Help figuring out a home theatre please...

[marlon7747]

Yet another case of moving into an apartment with no instructions on how to use the rather dated sound system... I'm awaiting info from a very slow-to-respond landlord in the UK, but in the meantime I thought I'd ask the illustrious community for help!

Context

http://imgur.com/a/0BlC8AY

http://imgur.com/a/nNexKgD

The images will show the setup, but I've got:

• Two large Mordaunt Short speakers, a centre speaker, and around 4 ceiling speakers (the ones I'm really interested in activating) which appeared to be quite expensive back in the day
• An FMJ AV9 PreAmp Processor (without an AC cable to power it)
• An FMJ P7 Multi Channel Amplifier (without an AC cable to power it)

Additionally, on the walls I have:

• 2 sets of audio cable intakes (4 entries each) positioned next to the large speakers, leading me to assume this is where they are plugged in...
• 2 sets of audio cable intakes (8 entries each) positioned behind the Preamp/amps, leading me to assume this is where they are plugged in...
• 1 set of audio cable intake (2 entries) to the far left of the wall, and another one behind the preamps (refer to pics)

Ask

I've got the problem broken down into parts, but despite considering myself tech-savvy, I'm really struggling here.

1. Somehow getting the soundsystem to work but I have no clue what goes where, especially for the speakers on the ceiling. I need them to be powered and operational. I also need to power the Amps but haven't bought any AC cables for them.
2. Feeding the soundsystem with the audio I want (either from the TV which has HDMI, the Google TV plugged into it, or in an ideal world a bluetooth device/Alexa Echo). However, given the age of this system, it doesn't look like it has bluetooth and I'd need to buy an adapter of some sort to plug it in.

Final point is that if possible I'd like to do this for the lowest amount of money. I don't need a state of the art setup with incredibly expensive gold cables or using both the PreAmp + Amp if it's unnecessary, just a basic speaker system as it feels like a massive shame to let these speakers go unused!

Any input would be massively appreciated - I've googled a bit but am still drawing blanks (apart from knowing that RCA cables aren't the right tool here...). Which cables should I buy? How should I plug them in? How should I power the devices?

Thanks everyone!

 

[TLS Guy]

Yet another case of moving into an apartment with no instructions on how to use the rather dated sound system... I'm awaiting info from a very slow-to-respond landlord in the UK, but in the meantime I thought I'd ask the illustrious community for help!

Context

http://imgur.com/a/0BlC8AY

http://imgur.com/a/nNexKgD

The images will show the setup, but I've got:

• Two large Mordaunt Short speakers, a centre speaker, and around 4 ceiling speakers (the ones I'm really interested in activating) which appeared to be quite expensive back in the day
• An FMJ AV9 PreAmp Processor (without an AC cable to power it)
• An FMJ P7 Multi Channel Amplifier (without an AC cable to power it)

Additionally, on the walls I have:

• 2 sets of audio cable intakes (4 entries each) positioned next to the large speakers, leading me to assume this is where they are plugged in...
• 2 sets of audio cable intakes (8 entries each) positioned behind the Preamp/amps, leading me to assume this is where they are plugged in...
• 1 set of audio cable intake (2 entries) to the far left of the wall, and another one behind the preamps (refer to pics)

Ask

I've got the problem broken down into parts, but despite considering myself tech-savvy, I'm really struggling here.

1. Somehow getting the soundsystem to work but I have no clue what goes where, especially for the speakers on the ceiling. I need them to be powered and operational. I also need to power the Amps but haven't bought any AC cables for them.
2. Feeding the soundsystem with the audio I want (either from the TV which has HDMI, the Google TV plugged into it, or in an ideal world a bluetooth device/Alexa Echo). However, given the age of this system, it doesn't look like it has bluetooth and I'd need to buy an adapter of some sort to plug it in.

Final point is that if possible I'd like to do this for the lowest amount of money. I don't need a state of the art setup with incredibly expensive gold cables or using both the PreAmp + Amp if it's unnecessary, just a basic speaker system as it feels like a massive shame to let these speakers go unused!

Any input would be massively appreciated - I've googled a bit but am still drawing blanks (apart from knowing that RCA cables aren't the right tool here...). Which cables should I buy? How should I plug them in? How should I power the devices?

Thanks everyone!

It looks like an nicely installed system. It is an AVP connected to a multichannel power amp.

Disconnect the speaker cables one at a time, and put a 1.5 volt battery acrossobe speaker plugs and take one of two wires on and off and see which speaker clicks on and off as you make and break the circuit. Then label it. Make sure it is plugged into the correct speaker sockets of the amp.

Check that the correct AVP outputs are connected to the right amp inputs to the amp channel connected to the correct speaker. Then you are good to go.

I think the ceiling speakers are likely the surrounds and rear backs for the system. Photographs of all of those speakers in relation to their position in the room would be very helpful. I suspect you have a five channel surround theater system. Is there a sub some place? If not you will need one.

 

[highfigh]

Yet another case of moving into an apartment with no instructions on how to use the rather dated sound system... I'm awaiting info from a very slow-to-respond landlord in the UK, but in the meantime I thought I'd ask the illustrious community for help!

