When playing in HT, the center does most of the work, the fronts the next most, and the surrounds/Atmos do very little. When playing music, with all seven channels involved, every speaker is drawing power to reproduce the full range of the entire signal. This sucks the power reserves of the receiver far easier than a movie, where each speaker is only reproducing a small part of the overall sound. So, even though the receiver has a boatload of stated power, it is probably rated with only two channels driven, not seven. At high enough volumes, that could lead to clipping, which is a sure way to fry your speakers.
A couple of options for you to consider:
- Set up a volume limiter on the receiver, so drunk fools cannot crank it past it's ability to power the speakers.
- Make sure all speakers are set to small. No "Double Bass" or engagement of any mode that pumps up the sound, i.e. "Dynamic Whatever". These result in more power being used, lessening the receiver's ability to drive all the speakers adequately.
- Change the way the sound is distributed by forcing stereo mode when listening to music. This will allow the full power to be used, as rated, into just two channels. Depending on the speakers, you could still get them fried if somebody cranks it to 11.
- Get yourself a separate amplifier to power the front 2 or 3 channels. This will relieve the receiver of those channels, allowing it to drive the rest of the speakers adequately.
It's your sister, your job to rein her in, as best you can ... and DON'T buy the new center for her. Let her foot the bill. She broke it, she should fix it.
It's a VIRTUAL channel unless stated otherwise.
Last edited by RayGuy; 11-16-2019 at 11:19 PM.