Philips MCD988 - left with 2 free-standing speakers with odd connection..

Basq

So basically my Philips MCD988 2.1 System has gone to the service centre in the sky..

.. no power was getting to the main unit so it was sent off to Philips twice (one was sent back and it wasn't repaired, and they couldn't repair it when sent off the second time). So basically I sent them the main unit and the subwoofer and now I'm left with two really nice free-standing speakers (as shown below):



The only problem is the connection with them looks like a proprietary connection:





The above is the connection from one of the speakers.. the other is identical.

Probably my only option to cut the head off and re-wire, right? Not sure how it'll work as you can see - there's 4 wires in each.

Any suggestions?

MarcinG

it looks like so called "bi wire" which means you have 2 signals delivered to each speaker (separated hi/mid +low hange). traditional way would be to have 2 cables and internal crossover switch separating signal).
so in short words : at the moment if you would connect "2 wires" signal to your speakers you will get only some of it and even this distorted (as crossover elminates "bad" frequencies for each speaker).

If you don't have amp with "bi wire" you can forget about this set of speakers.

dharn

i doubt , but i could be wrong that the amp has seperate hi frequency and low frequency outputs so if the speaker has a crossover one set of wires is all thats needed and a bridge ie connection to second set or terminals on the speaker hope that makes sense to you

ZENER

I'd have a different slant on it. There doesn't appear to be any rear surround speakers in that package but there are these small speakers attached to the sides of the front units.

My guess is that system gives a surround effect by feeding delayed signals to the small attached units so that no rears are required ?

To this end then I think the signals are both full range rather than filtered and that in the housing one pair of those wires feeds straight out to the protruding speakers at the side.

What do ye think ?

Ken

Basq

I'm not very up on cabling / wiring terms but there are no rear speakers.

My thoughts was that the 4 wires were 2 would go to the small attached mini-speaker, and 2 would go to the main speaker.

These speakers will be going in the bin if I can't do something with them so might open them up and see what's the story.

MarcinG

Basq wrote: »

My thoughts was that the 4 wires were 2 would go to the small attached mini-speaker, and 2 would go to the main speaker.

this seems to be correct.
Your job is to find which one goes where and use only pair which goes to "main" ones
ps if you will ever connect these speakers to amplifier make sure that is says 4 or less ohms impedance at the back (as if you would connect it to more ohm amp you may destroy it).

Basq

Well, 12 screws and some creaky plastic later..

(click for bigger)

The bottom of the unit - circuit board with various wires leading out of it:[img]http://www.basquille.net/speakers/photo 1_th.jpg[/img]

The path of the wires around the two main speakers - making it relatively easy to distinguish what goes where:
[img]http://www.basquille.net/speakers/photo 2_th.jpg[/img]

The casing of the mini-speakers - the speaker is pulled out to the right of the photo - you can see the wires which go to it:
[img]http://www.basquille.net/speakers/photo 3_th.jpg[/img]

Writing at the back of the main speaker indicating 8 ohms, 50 watts max:
[img]http://www.basquille.net/speakers/photo 4_th.jpg[/img]

Closer view of the circuit board:
[img]http://www.basquille.net/speakers/photo 5_th.jpg[/img]

Back of the speaker casing - indicates 4 ohms impedance:
[img]http://www.basquille.net/speakers/photo 6_th.jpg[/img]

themacdaddy

Sorry to dig up an extremely old thread but I have a sub woofer and speakers for this, can I use this as PC Speakers? I am trying to find s use for this before I bin it Be a shame to waste them!

akaSol

themacdaddy wrote: »

Sorry to dig up an extremely old thread but I have a sub woofer and speakers for this, can I use this as PC Speakers? I am trying to find s use for this before I bin it Be a shame to waste them!

You need an amp to drive them / power them. Without one it's down to the recycling centre

themacdaddy

thanks akaSol. Could you recommend an amp (cheaper the better) that would allow me to use this functionality?

akaSol

themacdaddy wrote: »

thanks akaSol. Could you recommend an amp (cheaper the better) that would allow me to use this functionality?

Unless you have the original amp you will be fighting an uphill battle. Maybe an av amp will enable you to power them, a hunt on adverts or similar might bring a result but not using the original amp you will lose the use of the sub. Full sized sub's are wired differtly

themacdaddy

akaSol wrote: »

Unless you have the original amp you will be fighting an uphill battle. Maybe an av amp will enable you to power them, a hunt on adverts or similar might bring a result but not using the original amp you will lose the use of the sub. Full sized sub's are wired differtly

OK thanks akaSol. It may just be best to say goodbye to it. The power comes from the subwoofer though into the display and then there is a aux in on the display unit. Sorry audio wise I'm a novice

akaSol

themacdaddy wrote: »

OK thanks akaSol. It may just be best to say goodbye to it. The power comes from the subwoofer though into the display and then there is a aux in on the display unit. Sorry audio wise I'm a novice

So your speakers feed from the sub? If that's the case do you still have the long box (head unit) where the Sub plugs into?

themacdaddy

akaSol wrote: »

So your speakers feed from the sub? If that's the case do you still have the long box (head unit) where the Sub plugs into?

By head unit do you mean the unit on top of the subwoofer? (Attached) Yes. Its currently working but starting to fail. Speaker units plug into sub, power goes from sub into the unit on top, then that unit has all the operational stuff like fm radio, various modes aux in and out etc. However if that unit fails I'd have a sub with power and speakers connect with no option to plug an aux in or out of if you get me.

akaSol

themacdaddy wrote: »

By head unit do you mean the unit on top of the subwoofer? (Attached) Yes. Its currently working but starting to fail. Speaker units plug into sub, power goes from sub into the unit on top, then that unit has all the operational stuff like fm radio, various modes aux in and out etc. However if that unit fails I'd have a sub with power and speakers connect with no option to plug an aux in or out of if you get me.

I get you. Sadly the sub is the power source here. When the DVD "head unit" goes only the speakers ( without the sub ) will be semi viable as the may be retro fitted to a new system.
Unfortunately this is often the case with "One box systems". In the past I've nudged family and friends to the separate idea : separate amp /speakers/bluray player - just means if one fails all you do is replace the one that's gone not the whole kit.

themacdaddy

akaSol wrote: »

I get you. Sadly the sub is the power source here. When the DVD "head unit" goes only the speakers ( without the sub ) will be semi viable as the may be retro fitted to a new system.
Unfortunately this is often the case with "One box systems". In the past I've nudged family and friends to the separate idea : separate amp /speakers/bluray player - just means if one fails all you do is replace the one that's gone not the whole kit.

Thanks akaSol, appreciate all the advice and patience with my lack of knowledge. May just hope it lasts for a while