?

Not many know there's legacy in those:

http://www.audioheritage.org/html/profiles/jbl/cabaret.htm

I've done a bit of updating: The E140s have been replaced with 2226H with increased power handling capacity, and in the subs, Sub1500.

Port closures vary the sub tuning experimentally. The domes alone are bigger than what passes for woofers these days.

All great fun, but not Hi-fi, despite what Mark Gander says in that piece.

[He's a marketing guy.... : ]

 

[similost]

Not many know there's legacy in those:

http://www.audioheritage.org/html/profiles/jbl/cabaret.htm

I've done a bit of updating: The E140s have been replaced with 2226H, and in the subs, Sub1500.

Port closures vary the sub tuning experimentally. The domes alone are bigger than what passes for woofers these days.

All great fun, but not Hi-fi, despite what Mark Gander says in that piece.

[He's a marketing guy.... : ]

That's an interesting article.. thanks for sharing.. I thought they looked a little different than what I was used to seeing for JBL PA's... I understand about the dust cap.. those are pretty large.. the one I have in my communnity speakers is by far the largest dome I've ever seen.. takes up over half the speaker.. just don't understand how drivers with such large caps can sound as good as one with smaller caps.. seems it would really mess withthe wave..

 

[wineslob]

Those are all pretty good.
I bring you............................

Stacked Apogee Stages!!!!!

 

[Robisme]

I have found that stacking different speakers can sound great. One pair may have what the other pair is lacking and visa-versa. I have also found that if the amp or receiver parallels the A and B, I get quite a bit more sound. Very noticable. On the other hand, if it puts A and B in series, it seems like I lose sound.

FYI, none of my systems have stacked speakers. Only do it in the shop for fun.


Rob

 

[Zilch]

Powerman KNOWS how to stack, he does.... :yes:

 

[RayW]

just don't understand how drivers with such large caps can sound as good as one with smaller caps.. seems it would really mess withthe wave..

At low frequencies the sound doesn't care what shape it is, it's all pistonic.

Ray

 

[RayW]

Hey mods, since this seems to come up every couple of weeks how about a stacking sticky? I'm sure Zilch is collecting threads and putting together a ready-made response for next time already.

Ray

 

[AudioAGAPE]

One point that was made that I didn't see addressed is the power issue when running in series. The net affect would be a theoretical halving of power (-3dB) but the doubling of diaphragm area would add the 3dB back into the mix. IF THE OTHER SPEAKERS ARE 4,8,OR16 OHMS THERE WILL BE AN OHM LOAD PROBLEM . IM SURE THE MAGGIES ARE 5OHMS OR LESS AND NEED CONSIDERABLY MORE POWER AT THAT RATING. THE BEST WAY IS TO RUN EQUAL OHMS ON ALL SPEAKERS INVOLVED, OR CONSIDER ADDING AN ADDITIONAL AMP.::yes::scratch2: