What are the important specs of speakers?

[Amit Monga]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to this community and highend sound world.

Could somebody help me to understand: -
What are the important specs of speakers, using which one should findout a compatible/matching AV receiver?

Background
I have an old home theater system, Sony FLX-5D. The main receiver is not working any more, DVD changer is stuck, it doesnt have HDMI input etc.

Because of these reasons I have deicded to buy a new matching av receiver. By matching receiver I mean a receiver which matches with the sony 5.1 set of speakers which along as a package with Sony FLX-5D home theater. Overall I am quite happy with the sound quality this receiver used to produce with these speakers, its just that rather then spending money on getting it repaired, I guess it would be wise to buy a matching receiver.


Please help

 

[siva1234]

Hi Amit Monga,

The amplification process of a hi-fi system (like, FLX-5D) is completely different from stand alone AV receivers. The speakers supplied with FLX-5D won't match with any type of AV Receivers. The ohms and watts of the hi-fi systems are very low, whereas that of the AV Receiver is high. I can't explain further technically. But the difference is very huge. Hence go for dedicated AV Receiver with satellite speakers or floor standing speakers.

 

[baijuxavior]

What is the speaker impedence and wattage? If the impedence is 6 ohms or higher, you can use most AVRs. Also is the subwoofer active or passive?

 

[ShaQ.Blogs]

those speakers dont look like they need much power...i think even a low end receiver should be more than enough

 

[Amit Monga]

Hi Amit Monga,

The amplification process of a hi-fi system (like, FLX-5D) is completely different from stand alone AV receivers. The speakers supplied with FLX-5D won't match with any type of AV Receivers. The ohms and watts of the hi-fi systems are very low, whereas that of the AV Receiver is high. I can't explain further technically. But the difference is very huge. Hence go for dedicated AV Receiver with satellite speakers or floor standing speakers.

Hi Siva,
Thanks for the information
The speakers as mentioned by Sony are as follows: -
Front, Surround = 65 W / 8 ohms
SW (Passive) = 100 W / 8 ohms

When I check the specs of AVRs, most of them are like 50 W or 75 or 100 and likewise.
So I am quite curious about the difference between the amplification of HiFi systems and AVRs.
If you can explain a bit more, it will be highly helpful.

 

[Amit Monga]

What is the speaker impedence and wattage? If the impedence is 6 ohms or higher, you can use most AVRs. Also is the subwoofer active or passive?

Thanks Baiju,
The speakers as mentioned by Sony are as follows: -
Front, Surround = 65 W / 8 ohms
SW (Passive) = 100 W / 8 ohms

But as mentioned by Siva above and few other people also (Whom I spoke to), there is some fundamental difference (Probably the wattage, but how if the unit is same?) between these kind of speakers and the ones which work with AVRs. Although so far I have not been able to get exact/accurate info about what difference does it has.

Any info further, will surely help.

 

[baijuxavior]

You can safely use the speakers with any AVR. But the subwoofer is not usable as it is a passive sub. You will need an additional amplifier if you want to use the subwoofer. This is because most AVRs have only pre-out for subwoofer. Only entry level htibs like Onkyo 3400/3500 have passive sub support, but they are full HTiBs.

 

[elangoas]

Hi Siva,
Thanks for the information
The speakers as mentioned by Sony are as follows: -
Front, Surround = 65 W / 8 ohms
SW (Passive) = 100 W / 8 ohms

When I check the specs of AVRs, most of them are like 50 W or 75 or 100 and likewise.
So I am quite curious about the difference between the amplification of HiFi systems and AVRs.
If you can explain a bit more, it will be highly helpful.

Did you find sensitivity/efficiency of speaker ? Check them in the manul..It would be expressed in db (decibel).

Anything around 90db, you will need very less amplifier power...Anything less than that, you will need a good to solid amplifier..

 

[prosenjit]

as baiju mentioned already you can safely use them at 50 percent of full volume with any entry avr like denon 1312..(avr only not 1312xp package)....

 

[Audio_Freek]

Amit,

You could try with any entry level AVR available in market, and prefer to buy Indian made,Coz it would not cost much or try out for Pre-owned Amps.
Could you ans the below question?
Are you an audio Phile?
Are you using the Hi-fi just in free time or craz about music?
Whats your Budget for buying new receiver?

The reason why am asking is that, If you are an audiophile then But a good avr and use the speakers for Stereo and later can purchase GOOD Book shelf or Floor standing to enhance your listening.

If you are just listening music or movies during free time, then dont spend on AVR, Try to purchase any pre-owned Hi-fi stuff and match with the existing speakers.

 

[Audio_Freek]

Did you find sensitivity/efficiency of speaker ? Check them in the manul..It would be expressed in db (decibel).

Anything around 90db, you will need very less amplifier power...Anything less than that, you will need a good to solid amplifier..

Elangoas,

I request you to clarify my doubt.If DB rate is more(Ex 95) then we need a solid amp and if the DB is less (Ex82) then normal Hi-fi stuff or entry level amps would supports?

More over is there any way to calculate the DB with the Power handling (RMS) and Ohms data? As in Sony speakers the OHMS only will be found and rarely the power handling will present, so this info could be usefull for some FM's for calculating the DB


Thanks for your help in advance

 

[ShaQ.Blogs]

From my understanding, If manufacturer specifies power handling as 10W - 100W. You dont want to supply 150W to it. The speakers are capable of upto 100W average power. Supplying power Over that range, the manufacturer dosent recommend.

