What do I need to know before I buy surround sound speakers to go with my AV Reciever?

Question

I've followed the wisdom of audiophiles answering these questions and have abandoned the idea of a HTIB. I've found a pretty basic AV reciever (Sony STR-DG810) at a good price point with all the featuers I need. However, I'm in the dark when it comes to choosing compatible speakers! What should I be looking at to make sure the speakers I choose are optimized for the AV reciever I've chosen. I imagine there are different connection types, different power options, wireless vs. wired, and other things I should be looking out for when I select my speakers. Can somone give me a quick run-down or post a link to a guide that will explain it to me?

Answer 1

General ideas:

Make sure all the speakers "match" especially L/C/R (left, center, and right).

Most subs will be powered, leave some room between the speakers max handling and the max output of the receiver (have the speakers handle more than you can give it).

All connections are the same (essentially, clips/plugs etc).  Do not gamble on wireless connection.

Point your center channel at your face, LCR should all be at ear level, ideally.  surrounds should hover behind/above you.

Polk RM705 for example.  There is no "optimized" just fantastic sound quality or not.

Enjoy.

Answer 2

From what I have heard, and I have heard alot, stay away from wireless.

Connections - not a BIG deal, easily adaptable, but if all things are equal, get the same as your reciever

Wattage  - Not as importance as resistence (ohms)

Ohm rating - This is tricky, and here is why.  If you choose improper ohms (resistance), you will not know you have a problem.  But one day, your amplifier will quit working.  Most surround speakers will be a 4 or 8 ohms, your reciever will say which you should use, I could not tell from the webpage.  Cheaper speakers will be 16ohms, stay away.

Center speaker - this should be your most expensive speaker (except maybe your powered sub)  Do NOT SKIMP on this speaker.  Most of the dialouge and major sound effects will come through this speaker.  I went without a center speaker for 2 months to save enough to get the one I wanted.

Answer 3

First off and most important is speaker power requirements, they should match your receivers power requirements, that is it will not have anymore power than your speakers can handle.

That is don't buy speakers that can handle only50 watts, while your receiver will output 100 watts. Buy speakers that will handle 100 watts.

Other than that there is not much more to know about speakers.

You should listen or audition your speakers to find a pair that you like they way they sound, not all speakers are made they same way and sound different.

Buy speakers that you like not they ones your friends like, what you like and hear can be different from what they like and hear.