Monitor Audio as front main stereo pair

[jelboy69]

Hi all

Hopefully someone can shed some light?
I recently upgraded my Sony Str860 to a Denon AVR 2700 and Apple TV 4k.. Amazing!
However my aging Monitor Audio Silver S5 Floorstanders arent able to cope with the low freqs... they bottom out.
Well, one did. So i called MA and they still stock the drivers, so I replaced it. It doesnt bottom out any more but is squeaking, and now the other speaker is bottoming out!

I dont have a sub, and have a decent MA centre, which has no probs. The Denon is set to large speakers for the front 3, and low pass is set to 250hz, so should be well within the S5's range

Any ideas please?
MA said video the issue and send it them, but Im thinking maybe time up change them? I reckon they are 12 years old, and havent had heavy wear

And advise would be helpful pls

Thanks

Jez

 

[Hoku]

How big is your room? Do you tend to play loud?

AV receivers aren’t always known for having especially beefy power supplies (apart from high end models), and as you’re playing all your speakers full range, you might just be asking a lot.

Having a subwoofer for home cinema is a really good idea.

As subwoofers have their own amp specifically designed to handle low frequencies, by setting a crossover at 60-80hz takes a lot of strain from your AV receiver and speakers.

Aside from that, you have the extra flexibility. I tend to listen to music with my front L&R speakers full range (2.0), but if the music is bass heavy, then I flip to 2.1 and engage the subwoofer.

But the MA Silver line has been going a long time, so there are always plenty of examples available on EBay etc. You can often choose your colour and hold out for examples that have been looked after.

But if it was me, I’d be investing in a decent subwoofer.

BK Electronics or SVS are a good starting point. But if you want to go the subwoofer route, there are plenty of specialist members on the forum with much more subwoofer knowledge than me who could give you the best advice.

 

[jelboy69]

How big is your room? Do you tend to play loud?

AV receivers aren’t always known for having especially beefy power supplies (apart from high end models), and as you’re playing all your speakers full range, you might just be asking a lot.

Having a subwoofer for home cinema is a really good idea.

As subwoofers have their own amp specifically designed to handle low frequencies, by setting a crossover at 60-80hz takes a lot of strain from your AV receiver and speakers.

Aside from that, you have the extra flexibility. I tend to listen to music with my front L&R speakers full range (2.0), but if the music is bass heavy, then I flip to 2.1 and engage the subwoofer.

But the MA Silver line has been going a long time, so there are always plenty of examples available on EBay etc. You can often choose your colour and hold out for examples that have been looked after.

But if it was me, I’d be investing in a decent subwoofer.

BK Electronics or SVS are a good starting point. But if you want to go the subwoofer route, there are plenty of specialist members on the forum with much more subwoofer knowledge than me who could give you the best advice.

Thanks Hoku

Think that getting a sub would stop the MA's from bottoming out?

 

[Hoku]

Possibly yes.

By setting your speakers to “small” and crossing over to a sub at 60 or 80hz, your main speakers and amp are saved from the strain of LFE effects typical of many blockbuster movies.

And you’re more likely to damage your speakers with a low powered amp than a very powerful one. And most mid range AVR’s have mediocre power supplies that may advertise 150 watts per channel on the label but that might be at a certain frequency through one speaker. By the time all your speakers are running, at full range, this might dip to 60 watts per channel in practice.

Using a subwoofer will help take the strain for your amp and speakers.

 

[rccarguy2]

If you continue setting speakers to large and not having a sub, you'll damage the speakers. The demands on speakers with bass with modern soundtracks are just too much.

Buy a sub. Or of you cannot have a sub for some reason then configure the amp to sub - yes, and use small setting on the speakers. I don't see the specs of those main speakers but I guess try using small 60hz

You'll have missing bass but at least you won't damage the speakers again