Don't really have a clue.

[chuckarooster]

I am what you guys call "newbie" I'm quite sure. I have been buying stereo equipment for awhile not knowing much but complete basics. I finally decided to do what us men refuse to(ask for directions). Trying to optimize the best sound with what I have. Used mostly for music in man cave. my receiver is a pioneer vsx455 since my onkyo txnr807 needs new hdmi board. I have a wide range of speakers and don't know which ones to use or where to put em. I have pair of zenith allegro 4000's, pair of bose 402w's and 301's. klipsch kg4's and a little optimus powered sub.

 

[zieglj01]

I would use the Klipsch KG4 as the stereo front speakers and save up
for a better subwoofer.

I would donate the Zenith speakers - and sell the Bose 402W speakers,
and later the Optimus subwoofer.

If going surround sound for movies - then I would use the 301 for surrounds,
then try to find a matching center for the KG speakers on Ebay.

 

[chuckarooster]

Guess i'm confused on why you wouldn't hook anymore speakers up?

 

[zieglj01]

Guess i'm confused on why you wouldn't hook anymore speakers up?

The Bose 402w are not regular home speakers - they are more for
the pro audio side and need a correct controller (equalizer) to work,
plus the word is that the impedance is said to drop real low.

The Klipsch KG4 is the powerful one - and can do some decent bass

The Zenith may be Ok for you - maybe save them for separate use
or if you do like them, then use as surrounds.

Optimus subwoofers tend to be on the boomy weak side, as far as
subs go - I have owned some. However if budget is tight, they may
help to augment the bass - to fill the room some.

While the Bose 301 has its limitations - they can work for surround
use in home theater.

For 2 channel music listening, the others will fall behind the Klipsch KG4
and will be a mis-match for surround music.

 

[chuckarooster]

Ya personally I like the zeniths. Guess I should have said for everything I have I haven't spent more than 80$. So hook kg4's in front and zenith's in the rear speaker outputs? I didn't receive a manual for the receiver although I did get the remote so what setting would i run it on for music? same for tv?

 

[zieglj01]

The Klipsch KG 2.5v is the speaker for center channel, and can
be found on Ebay from time to time.

There is also the Klipsch KG 2.2v channel

These are better suited for your KG fronts - and will be better
to anchor your front channel system.

 

[chuckarooster]

Ya personally I like the zeniths. Guess I should have said for everything I have I haven't spent more than 80$. So hook kg4's in front and zenith's in the rear speaker outputs? I didn't receive a manual for the receiver although I did get the remote so what setting would i run it on for music? same for tv?

I guess i'm just trying to utilize what I have the best I can. So using all the outputs on the back of the receiver is hurting my sound quality more than it's helping me?
So i guess instead of me saying knowing nothing but the basics It should read knowing nothing at all bc i'm not even sure that i'm running the receiver on the right sound setting

 

[zieglj01]

I guess i'm just trying to utilize what I have the best I can. So using all the outputs on the back of the receiver is hurting my sound quality?

How you listen to music is up to you - however, for critical music
listening most of us favor 2 channel stereo - and for surround music,
prefer series matching speakers, for sound tone and voice matching.

If you want to hook up surrounds - hook the Klipsch to main speakers
option A. For surround hook the Zenith to the surround terminals next
to the center terminal on the back.

For your source you can plug into the CD section on the back of the receiver.
Press CD on the remote - then you should have an option on the remote to
select stereo - and also an option for surround, so test the different surround
options on the remote.

 

[chuckarooster]

ok and by main speakers you mean front. I hooked the zenith to the right and left rear terminals I don't see anything on the remote to switch to stereo. I'm doin this as we speak and can't wait to hear what it sounds like. Should I go ahead and unhook the pre-sub output then? I wasn't impressed with the optimus sub so i modified it and put a rockford HE2 in a different box and am just using the amp to push it. The reason I hoooked it up was I was never able to really adjust the other than just the dial on the receiver and the super bass button

 

[chuckarooster]

And thank you very much for your time I do really appreciate it. Hope i'm giving ya a good laugh from my inexperience and lack of knowledge.

 

[chuckarooster]

got it hooked up and still can't find where it says stereo. scrolled through the options i have and it says 3ch logic, 3ch off, studio, sim surr, surr off, prologic, prologic off. Without adjusting the volume knob and scrolling through the options just mention the sim sorround is the loudest

 

[zieglj01]

ok and by main speakers you mean front. I hooked the zenith to the right and left rear terminals I don't see anything on the remote to switch to stereo. I'm doin this as we speak and can't wait to hear what it sounds like. Should I go ahead and unhook the pre-sub output then? I wasn't impressed with the optimus sub so i modified it and put a rockford HE2 in a different box and am just using the amp to push it. The reason I hoooked it up was I was never able to really adjust the other than just the dial on the receiver and the super bass button

got it hooked up and still can't find where it says stereo. scrolled through the options i have and it says 3ch logic, 3ch off, studio, sim surr, surr off, prologic, prologic off. Without adjusting the volume knob and scrolling through the options just mention the sim sorround is the loudest

Yes, main speakers is the front (Klipsch)

I would un-hook the sub for now

Do the surround off - that should work for stereo

If you wish surround - then do the prologic if you like it

 

[chuckarooster]

Sim surr seems to sound the best and coming out of all four. I turned channel b off is that correct?

 

[Seth=L]

Correct, leave chanel B off. Channel B and Channel A use the same amplifier, so don't increase it's load by running A & B simultaneously.

If you like SIm surround because it's louder that is fine, however, you won't likely get anyone here to agree that it sounds "better". You have to remember that most of us are pursuant of high fidelity, not high output.

 

[zieglj01]

Sim surr seems to sound the best and coming out of all four. I turned channel b off is that correct?

As stated, leave B off

If simulated surround floats your boat - then so be it.