Introduction, The home thx audio speaker system, Placement of the ss-500s as surround channel – MK Sound SS-500 User Manual
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1. INTRODUCTION
Congratulations! Your new M&K SS-500 surround system will give you years of unmatched enjoyment and excite-
ment while listening to your favorite musical and audio/video sources in THX, Pro-Logic, and enhanced stereo modes.
We encourage you to read this owner’s manual, as there is a great deal of information provided here to help you get
the best possible performance.
If you have any questions about your speaker system, please contact your M&K dealer or call the M&K factory
directly at (818) 701-7010, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. We will be happy to help you
with any question. Additional information can also be obtained on our web site: www.mksound.com or you can send us
an e-mail to [email protected].
2. THE HOME THX AUDIO SPEAKER SYSTEM
Your choice of an M&K Home THX Audio speaker system assures you of achieving the state of the art in home
theatre music and video reproduction. The precise and exacting standards developed by Lucasfilm's Home THX division
assure that you will hear every element of film sound — from the softest brush of an object against an actor's clothing
to the awesome impact of effects such as an exploding planet — with the same sonic quality heard by the film's direc-
tor and sound designer as they created the final mix of sound on the studio's dubbing stage.
To do this in a home environment requires different equipment and standards than are found in a THX motion
picture theatre. The standards developed for Home THX Audio are critically important to achieving the following
performance attributes:
- wide frequency range, extending to the limits of audibility
- smooth, naturally balanced overall sound
- excellent dialog intelligibility
- wide dynamic range with extremely low distortion
- well-matched timbre (tonal balance) between front speakers and surrounds
- precise localization of specific sounds (as in special effects)
- envelopment by ambient soundfield (without any localization of individual speakers to distract from the action
on-screen
- superb performance with musical sources
The unsurpassed quality of your M&K Home THX Audio speaker system means that all of the excitement and
emotional involvement of films and music will be brought to life in your home. Turn down the lights, and let the
experience begin!
3. PLACEMENT OF THE SS-500s AS SURROUND CHANNEL
SPEAKERS IN A HOME THX AUDIO SYSTEM
Your SS-500 speakers are specifically designed
to be used as surround channel speakers in a Home
THX or Pro-Logic system. They are not designed to
be used as front channel or as stand-alone stereo
speakers. Therefore, the instructions given here apply
only to surround channel applications (including use
for multi-channel music modes such as ambience
recovery or acoustical environment synthesis).
In general, the SS-500s should be located high
on the walls and to the sides of the listening position.
See Figure 1. The key factor in placement of the SS-
500s is that they are dipole speakers. They radiate
sound to the front and the rear of the room, instead of
directly at the listeners. The speakers should be
DIPOLE SURROUND SPEAKER
Left
Center
Right
Left
Surround
Right
Surround
FIGURE 1
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