advice needed about cerwin vega home theater audio drama!

[n00binator]

Hey everyone... So I just recently setup a home theater, and I initially just had two Cerwin Vega SL-15s, which sound great.. but I was feeling like-- I wished I had some audio coming from behind too... So I bought the Cerwin Vega SL-45C center channel, and also picked up a SL-10S subwoofer... Once the SL-45C arrived, I was a little bummed because I saw it only had a terminal input for one channel....... And then, I was also kind of annoyed to find that the subwoofer was self powered and has its own volume control.

So, my first world problem is: I have a Sony receiver that has two stereo terminal outputs to support two sets of speakers (A/B).. To use this SL-45C, I am only able to give it one channel.. For some reason, I was thinking it was going to have two channel inputs... and then I was wondering if there is some way to combine both channels making it mono, and giving that mono input to the center channel?!

And then lastly because the subwoofer has its own volume control, this means, when I turn up/down my sony receiver, I have to turn up/down my subwoofer, which is kind of a pain (another first world problem).

So........ I can only assume I am going about this all wrong?! Is there a better receiver I should use which has an actual center channel output terminal? And a unpowered subwoofer output that is affected by the receiver's volume?

Thank you in advance for any help / advice!

 

[lovinthehd]

First, a center channel is just one channel. Why would it have multiple channel inputs? If you're thinking about the idiotic bi-wiring/bi-amping terminals, don't worry about it, just means the speaker had some sensible design rather than marketing goals.

Yes most subs are self powered these days. Most receivers only provide a sub pre-out (but these are multich receivers, two ch receivers tend not to provide well for subs at all).

Your Sony has A/B but that's more intended for speakers in different rooms rather than used simultaneously (which usually has an impedance penalty if you do so). There's still just two channels (left and right in two ch stereo).

The B speaker outlets may make hookup of a sub with high level inputs easier, tho (high level is speaker level, i.e. same types of wires as you would use to hook up your speakers....but high level inputs on subs are not an impedance consideration particularly like with another set of passive speakers).

You would need a multich receiver (an avr-audio video receiver) for center channel and sub pre-out in general.

Good luck and welcome!

ps Always best to post up specific makes/models of all gear you want to discuss....just makes it easier to know exactly what you have to work with.....

pps Few receivers except HTIB type provide for passive subs.

 

[n00binator]

hmmm ok.. So, say I have one of these receivers-- is it conventional to have center be behind you? or is it more typical to have two speakers for surround behind you?

 

[lovinthehd]

A center channel speaker is ideally in the middle (of L/R speakers) but behind a projection screen, but is it's own channel unlike in 2ch stereo gear which only have L/R or 2ch stereo. TVs however force a center underneath or above the display.....but certainly not a rear position for the center channel in a 3.1/5.1 setup at all. While 3.1 (Left, right and center plus sub) was a thing maybe 20 years ago, the typical multich setup is far beyond that now. Even rear surrounds that incorporated a single "center" speaker (like Dolby EX) are long gone as well as any native format that can feed it. You've really been away, eh?

 

[n00binator]

haha.. Yes I have been far, far, away.

But, it's true that beauty is in the ear of the beholder, though, right? Like.. if I am sitting in my home theater with a center speaker behind me, satisfying my need to have some sound coming from behind--- it's not like a terrible thing right? Just unconventional?

 

[lovinthehd]

I'd prefer drugs to help in that situation where I'd enjoy what should be in front of me coming from behind, but YMMV

I'd just get a proper avr instead of screwing around with old limited 2ch gear.....

 

[n00binator]

hmmmmm... ok... well thank you for your time and help!

 

[lovinthehd]

hmmmmm... ok... well thank you for your time and help!

No problem you just need proper tools for the job, and the tools you have are best for just using two speakers at one time (probably your CVs in the A mode). No worries, enjoy what you've got!

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

haha.. Yes I have been far, far, away.

