Polk speaker question

[obiwopkenobi62]

Hi all,
I just recently ordered new speakers. They haven't arrived yet, but I have a question. I'm getting monitor 50 floorstandings(front), monitor 30 bookshelf(surround) and a CS1(center). I was looking at the picture of the connectors on the back of the Monitor 50's and noticed upper and lower pos/neg connections. I have an Onkyo 605s receiver. Which connectors do I run my speaker wire to, the top or bottom? Sorry if I sound clueless but this is the first time I will have these kind of connectors. Thanks in advance for any input that will help me.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by obiwopkenobi62

Hi all,
I just recently ordered new speakers. They haven't arrived yet, but I have a question. I'm getting monitor 50 floorstandings(front), monitor 30 bookshelf(surround) and a CS1(center). I was looking at the picture of the connectors on the back of the Monitor 50's and noticed upper and lower pos/neg connections. I have an Onkyo 605s receiver. Which connectors do I run my speaker wire to, the top or bottom? Sorry if I sound clueless but this is the first time I will have these kind of connectors. Thanks in advance for any input that will help me.

Those connectors can be used for bi-wiring if you are running a 5.1 set up. You have to remove the "metal bridge" that links the connectors in the back of the speakers. Look in the bi-wiring thread on the audio forum. Here you are: Bi-wiring / bi-amping speakers

[Fors*]

Either, it doesn't matter. The reason there are 2 sets is to give you the choice of bi-amping/bi-wiring the 50's.

Congrats on your purchase by the way!

[stickb5]

Well, the 2 connectors on the speakers are for what is call bi-amp or bi-wiring. Bi-amping is when you use 2 different amps to power your speakers, the lower side of the connectors is for the bass/lows of your speakers and the top ones are for the highs/treble of your speakers. Bi-wiring is when you use the same amp and run 2 set of cables to your speakers, now i saw that you have a 605 and i think it can bi-amp your speakers. which in the case, you do not use your surround back speakers in a 7.1 setup it will redirect the power of the backs to Bi-amp the fronts. What you should do is just make sure that the GOLD port of the 2 connectors are in uninterrupted to one another and just connect the speaker cable to either or it does not matter. Good Luck

[DonRSD]

on the 'polk instructions' the diagram shows the speaker inputs to use (top or bottom)

[obiwopkenobi62]

Big thanks to everyone for the info. I really appreciate it. As usual this is the best place for help with all things Home Theater.

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by stickb5

Well, the 2 connectors on the speakers are for what is call bi-amp or bi-wiring. Bi-amping is when you use 2 different amps to power your speakers, the lower side of the connectors is for the bass/lows of your speakers and the top ones are for the highs/treble of your speakers. Bi-wiring is when you use the same amp and run 2 set of cables to your speakers, now i saw that you have a 605 and i think it can bi-amp your speakers. which in the case, you do not use your surround back speakers in a 7.1 setup it will redirect the power of the backs to Bi-amp the fronts. What you should do is just make sure that the GOLD port of the 2 connectors are in uninterrupted to one another and just connect the speaker cable to either or it does not matter. Good Luck

Think I will do that, stick with the bottom or top only. Thanks a bunch.

[wafi]

I just got a pair of polks that I plan on setting up thise weekend, so this helps bigtime! Thanks OP for putting this up! And thanks for all the info everyone!

[obiwopkenobi62]

Well I got the new speakers all hooked up and what a difference. It's like night and day. Thanks to everyone for the info on the wiring. I went ahead and just ran the wires to the lower posts. Now I have to rewatch quite a few movies.

[callas01]

Obi,

Another thing you can do with your Onkyo 605 is to run cables from the 6th and 7th speaker output on the back of the receiver into whichever (top or bottom) you are not using and then set the receiver up for Bi-amping, I hear that that allows the Polks to open up a bit overall.

Check your Onkyo receivers manual to see exactly how to set this up, but I think it would be a good decision.

[808leo]

i to have a 605 onkyo and just running the monitor 70.. would i also be able to bi-amp the speakers even tho i dont have a 5.1 setup?

