From: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: M&K Satellite/Sub Info wanted
Date: 8 Apr 92 23:56:51 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA

In article <1992Apr7.233855.743@vlsisj.uucp> harish@vlsisj.uucp (Harish Balan) writes:
>
>	I am looking to buy a sat/sub combination and a friend
>recommended M&K to me.   I have several questions on this and would
>really appreciate any responses to any/all of the queries...
>
>	1.  Could I hook up any M&K subwoofer to a pair of M&K 
>satellites??  I know that in the case of the Bose AM5-II, you cant
>do this.
>
   Somebody told you that you can't hook M&K subwoofers up to
   M&K satellites if you have a case of Bose AM5's in your house? 
   >:-)

   Seriously, any of the M&K subs will mate with the M&K satellites.
   NOTE: That the M&K subwoofers (at least all the ones I know of)
	 do NOT have crossovers for the satellites.  The M&K
	 satellites are designed to have a natural bass roll-off
	 AND power handling that they will tolerate being driven
	 with low bass signals.

>	2.  I know the model of satellites I want but unfortunately
>I dont know the model number (only know what it looks like) and I cant
>find a local dealer who stocks M&K.  Could someone help me out with the
>model number of the M&K satellites that look like...
>
>			----
>                       |    |
>		       |    |
>		      --    --
>		     |        |   <----- satellite spkrs. (without a stand)
>		     |        |
>		     |        |
>                     |        |
>	             ----------
>            
>	    I was told that M&K stopped making the above satellites and
>they had only one model which looked like what I've drawn above.
   
   There are at least 3 models I know of that look like that.  One
   of these has a SINGLE midrange and tweeter cone.  In my opinion
   these do not compare for sound quality with their other models
   like this.  (but make good center or surround speakers for a
   system with M&K mains.)

   The SX-1 and SX-4 both look like that.  The SX-1 is the more
   expensive of those.  Both of these models have twin Vifa tweeters
   and twin midranges...vertically stacked.  Tweeter height in your
   listening room is critical to obtaining best imaging and
   soundstage.  (And why waste money on the M&K's if you ignore
   their instructions.)   You want the tiny gap between the tweeter
   and main cabinet to be right at eyeball height when in your
   listening position.

   BTW, if you can't find these, visit your local Tower Records
   store after midnight with a dark suit and a crowbar... >:-)


>
>	3.  What difference is there in sound quality if my amp. does not
>have a subwoofer input?  I will be connecting the speakers the traditional
>way -- satellites -> sub. -> amplifier.
   
   No problem.  The M&K subs can be fed from a preamp output OR your
   ordinary speaker connections.  Of course this connection is ONLY
   designed for satellites like the M&K's which can tolerate bass
   drive. (i.e. don't use ported, vented, etc.).  

   You can feed the sub with a full-range preamp outout, then just
   connect the satellites to the speaker outputs.  OR you connect
   the amp's speaker outputs to the subwoofer, then connect the
   satellites to the subwoofer.  The sub has an adjustable low-pass
   filter in it which limits the upper freq. of the sub.  

   I would adjust this downward considerably from the M&K factory
   settings of 160-200 Hz...

>
>	4.  Any good mail order places which deal in M&K's?  
>
      Dunno.  But if you look in the San Hosey yellow pages, there
      are a couple M&K dealers locally.  You should be able to get a
      SX-4/VX-4 for about 750.  Moving up to the SX-1 and VX-1 will
      better than double that.