Expert: Dave Hathaway - 1/8/2005

Question
I received a Bose center speaker as a gift for Christmas and I have tried to hook it to my sony receiver model #GX69ES.  It would seem simple to just hook the wires to the center speaker output, but nothing is coming from either that or the rear speaker outlet.  Unfortunately the instruction manual for the receiver is at our home in Indiana, rather than here in DC,...if it can be found at all(?). So I'm curious, am I not activating the surround output system by incorrect settings on the front panel or perhaps the center/rear portion of the system is no longer functional? I can hook the center Bose speaker to the "B" side of the speakers and use both A and B on the front switch.  Good sound, fills the room well, but not the surround sound expected.

I'm no electronics whiz...but I can follow instructions if I have them.  Your thoughts would be most appreciated.  

Answer
Hi Jim,

This is an older Sony model and I could not find any info or on-line manuals available for it.   I agree that connecting a center speaker should be easy on this model--it may well be the settings that are the problem. If it has a surround sound selector switch or button on the remote, try setting it to Dolby Pro Logic and then playing a known surround sound source such as VHS movie or DVD.  The rear and center speakers will not operate unless surround is selected and surround signals are present. A good indicator for surrund is the center speaker coming on.

Your TV set may be a good source for this as well--just connect a patch cable set from the TV audio output (if equipped) to one of the inputs of the receiver.  Then when the audio comes over the TV in surround (pro logic only) you should hear the center speaker.  Also, try the test function on the receiver to see if it will generate audio from all five surround speakers.  

Hope this gives you food for thought. If so, and you have more questions, just come back in with a follow up.

Dave