6750 (or other) with HK AVR100?

[Florida_Gator]

Hi gang, I'm new here, and am very glad I found this place!

I have what is probably a pretty basic question for most of you, but it sure is confounding me...

I have a Harmon Kardon AVR100 receiver (pretty basic for a HK receiver, but it does what I need -- 5.1 Dolby Digital). Also have a Polk subwoofer (forget the model -- but it's 8" or 10", and about 7-8 years old). For sats, I have some (crappy) little 3M speakers that came from an old surround-sound-in-a-box set. I've got the sub connected via the AVR100's sub-out port, and the sats connected to the receiver directly (all set to "small", of course).

OK, so that's the background.

Here are my questions...

1) I'm getting some pretty major popping (very loud) from the front sats during loud parts of movies. Is this due to too much power being sent to them? Remember, these are lightweight, cheapo speakers. But I'm wondering if it's the receiver (about7-8 yr. old HK AVR100). Or maybe I have the Polk subwoofer setup wrong somehow? (no sats are connected to the sub)...

2) Would a Polk 6750 speaker set be in order here? Would that set work well with the HK AVR100? I don't want to buy new speakers, only to find the popping again! :eek:

Thanks all!

Florida_Gator

[cfrizz]

Welcome Gator.

Your tiny little speakers are trying to make big sounds & they are simply not up to the task. It's a wonder you haven't blown them.

So turn down the volume and start looking for new bigger speakers.

Most speakers get blown by not getting enough power rather than too much power.

[Florida_Gator]

Thanks cfrizz.

Actually, I think I DID blow the two front sats. They don't make any sound during the test-tone, and when I moved the center (same type speaker) to the left channel, I heard left-front during the test. So (I guess) the violent popping did blow them (no great loss, LOL).

So question is, how will the 6750 set do with the HK AVR100? Will the AVR100 blow those too? (40W/channel)

I wonder if you can just get the sats from the 6750 set, since I have a Polk sub...?

Final question -- could it be my receiver that's doing this? In other words, could my receiver be "bad", and no matter what speakers I use, they'll pop?

Thanks all!

[cfrizz]

Gator, you have 2 problems here.

1. You are trying to get big sound out of satellite speakers (which have limitations on what they can put out) So you turn up the volume pushing both receiver & speakers past thier limits.

2. Most receivers these days will go into protect mode & shut down to prevent damage. Now either your receiver doesn't have it, or your sats burn up way before the receiver heats up enough to shut down.

My guess is that it's the small speakers that are the problem & not the receiver. I looked up the 6750 speakers & you are simply exchanging 1 set of tiny speakers for another. Which will probably result in the same problem.

You either have to get bigger speakers, or keep the volume down if you insist on having satellite speakers for your HT.

[Florida_Gator]

>> You either have to get bigger speakers, or keep the volume down if you insist on having satellite speakers for your HT. <<

I don't understand -- lots of people get "big sound" (not loud, but plenty of sound to fill a medium-size room like mine) out of a HT consisting of a sub and 5 sats, right? Why must the sats be large to get good sound?

Thanks!