I just recently found out that I won a fantastic speaker system from a contest. I am excited because I have always wanted a nice speaker system but could not afford something like this. However I am now becoming concerned that I may have to buy additional equipment to be able to use these speakers.

I am not sure what all you need to help me figure this out because I am somewhat ignorant about audio systems. Just let me know what else you need to know and I will supply the info if I can.

The speaker system I won is an Infinity Cascade system.

2 - Cascade Model Nine (http://www.infinitysystems.com/home/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=CASCADE9BK&cat=BFS&ser=CSC&Language=ENG&Region=USA&Country=US)
2 - Cascade Model Seven (http://www.infinitysystems.com/home/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=CASCADE7BK&ser=CSC&Language=ENG&Region=USA&Country=US)
1 - Cascade Model Three C (http://www.infinitysystems.com/home/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=CASCADE3CBK&cat=CCS&ser=CSC&Language=ENG&Region=USA&Country=US)
1 - Cascade Subwoofer - unfortunately I don't know if it will be Model Twelve (http://www.infinitysystems.com/home/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=CASCADE12BK&cat=SUB&ser=CSC&Language=ENG&Region=USA&Country=US) or Model Fifteen (http://www.infinitysystems.com/home/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=CASCADE15BK&cat=SUB&ser=CSC&Language=ENG&Region=USA&Country=US) (probably the 12)

I currently have a Sony STR-DE945 5.1 Channel Receiver (http://www0.epinions.com/elec-Audio-Components-Receivers-All-Sony_STR-DE945/display_~full_specs)

Are these speakers going to work with my receiver or am I going to need additional equipment? What advice can you give me?

I have been doing some reading to try and learn more about audio setup but I know that I will have not learned enough before my speakers arrive and I am eager to use them.

Thanks,
Karen

They should work fine with your receiver.

They should be okay. Those speakers are not the most sensitive, (87db) so they could benefit from some more juice, but I wouldn't particularly worry about it. You should be fine, and pretty cool deal at winning yourself some speakers! :)

Is there anything that I can do that is fairly economical to boost my sound quality?

I know good speaker wire can make a big difference but I don't have a clue how to tell what is good and bad.

I can't spend much money but I could spend a little.

Oh and I have come to find out that I will most likely be getting the Subwoofer Model Fifteen. I spoke to someone else who also won the same contest I did and that is the subwoofer they sent her.

Thanks so much for the responses. I wish I knew more about audio equipment.

-Karen

I know good speaker wire can make a big difference but I don't have a clue how to tell what is good and bad.

I can't spend much money but I could spend a little.


Spend a little then and get some plain old wire from Home Depot, et al. Something in the range of 16ga to 12ga. 12ga is thicker than 16ga and is not really necessary for most setups, but many people use it because the thicker wire looks "cooler" and they feel more satisfied using it.

There are many who will swear to their dying day that speaker wire makes a difference, but it's never been proven - at least in the case of "normal" speaker wire.

That said, there are exceptions where some cables have been designed to intentionally change the sound. Those are not the "normal" kind of wire and they are not inexpensive - I'm talking hundreds of dollars for a couple of relatively short pieces.

Is there anything that I can do that is fairly economical to boost my sound quality?

Yes: Buy some acoustic treatment panels, or corner bass traps, for your room. Vendors I know or who have been recommended on this site include Auralex (http://www.auralex.com/) , GIK Acoustics (http://www.gikacoustics.com/) , or Real Traps (http://www.realtraps.com/) . Cost: $100 and up.

Spend a little then and get some plain old wire from Home Depot, et al. Something in the range of 16ga to 12ga. 12ga is thicker than 16ga and is not really necessary for most setups, but many people use it because the thicker wire looks "cooler" and they feel more satisfied using it.

There are many who will swear to their dying day that speaker wire makes a difference, but it's never been proven - at least in the case of "normal" speaker wire.

That said, there are exceptions where some cables have been designed to intentionally change the sound. Those are not the "normal" kind of wire and they are not inexpensive - I'm talking hundreds of dollars for a couple of relatively short pieces.

That stock zip-cord from HD isn't all that great, I have had quality issues with it in the past (12g) where the cable degrades quickly and its not very resilant.

I would recommend buying the basic 12g from bluejeanscable.com. Its very good quality and actually reasonably in-expensive. Don't worry about terminating with spades or banana clips since its money you don't need to spend.

Congrats on the win though, always nice to get new stuff for free :)

That stock zip-cord from HD isn't all that great, I have had quality issues with it in the past (12g) where the cable degrades quickly and its not very resilant.

I would recommend buying the basic 12g from bluejeanscable.com. Its very good quality and actually reasonably in-expensive. Don't worry about terminating with spades or banana clips since its money you don't need to spend.

Congrats on the win though, always nice to get new stuff for free :)

I've heard about that HD stuff turning green, but I've also heard the stuff they carry these days no longer does that.

Myself, when I want large gauge speaker wire, I head for the low voltage landscape lighting wire. The jacket is not quite as flexible as the typical "speaker wire" but it's adequately flexible and the stranding is OK too. The stuff is inexpensive and tough as hell; 12ga was ~$20/100ft last time I bought some, but that's been a while ago.

A better avr will make the biggest difference for sure.

I FINALLY got my speakers I won. Yipee!

I was working on setting them up but I now have a question.

Apparently the new speakers are set up to bi-wire. Now my receiver has A & B speakers.

Should I setup the bi-wire with the hi's going to A and the low's going to B or should I just leave them with the plate between the hi's and lo's and wire them just for the A speakers without doing the biwire?

I hope that made sense. I've never had speakers with biwire before so I'm not quite sure what to do with it.

Thanks for your help,
Karen

leave them with the plate between the hi's and lo's and wire them just for the A speakers without doing the biwire?

This is the solution I recommend.

You won't be missing anything by not bi-wiring, and you will be spending less on speaker wire. If you were to bi-wire, you would connect them both to the A terminals.

-Max

Bi-wiring generally doesn't help. If your AVR is set up to bi-amp (which is different), then you might gain something, but don't sweat it.

Congrats on the speakers! Did you get any bass traps?