Context

http://imgur.com/a/0BlC8AY

http://imgur.com/a/nNexKgD

The images will show the setup, but I've got:

• Two large Mordaunt Short speakers, a centre speaker, and around 4 ceiling speakers (the ones I'm really interested in activating) which appeared to be quite expensive back in the day
• An FMJ AV9 PreAmp Processor (without an AC cable to power it)
• An FMJ P7 Multi Channel Amplifier (without an AC cable to power it)

Additionally, on the walls I have:

• 2 sets of audio cable intakes (4 entries each) positioned next to the large speakers, leading me to assume this is where they are plugged in...
• 2 sets of audio cable intakes (8 entries each) positioned behind the Preamp/amps, leading me to assume this is where they are plugged in...
• 1 set of audio cable intake (2 entries) to the far left of the wall, and another one behind the preamps (refer to pics)

Ask

I've got the problem broken down into parts, but despite considering myself tech-savvy, I'm really struggling here.

1. Somehow getting the soundsystem to work but I have no clue what goes where, especially for the speakers on the ceiling. I need them to be powered and operational. I also need to power the Amps but haven't bought any AC cables for them.
2. Feeding the soundsystem with the audio I want (either from the TV which has HDMI, the Google TV plugged into it, or in an ideal world a bluetooth device/Alexa Echo). However, given the age of this system, it doesn't look like it has bluetooth and I'd need to buy an adapter of some sort to plug it in.

Final point is that if possible I'd like to do this for the lowest amount of money. I don't need a state of the art setup with incredibly expensive gold cables or using both the PreAmp + Amp if it's unnecessary, just a basic speaker system as it feels like a massive shame to let these speakers go unused!

Any input would be massively appreciated - I've googled a bit but am still drawing blanks (apart from knowing that RCA cables aren't the right tool here...). Which cables should I buy? How should I plug them in? How should I power the devices?

Thanks everyone!

Don't bother with expensive power cords- just buy something that has adequate wire gauge. If the wire gauge is shown in milimeters, 14 ga is about 2mm².

 

[Eppie]

Both posts are correct. The jack for the power cords is a standard 3-pin connector and any standard 15amp power cord with the correct shaped plug will do (like a computer power cord).

The RCA cables from the pre-amp are connected for 5 channels but not correctly at the moment. The front left, right and centre plus two rear speakers should be used. The two rear speakers could be floor speakers (any more wall plates for speakers at the back of the room?) or two of the ceiling speakers. The amplifier has 7 channels and if you want to power 7 speakers you will need either a stereo pair or two more single RCA cables.

As for testing, the speaker wires from the amplifier go to the the ganged plates behind the units. The ganged plates then have wires running to each speaker location. You need speaker wire from the amp to the ganged plates and also from the speaker terminal plates to the speakers for the front left and right and any floor standing rear speakers (if any). The centre may not have a wall terminal if it is located close to the amp; connect it directly to the corresponding amp channel. The ceiling speaker will be wired directly to the ganged plate. If you lack speaker cable, 14 or 12 gauge stranded copper cable will suffice. You don't need exotic cables. Stranded wire from the hardware store or Amazon.uk will do the job.

You can test for the speakers using a battery as mentioned, but you need to wire up the main left and right speakers first to the wall plate. I see four posts. Some people "bi-amp" the main speakers running separate wires for the mid-tweeter and woofers. This is not necessary and using just two wires instead of four is fine, BUT you need to see if the front left and right were bi-amped before. Check the rear of the speakers and if there are just 2 posts you are fine. If there are 4 posts then they need to be bridged. Most speakers come with bridge plates factory installed. If there is no bridge plate you may need to connect the upper and lower terminals with a short piece of speaker wire. Post photos of the back of the speakers if unsure. You then need to determine which two of the four posts on the wall plate you need to use. Each pair is likely an upper and lower post. If you have a multi-meter, you can short two posts with a piece of wire and measure for the short (0 resistance) at the ganged plate. (Just never turn on the amplifier with any posts shorted.)

With the speakers wired, test with a battery and label each pair of posts on the ganged plate. To connect the amplifier, follow the connection from the pre-amp to the amp to the speaker posts. For example, follow the left channel RCA cable from the pre-amp to the amplifier IN and connect the speaker cable below that terminal to the left speaker connection on the ganged plate. Do the same for all channels available.

Lastly, I see a pair of RCA jacks behind the units next to the ganged plate, and also a pair of RCA jacks elsewhere. These are likely subwoofer connections for a stand alone subwoofer. The subwoofer output from the pre-amp connects to the wall plate behind the unit and feeds the other RCA jack, which would connect to the input of a subwoofer. You can worry about that after you get the speakers working.

 

[marlon7747]

Thank you for the above.

I've gone through the process and figured out which speaker is which using the battery method.

The only thing is I now can't seem to get any sound out of any of them when using my phone as an input. I've connected an AUX cable to the back of the Preamp, selected the same channel, and nothing happens...this has been such a frustrating process but I think I'm almost there! EDIT: It's because it needs coaxial cables, not AUX. I've bought a pair to see if it works but still, the paragraphs below are even more relevant now.

However, this has made me think. Even if I get the input to work, the system is so old that I think I won't be able to achieve my ultimate aim of getting my TV/Chromecast to work with it in a seamless way, or even the smart speakers I have (Amazon Echo and Google Home) to connect ideally through Bluetooth (which this system obviously cannot do).

Rather than continuing to sink effort into this, and having already identified the speaker outlets, I might just purchase a new combined amp (or whatever the best solution is) combining both the preamp/amp into one modern, bluetooth-enabled solution to use the speakers.

Can anyone recommend a decent device which isn't too expensive and would work for the above? I think it might make life easier...I appreciate it's a broad question, but I don't need a state of the art system - just something to get the system up and running!