Help with active loudspeaker hook up

[TLS Guy]

Thanks, TLS - that looks like an elegant and (very) cheap fix. Do you think that part would be available on the shelf at an electronics store or is it one of those obscure pieces that I will have to order off the website?

And Mark, you are more than likely correct about my friend being an idiot - he hooked it up back in college and didn't really have any specialized knowledge. I think I can post pictures now, so here's how he had it - if we number the speaker inputs 1-8 starting in the top left corner, he had one speaker hooked into 1 and 3 and one hooked into 6 and 8.

Now, you are telling me to use 1,2 and 7,8, while another person is telling me to stay in channel A and use 1,2 and 3,4. I suppose none of it matters as I will be using the adapter, but just for my own edification - what did my friend do originally? He claimed he was "bridging" the amp. Something about halving the ohms and doubling the power....I'm not sure, it was a while ago.

Also, if someone could explain the significance of the impedance selector above the speaker inputs that would be great. I have it set to the left at the moment (A or B, 8 ohms min per speaker), though abovementioned idiot had it to the right (A or B 4 ohms min per speaker/A+B 8 ohms min per speaker).

You might find one of those adapters at Radio Shack.

Your amp is not bridgeable. You are lucky the idiot did not blow it up.

Since the amp is not driving a standard loudspeaker load, it will not matter where you put the selector impedance switch. I would leave it as you have it.

 

[markw]

To use the speaker level input, use terminals one and two for one speaker and three and four for the other speaker. That's assuming speaker "A".

If you wanted to use speaker "B", add four to above numbers.

 

[wrightmr]

OK, so I got this part: http://www.audiogear.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?key=Adpt-2rcfQsm&preadd=action and am now bypassing the amp by plugging the line ins into the headphone jack. It works great and the speakers now make absolutely no sound when switched on and the amp is off, just like I wanted.

However, when I switch the amp on when the speakers are on, I hear a fairly loud POP come from the speakers, accompanied by a noticeable hiss coming from the speakers. When music is playing the speakers sound great, very crisp and loud. Is there any way to deal with the pop and hiss?

 

[TLS Guy]

OK, so I got this part: http://www.audiogear.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?key=Adpt-2rcfQsm&preadd=action and am now bypassing the amp by plugging the line ins into the headphone jack. It works great and the speakers now make absolutely no sound when switched on and the amp is off, just like I wanted.

However, when I switch the amp on when the speakers are on, I hear a fairly loud POP come from the speakers, accompanied by a noticeable hiss coming from the speakers. When music is playing the speakers sound great, very crisp and loud. Is there any way to deal with the pop and hiss?

That will not be easily solved, unless your speakers have an auto on with a delay. Do you know if they do? Otherwise an auto on buffer amp and delay between the Onkyo and your speakers would have to be designed and built. Your only other option is a higher quality unit than the Onkyo, that does not perform in such a low class manner and release turn on thumps.

By the way those turn on thumps could well damage your speakers, so your speakers should be off when the Onkyo is turned on. Your other option is to leave your Onkyo on.

 

[wrightmr]

The speakers can be set to "auto" and the speakers do not turn on until they receive a signal and then they turn themselves off 3 minutes after receiving the last signal. I did not read anything in the specs about a delay, however. The link is here in case you are interested: http://www.beoworld.org/prod_details.asp?pid=797

As a side note, wouldn't the B&Os be to blame for the pop? After all, the Onkyo amp is not being used anymore since the speakers are plugged in through the headphone jack now. I realize this is probably not the case since the B&Os are of much higher quality, it just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[TLS Guy]

The speakers can be set to "auto" and the speakers do not turn on until they receive a signal and then they turn themselves off 3 minutes after receiving the last signal. I did not read anything in the specs about a delay, however. The link is here in case you are interested: http://www.beoworld.org/prod_details.asp?pid=797

As a side note, wouldn't the B&Os be to blame for the pop? After all, the Onkyo amp is not being used anymore since the speakers are plugged in through the headphone jack now. I realize this is probably not the case since the B&Os are of much higher quality, it just doesn't make sense to me.

The thump is coming from the Onkyo, it likely has a relay in the speaker circuit with a delay , so it does not thump speakers. Quite a few amps emit turn on thumps. Set your auto on function to on. I bet B & O have put a delay on it as well, for just this eventuality. I will be surprised if that does not solve your problem.