Sensitivity basically means, how easy it is to drive the speakers. Lower the sensitivity, more the power it needs to play at a certain volume. The higher the sensitivity the easier it is to drive the speakers at the same volume hence requires lower power. For example, an 90db speaker would need half as much power as a 87db speaker would to play the same levels (to get 3 dB bcos you need to double the power).
The sensitivity spec usually is measured as, loudness level when supplying speaker with 1 Watt of power when measured at a distance of (1.67 or 2.67)m. You can google this

Sensitivity has nothing to do with Sound quality. So if a speaker has lower sensitivity dosent make it a bad one. Just makes it a demanding one for more power. It could well be a speaker which is much better than one which plays louder.

 

[shanmune]

Elangoas,

I request you to clarify my doubt.If DB rate is more(Ex 95) then we need a solid amp and if the DB is less (Ex82) then normal Hi-fi stuff or entry level amps would supports?

More over is there any way to calculate the DB with the Power handling (RMS) and Ohms data? As in Sony speakers the OHMS only will be found and rarely the power handling will present, so this info could be usefull for some FM's for calculating the DB


Thanks for your help in advance

Higher the sensitivity (as measured in DB) of a speaker, lesser the power requeired by the amplifier to drive a speaker. For example, there are two speakers A and B. Speaker A has 85db and speaker B has 88db. Suppose, if both the speakers need to output same sound pressure/level, then the amplifier needs to send X watts of power to Speaker A and twice that power (2 x X wats) to speaker B.

DB calculation can only be done by the designer of the speaker. Other wise it involves using measuring tools to find the DB.

 

[Amit Monga]

Sensitivity level is not mentioned anywhere; net, owner's manual etc.

 

[Amit Monga]

Amit,

You could try with any entry level AVR available in market, and prefer to buy Indian made,Coz it would not cost much or try out for Pre-owned Amps.
Could you ans the below question?
Are you an audio Phile?
Are you using the Hi-fi just in free time or craz about music?
Whats your Budget for buying new receiver?

The reason why am asking is that, If you are an audiophile then But a good avr and use the speakers for Stereo and later can purchase GOOD Book shelf or Floor standing to enhance your listening.

If you are just listening music or movies during free time, then dont spend on AVR, Try to purchase any pre-owned Hi-fi stuff and match with the existing speakers.

I am indeed an audiophile and at the same time dont wanna waste the set of speakers which I have. I wont be able to bear sound quality which is lesser then the current sony setup, and to get similar quality of sound I would atleeeeeeeest have to spend 30k or so only for speakers; keeping the AVR aside. Preowned things are not my cup of tea:indifferent14:.

The kind of sound which I like is: -
In movies - I love proper surround effect; sound of car moving from left to right and then back.......I luv it.
In music - I love medium to low volume with very clear sound of instruments, high treble and good bass (Not very high bass and not very low).

For all these priorities/preferences if it is confirmed that an AVR would not be compatible with hifi sony speakers then probably I'll get my sony receiver repaired.

 

[asliarun]

From my understanding, If manufacturer specifies power handling as 10W - 100W. You dont want to supply 150W to it. The speakers are capable of upto 100W average power. Supplying power Over that range, the manufacturer dosent recommend.

Sensitivity basically means, how easy it is to drive the speakers. Lower the sensitivity, more the power it needs to play at a certain volume. The higher the sensitivity the easier it is to drive the speakers at the same volume hence requires lower power. For example, an 90db speaker would need half as much power as a 87db speaker would to play the same levels (to get 3 dB bcos you need to double the power).
The sensitivity spec usually is measured as, loudness level when supplying speaker with 1 Watt of power when measured at a distance of (1.67 or 2.67)m. You can google this

Sensitivity has nothing to do with Sound quality. So if a speaker has lower sensitivity dosent make it a bad one. Just makes it a demanding one for more power. It could well be a speaker which is much better than one which plays louder.

+1 to your comments about sensitivity.

One correction though: What you said about matching speaker and amp power ratings is actually not correct. The general thumb rule is to actually get an amp that has 1.5 times the power rating of the speaker. This means that for a 100W speaker, you should ideally get a 150W amp.

While this sounds counter-intuitive, in practice, speakers get damaged because amps are not able to give them enough power the speakers need in certain frequencies and the amp then starts clipping. This clipping can damage the drivers of the speakers.

I guess you could theoretically blow your drivers by pumping up the volume to a really high ear-hurting level but they get blown far more commonly due to clipping.

 

[Kartik]

I am indeed an audiophile and at the same time dont wanna waste the set of speakers which I have. I wont be able to bear sound quality which is lesser then the current sony setup, and to get similar quality of sound I would atleeeeeeeest have to spend 30k or so only for speakers; keeping the AVR aside. Preowned things are not my cup of tea:indifferent14:.

The kind of sound which I like is: -
In movies - I love proper surround effect; sound of car moving from left to right and then back.......I luv it.
In music - I love medium to low volume with very clear sound of instruments, high treble and good bass (Not very high bass and not very low).

For all these priorities/preferences if it is confirmed that an AVR would not be compatible with hifi sony speakers then probably I'll get my sony receiver repaired.

Don't mean to highjack your thread but am in the same position. I have an old Sony system (3 DVD changer with 5 speakers) and the main system is basically junk now (DVD changer won't open, video processing board is blown, radio has problems, etc.) Planning to get a receiver and hook that up to the existing speakers. Speakers are 8 ohm/100 W fronts, 40W center and 60W rear or so. Sensitivity not known. Rather than spend money on speakers immediately (which will bring down the money I can spend on the receiver) I planned to buy it later.

Good luck with your search.

 

[prosenjit]

you can diy and use the amp section of your system.if its complete junk no harm experimenting.u can use the amp section and existing spealkers.....no need to buy anything right now.