Newbie - help w/center channel (1 Viewer)

[Atticus]

Hey, y'all:

My boss recently gave me his old-ish Denon 5.1 Pro Logic receiver (AVR-800) and 27" Mitsu TV (newborn trumps A/V, sadly). I hooked it up to my existing Cambridge Soundworks Ensemble speakers (front) and subwoofer, and recently purchased CS MC50s for the rear and a CS Centerstage center channel. Everything sounds fine until I connect the center channel speaker, whereupon the left-side audio is almost completely killed. Barely audible, even with the master volume cranked and the balance turned all the way to the left. As soon as I disconnect the center channel, sound levels on the left channel return to normal.

What gives? Is the Denon not powerful enough to drive the Centerstage? Am I missing a setting? As far as I know, all of the speakers are connected properly to the proper inputs. I write "as far as I know" because I really don't know what the hell I'm doing. I don't have a manual for the Denon, which contains all sorts of mysterious options for VDP/DBS, etc., and I'm a computer geek, dangit, not an audio geek (yet).

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Atticus

PS--feel free to laugh at my expense.

 

[Philip>L]

Check to see if you're shorting across the center and left channel terminals. Maybe you have some stray strands from the speaker wire just brushing the other terminal or something...

 

[Bernie_A]

We're not laughing at all.....seriously, I second Philip's suggestion and also check the polarity of the speakers as well. Let us know if this helps.

 

[Atticus]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I re-checked the front, center, and rear connections, made sure nothing was crossed, reseated a couple, and now all is working.

Surround ROCKS. Not sure how I lived without it.

Peace,
Atticus