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by 808leo

i to have a 605 onkyo and just running the monitor 70.. would i also be able to bi-amp the speakers even tho i dont have a 5.1 setup?

Yes, you would run speaker wire from your front terminals on the back of the 605 to the top set of terminals on the 70's. Then run speaker wire from the 2 rear surround terminals on the back of the receiver to the bottom set of terminals on your 70's. Remember to take out the bronze bridges that is secured under the terminals on the back of the speakers. Finally, in your receiver, change it from "normal" or something like that in the 605 to "bi-amp". This is referred to as passive bi-amping.

[808leo]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

Yes, you would run speaker wire from your front terminals on the back of the 605 to the top set of terminals on the 70's. Then run speaker wire from the 2 rear surround terminals on the back of the receiver to the bottom set of terminals on your 70's. Remember to take out the bronze bridges that is secured under the terminals on the back of the speakers. Finally, in your receiver, change it from "normal" or something like that in the 605 to "bi-amp". This is referred to as passive bi-amping.

thanks for the quick reply.. is there any cons to bi-amping?

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by 808leo

thanks for the quick reply.. is there any cons to bi-amping?

Don't expect any miracles.....I tried bi-amping and did not notice any improvement. But I believe that was more of a limitation of my speakers and the fact I was using passive bi-amping as well. If you are not using your rear surrounds, you might as well give it a try, as you have nothing to lose.

Check out this sticky from Jomari, it lists all the pro and cons of passive, active/passive and active bi-amping:

Bi-Amping/Bi-Wiring Research Material

[808leo]

i love this site, so much info might as well give it a swirl nothing to lose but a few feet of speaker wire

[juanchibiris]

And is better to bi-amp the surrounds or the Fronts, i have an Onkyo 606 and Monitors 60-40.

[Rike255]

Originally Posted by 808leo

thanks for the quick reply.. is there any cons to bi-amping?

More cabling can count as a con especially if you're buying expensive cables. But monoprice is your friend!

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by 808leo

thanks for the quick reply.. is there any cons to bi-amping?

Unless you are going to buy dedicated amps in order to bi-amp, the chances of seeing any improvement are next to zero if you are only using your extra receiver channels.

If you are using 5 of the 7 channels right now, you are getting more wattage to each channel versus having all 7 channels running. So, if you are getting 100 watts per channel when running 5 channels, your wattage will drop to around 70 watts when you bi-amp and have all 7 channels running. This is why many see no improvement when they try the bi-amping option with their receiver.

Originally Posted by juanchibiris

And is better to bi-amp the surrounds or the Fronts, i have an Onkyo 606 and Monitors 60-40.

It is always better to bi-amp the fronts because that is where most of the important information will be coming from as far as dialog and action. Surrounds are simply filler speakers to give some ambiance. Rarely will the real dialog or action be taking place behind you. BTW, my $3K B&W surrounds do not even have a bi-amp option. They have a single pair of posts.

[callas01]

well whats up guys... I am in the office today so I have some free time... was preparing my business plan for the year last week and presented it yest. in front of my DM and Area VP.... went well.

So some of you may know I am deciding between a new sub, and it is a Hsu or eD... I just don't know what to dooooooooo..... The Hsu is a discontinued one so I have limited options if I don't like it or whatever... the eD is well you know.... I am so torn.. long story short, I want the Hsu, but the guy has me hung up.... NOW I really want one of the current Hsu and not the discontinued one... but it is outta my price range... AGONY.........

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by callas01

well whats up guys... I am in the office today so I have some free time... was preparing my business plan for the year last week and presented it yest. in front of my DM and Area VP.... went well.

So some of you may know I am deciding between a new sub, and it is a Hsu or eD... I just don't know what to dooooooooo..... The Hsu is a discontinued one so I have limited options if I don't like it or whatever... the eD is well you know.... I am so torn.. long story short, I want the Hsu, but the guy has me hung up.... NOW I really want one of the current Hsu and not the discontinued one... but it is outta my price range... AGONY.........

I just think that with the great deal you are getting on that Hsu sub...I would go with that one. I wouldn't want to wait a month for my new sub to arrive with eD...but thats me.