Low Output

[shawjohn42]

Hello all,

I am trying to hook up my dad's corner horn speakers. He bought them about 30 years ago.

I have a 175w amp. When it plays, it sounds good (though I'm no expert), but it doesn't seem very loud on maximum volume. Now, I don't have them pushed back into the corner of the wall. Could that be the problem? Or, is it more likely something in the speakers?

Thanks.

[Schu]

if the horns are not literally blowing your arse out the door with a true 175 watts... there is something wrong.

are you sure your amp is running correctly?

[mustang guy]

K Horns need corners to work effectively. Also, what is the amp you are using? As little as 32 watts can get you to loud levels with khorns.

With 105db efficiency, 175 watts should provide over 127db at 1 watt/1 meter. Unless you think 127db isn't loud, something is definitely wrong. Most people think that is painful.

To equate this with another giant speaker, take the 574 lb. Focal Grand Utopia EM. With it's 94 db efficiency, you would have to pump 2,048 watts to get 127 db at 1watt/1meter.

[pzannucci]

It sounds like something wrong between the pre-amp and amplifier gain. Even if the khorns were not in the corner then the mid and tweeter rip your ears out if you were within 10 feet cranked. The only other thing is something is wrong with the horns but highly unlikely if they are both acting the same.

The mid and tweeter at 8-10 feet should be like a live rock concert with that amount of power.

[shawjohn42]

Thanks for the responses. You all are very good at expressing yourselves.

I was using a Sony Digital A/V Console Center with HDMI and surround sound. I bought it at least 10 years ago and haven't used it for some time. If there is a pre-amp, it is built into the amp.

Hmmm, not sure what to do, but I'd really like to have my arse blown out of the front door at some point soon!

John

[WMcD]

This low output seems to impossible if things on the AV receiver are set up properly and the wiring between it and the speakers is proper, and of course, if the speakers have not been damaged. As stated by others, even at medium volumes you should be getting blasted out of your socks.

The K-horns yield very loud output with a low signal reaching it. This may be part of issue. My thinking is that you are getting some acoustic output despite some error(s) in chain feeding them. These errors could give enough electical output to drive the speakers to some listenable level but fails to give the full results.

For example wrong settings may allow some bleed though from a source you have not selected. But there will be enough low level output from the speakers to let you hear.

I'll suggest checking everything in the chain in a somewhat logical manner.

1) Check if things are okay with the AV unit. If it has earphone output, try listening with earphones. It is an easy way of taking a close examination of the functioning of the AV independent of speakers and wiring to speakers You'll have to find a known good source like the internal FM radio (if present) or a CD/DVD player that is hooked up to the correct input, in the back. In the latter case, are the plugs snug? Are they placed into the proper jack?

This may seem obvious but AV receivers have a lot of settings which can fool you In the forest of jacks in the back it is easy to pick the wrong one. Is the printing for the jack below or the jack above? Check your manual. If lost, check the manufacturer's website for a .pdf.

As an example of bleed through: If you have everything wired correctly for CD input, and then select phonograph or DVD input as a source, you might hear the CD, at a very low level -- which the K-Horn will reproduce. (Though the headphone test should show this as abnormally low sound in the headphone.)

2) If when using headphones the sound is reasonable, then check the unit's settings regarding speakers. Some units have settings for A speaker pair output, or B speaker pair output, or Off. Even if the headphones work, the speaker selection switch could be set for Off; which you don't want. See if you can be sure that A is On.

3) Check wiring at the back of the AV to the speakers. There should be something like A speakers that you can identify (per the above you've set these to "on".) Again, with multiple speaker outputs terminals it can be easy to get things wrong. Check the manual for an easy diagram.

You'll see a set of four posts for the main speakers, probably. Look for labels for A speakers. Or main, not surround. That is another bleed though issue.

Take note that the pair of wires going to the left speaker has to be connected to a red (or plus) post and a black (or negative) post for left. Same with the right. speaker. If you connect a speaker pair to the two red you'll get some acoustic output in stereo. But this is a wrong connection arrangement.

4) Further to 3) if you have a mare's nest of wires in the back of the AV, and light is dim, a flashlight can help even if your eyesight is perfect. And are you looking from an angle or looking at things upside down bending over? Is there confusion in what wire goes where? Try making some tabs with masking tape to label wires. Everyone starts off thinking ther're too smart to make an error -- and then find out different. "Nuff said. Smile.

5) The last matter is the connection to the speaker input. Take a close look. If you've been getting good bass, mid, treble; you've probably got this correct.

I don't mean to be condescenting. But it seems that you're dealing with an receiver you have not used in a while and and new speakers you've never used. Errors can creep in. So it is important to grind through things in a logical order.

Let us know what happens. I believe that once you dope out the situation you will be very pleased. Then you can fool around with speaker placement and getting the K-Horns into the corner.

WMcD

[JBryan]

What he said... But first, TURN THE VOLUME DOWN, then check your wiring and settings as the problem most likely lies there.

[Schu]

What he said... But first, TURN THE VOLUME DOWN, then check your wiring and settings as the problem most likely lies there.

indeed... that is avery good idea!

[WMcD]

Very good idea. sorry I didn't think of it.

WMcD

[WMcD]

Reminds me of a story told to me by a couple with a toddler.

Early one Sunday morning, while mom and dad were sleeping, the tyke was investigating the stereo, apparently set to FM. By the curiosity of a child the tyke got the volume up to maximum and, with some further experimentation found the power switch.

Wow.

Mom and dad woke up very startled and found the little guy crying in front of the set.

This must happen a few times a week in America.

No word on whether the tyke's hearing was damaged or whether he is now an audiophile.

Smile,

WMcD

[shawjohn42]

Wow, it's like you were watching when I was trying to set it all up. My components have black plastic with raised letters. I'm not sure I'm reading them right with my flashlight. And the amp has numerous connections. My dad had this wire that's like 1/4 inch thick, and I'm not sure I'm getting a good grip on the amp connection.

Thank you, all. I've learned a lot and now have my work cut out. I'll turn down the volume and give it another go!

[garymd]

Don't just turn it down. Turn it WAY down. In fact, turn it ALL THE WAY DOWN until you think you might have a good signal. You have no idea how little power those speakers require.

BTW - When my son was about 3 (he's now 29), he decided to play with the knobs on my 160wpc Kenwood receiver that was hooked up to my Cornwalls. That's back when 160 watts were really 160 watts! He turned the volume up to about 3:00 (I'd previously blown my tweeters at about noon on the dial). Well, of course he flipped the on switch with the selector on FM and to this day I'm not sure which was louder - his screaming or the music coming from the speakers.