Surround sound system setup???

Question

I just inherited a Kenmore surround sound system with an recevier/amp, 5 speakers, a subwoofer, and a DVD player. How do I go about hooking all of this up together and to my flatscreen Sony TV. Any help would be appreciated - and you'll probably need to start with the most basic stuff because I don't know anything about this stuff.

Answer 1

First, it's Kenwood. Kenmore is the Sears brands of appliances such as washing machines. As for hooking it up, it is not as difficult as it might seem to you at the moment.

The receiver is the hub of the system. All of your sources will connect into it and all of your speakers will connect to its outputs. You probably already have the necessary interconnects and speaker wires. There should be a digital cable to connect the DVD player to the receiver. This will be either an optical cable or a "digital coaxial" (not to be confused with the regular coax used for cable TV etc.) cable. Optical cables have square-looking ends. A digital coax would be a single cable with "RCA" ends (just a design designation -- don't look for the brand name) like the others. It won't be very long. Connect this from the appropriate out on the player to the appropriate in on the receiver. There should be some kind of video cable or cables (composite video, s-video, or component video) to hook up the DVD player's video to the TV. You will have to "change the input" on your TV to watch this. You will do this through a button on your TV's remote labeled "source," "input," TV/Video (NOT TV/VCR), or "game."

The subwoofer plugs into the wall and connects to the receiver by a single audio cable with RCA ends that will be longer than the others. The two knobs on the back control gain (volume) and the crossover point. Try the gain at about halfway. If the sub makes a bad sound when played turn it down. The crossover for a Kenwood system should be set at about 90 -- 100 (since they have bookshelf size speakers), which is probably about halfway.

Hook up the speakers with the speaker wire. Be sure to go from positive on the receiver to positive on each speaker and likewise with the negative. Also be sure no bare wires are touching at any terminal.

Center channel goes on top of the TV. Main L&R to the sides of the TV. Rear speakers in the back of the room, preferably even with the main seating pointing in at the listeners. These should be a little farther apart from each other than the main L&R speakers are. Subwoofer should be pointing in the same direction as the front speakers. I would probably put that sub in a corner, but that is not necessary. You can't tell where its sound comes from because the sound waves are so long.

If you have the manual, read it very carefully. I worked in Home Theater for quite a while and found that the answer to nearly all questions could be found in the manual. Sometimes I just read from the manual to them. Manuals really are decipharable if you just take your time with them.

Answer 2

The speakers should be labelled along with the inputs in the back of the receiver. Just match them up.

The way you hook it up depends on what kind of cables you have. If you have composite (yellow, red, & white) then connect yellow to one of your TV inputs and red & white to you receiver. Always note which inputs you are using to change them on your TV & receiver. If you have an S-video cable then just replace it with the yellow cable and don't use the yellow. Everything else remains the same.

If using HDMI, component, or DVI cable then connect them from the DVD to the TV. Just match the colors for component to know where they go. But that will only play audio thru the TV not the receiver. You will need an optical audio cable from either the TV to receiver or DVD to receiver. Just make sure you have the input and output. TV to receiver will play the audio thru the receiver for anything you are watching including regular TV programs. DVD to receiver will only play the audio thru the receiver when you watch DVD movies or play CD's.

Answer 3

Watching tv is easier but I love reading books more

Answer 4

while reading a book, you're stimulating your brain. You transform your reading and literacy skills and also you in the process, are more literate. Even with today's modern tools, you need to be able to read still.
While you're watching t.v. can be good fun, it isn't doing anything to your brain.

Answer 5

u want ur speakers as far as possible because u have a small room. now as far as the channel u r on ur own because that selects how loud u want each speaker. Its basically set to ur liking. So possition the speakers where u like and adjust the sound to ur liking. and as far as large or small. Put it as small cuz it is a small room.

Answer 6

Here is a diagram showing you how all the parts are put together; Hope this helps.

http://www.hometheaternetwork.com/

Answer 7

Here's a video showing how to do it. http://reviews.cnet.com/Home_theater_setup_tips/4660-10165_7-6281807.html

There's loads of stuff out there just google
"home theater" + setup