But, it's true that beauty is in the ear of the beholder, though, right? Like.. if I am sitting in my home theater with a center speaker behind me, satisfying my need to have some sound coming from behind--- it's not like a terrible thing right? Just unconventional?

No. Having a center channel speaker behind you isn’t a good idea for any reason. It’s supposed to tie into the screen, and dialog and the front stage in general.
Terrible? No. But satisfying? Not likely.
And the subwoofer having its own volume control is for setting its own relative volume to the other speakers. When you turn the volume up/down on the AVR, it will follow suit, and stay relative to the other speakers. You don’t have to manually adjust the subs volume because the amp built into the sub will go up/down with the receiver.

 

[TLS Guy]

Hey everyone... So I just recently setup a home theater, and I initially just had two Cerwin Vega SL-15s, which sound great.. but I was feeling like-- I wished I had some audio coming from behind too... So I bought the Cerwin Vega SL-45C center channel, and also picked up a SL-10S subwoofer... Once the SL-45C arrived, I was a little bummed because I saw it only had a terminal input for one channel....... And then, I was also kind of annoyed to find that the subwoofer was self powered and has its own volume control.

So, my first world problem is: I have a Sony receiver that has two stereo terminal outputs to support two sets of speakers (A/B).. To use this SL-45C, I am only able to give it one channel.. For some reason, I was thinking it was going to have two channel inputs... and then I was wondering if there is some way to combine both channels making it mono, and giving that mono input to the center channel?!

And then lastly because the subwoofer has its own volume control, this means, when I turn up/down my sony receiver, I have to turn up/down my subwoofer, which is kind of a pain (another first world problem).

So........ I can only assume I am going about this all wrong?! Is there a better receiver I should use which has an actual center channel output terminal? And a unpowered subwoofer output that is affected by the receiver's volume?

Thank you in advance for any help / advice!

Your only correct assumption is that you are "going about this all wrong."

It is a good job you could not connect those units, to your current receiver, or you would have blown it up.

You new purchases are useless to you with your current set up.

Your current amp has two channels, as it only contains two power amps.

So in order to have rear sound you need a receiver with at least five channels plus a sub/LFE channel. So this receiver would have five power amplifiers. Now the sub/LFE channel has no power amp. That is a preamp output, as subs have their own power amps. The subwoofer volume is only set once at set up, and then it volume is controlled by the receiver volume.

Now modern receivers, are designed to be connected to a TV for watching TV, movies, video discs, AV streams and all manor of AV content. They have to be connected to a TV for set up, and are really not handy unless they are kept connected to a TV.

Now the nomenclature. Your receiver is strictly 2.0. That means it only has right and left channels and no sub.

Next is 2.1 which is left and right plus sub.

Next is 3.0 and 3.1 which is right left and center with sub if it is 3.1. .1 is one sub and .2 two subs.

Next we have 5.0, 5.1 and 5.2. That means there are right left, center and two surround channels and now, one or two subs respectively.

Next we get 7.0, 7.1 and 7.2. That means we have added two surround backs to the mix, as well as the other above speakers.

Then we get into the realm of Atmos and ceiling speakers. Domestically you can have two, four or six ceiling speakers. In systems like this you know there will be one, two or four subs. So we have 5.1.2. in this nomenclature, the first number is the number of channels around the room, the next number is the number of subs and the last number, the number of ceiling speakers. So 5.1.2, 5.2.2. 7.1.2, 7.2.2, 5.1.4, 7.1.4, 5.2.4, 7.2.4 and finally 5.2.6 and 7.2.6. I think you get the idea.

Generally receivers and pre/processors now have two sub outputs, but the content is the same but the volume of each can be set differently at set up. You can connect more than one sub to each sub output.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

This system is 2.1

This system is 3.1.

This system is 7.2.4

I think the system you are after is 5.1.

Now these channels are designed to be individual channels and not all play the same sound. So front left and right play front and right, and the center center and usually the dialog. The surrounds and rear backs just play sounds intended from sides and rear plus ambience. The ceiling speakers overhead sounds and ambience.

Location of speakers has to be pretty much kept to Dolby protocols.

I suspect you will have more questions after this.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Hey everyone... So I just recently setup a home theater, and I initially just had two Cerwin Vega SL-15s, which sound great.. but I was feeling like-- I wished I had some audio coming from behind too... So I bought the Cerwin Vega SL-45C center channel, and also picked up a SL-10S subwoofer... Once the SL-45C arrived, I was a little bummed because I saw it only had a terminal input for one channel....... And then, I was also kind of annoyed to find that the subwoofer was self powered and has its own volume control.

So, my first world problem is: I have a Sony receiver that has two stereo terminal outputs to support two sets of speakers (A/B).. To use this SL-45C, I am only able to give it one channel.. For some reason, I was thinking it was going to have two channel inputs... and then I was wondering if there is some way to combine both channels making it mono, and giving that mono input to the center channel?!

And then lastly because the subwoofer has its own volume control, this means, when I turn up/down my sony receiver, I have to turn up/down my subwoofer, which is kind of a pain (another first world problem).

So........ I can only assume I am going about this all wrong?! Is there a better receiver I should use which has an actual center channel output terminal? And a unpowered subwoofer output that is affected by the receiver's volume?

Thank you in advance for any help / advice!

You are going to get beat up a bit on some forums I'm afraid. Please don't let that deter you. The biggest headache for people you are asking help from is that you didn't ask for help THEN go buy - you just bought some stuff, then acted surprised when it didn't do what you expected.

I'm not sure if you are coming back here or not to keep reading responses, maybe, maybe not. But, the entire audio industry is built around a long list of standards that ensure that audio quality can reach the most potential for the most people. Speaker placement is part of those standards. Not that you can't do whatever in the world you want to do, but once you move outside of the established standards, you are on your own.

The headache may be that you call it 'DRAMA', which it most definitely isn't. You've created your own expectations, which have no relationship to the reality by which manufacturers produce their products, and it is all super easy to deal with by setting up your room according to these established standards.

If you want to add surround speakers, then it would typically be a speaker pair for your left/right surrounds, and you would typically use a surround receiver that's designed to put audio into all four channels separately, and with specific capabilities for each speaker. Oh, and a surround receiver would have a proper LFE (subwoofer) output which would connect to any standards powered subwoofer.

If you want to use what you have, then you should get a speaker pair, ideally something similar to your front speakers, but at least a pair so that you can have a left/right channel in stereo behind you to hook up to the 'B' terminals of your receiver.

Your subwoofer also should be a model which supports speakers level inputs. These are readily available from various manufacturers. The SVS PB-1000 for example, has a speaker level input. But, it isn't a stereo input, from what I can tell, maybe it supports stereo... please refer to the owner's manual and ask specific questions. I would look for a model which has stereo speaker level inputs and use that if you want to stick with your current receiver.

MOST OF ALL: BEFORE YOU BUY - ASK!!!! This will help to reduce self-inflicted drama which you are trying to avoid.

 

[MacCali]

haha.. Yes I have been far, far, away.

But, it's true that beauty is in the ear of the beholder, though, right? Like.. if I am sitting in my home theater with a center speaker behind me, satisfying my need to have some sound coming from behind--- it's not like a terrible thing right? Just unconventional?

haha.. Yes I have been far, far, away.

But, it's true that beauty is in the ear of the beholder, though, right? Like.. if I am sitting in my home theater with a center speaker behind me, satisfying my need to have some sound coming from behind--- it's not like a terrible thing right? Just unconventional?

If you or anyone you know has a Costco card I would highly suggest buying the Yahama TSR-700 and get an extra pair of bookshelves and put those behind you.

I bought an 11 channel receiver wanting to have 7 speakers, initially a subwoofer, and 2 or 4 Dolby atmos channels.

which would be 7.x.2 or 4.

I got 5 channel system now and I’m super happy. It’s way more than enough. So not sure where you are but seems like 800 dollars will get you this and that’s a great deal.