MK Sound S-125 User manual

Miller & Kreisel Sound Corporation
10391 Jefferson Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232 USA
[phone] FAX [phone]
© 1996 MILLER & KREISEL SOUND CORP.
operation manual
satellite speakers
S-125 S-85
S-125C S-85C

S-125/S-125C/S-85/S-85C page 2
1. INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................3
2. BASIC PLACEMENT OF YOUR SATELLITE SPEAKERS.............................................3
3. SPEAKER HOOK-UP & USAGE.............................................................................3
HOOK-UP...........................................................................................................................4
VARIATIONS OF SOUND........................................................................................................4
4. S-125C & S-85C CENTER CHANNEL USAGE...............................................................6
5. OPTIMIZING SPEAKER PLACEMENT.............................................................................6
6. HOME THEATRE USAGE..........................................................................................7
CENTER CHANNEL USAGE...........................................................................................8
7. SATELLITE/SUBWOOFER PHASING TEST....................................................................10
8. SPEAKERDAMAGE&HOWTOAVOIDIT.......................................................................10
9. BI - AMPLIFYING YOUR SATELLITES WITH M&K HIGH-PASS FILTERS....................11
10. IFYOUNEEDSERVICE.....................................................................................................11
11. CABINET MAINTENANCE................................................................................................11
12. USE WITH M&K STANDS & OMNIMOUNT®BRACKETS....................................12
13. SPECIFICATIONS.......................................................................................................12
DIAGRAMS
FIGURE 1 SPEAKER WIRING..........................................................................5
FIGURE 2 SEPARATION BETWEEN LEFT & RIGHT SPEAKERS............................7
FIGURE 3 USE WITH AN OMNIMOUNT®BRACKET & M&K STANDS..................12
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DO NOT REMOVE THE SPECIAL ACOUSTIC FOAM ATTACHED TO THE
FRONT BAFFLE AND/OR GRILLE OF YOUR SPEAKERS.
Thisfoamisacritical partofyourloudspeakersystemandplaysanimportantroleinits high
level of performance. It focuses the radiation of the tweeters, minimizes cabinet diffraction,
and provides the flattest possible frequency response.

S-125/S-125C/S-85/S-85C page 3
1. INTRODUCTION
Congratulations! Your new M&K Satellite speaker system will give you years of unmatched enjoyment and
excitement while listening to your favorite musical and audio/video sources.
Weencourageyoutoreadthisowner’smanual,asthereisagreatdealofinformationprovidedheretohelpyou
achieve 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 [phone], from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. We will be happy to help
you with any question, no matter how simple or complex it may be.
This manual gives you basic hook-up instructions first, followed by more detailed technical, installation, and
service information.
2. PLACEMENT OFYOUR SATELLITE SPEAKERS
Your M&K Satellites can be installed in a wide variety of locations. Their compact size gives you great flexibility
in installation. They can be placed on stands, shelves, or bookcases, or more permanently mounted using brackets,
through direct attachment to a wall, or with a ceiling suspension system.
IfyouwanttomountyourSatellitespermanentlyusingwoodscrews,theircabinetthicknessis3/4". Usehardware
shorter than 3/4" in length to avoid making a hole in the sealed cabinet that would adversely affect its sound quality.
You can place the left and right Satellites virtually anywhere in the room, but certain locations are better than
others. In general, locate them away from obstructions that would interfere with the direct path from the speakers to
your ears (such as walls, furniture, lighting, plants, etc.). Center channel speakers should be located close to the
television screen (see Home Theater Usage on page 7). Your speakers will sound better when they are around ear
height, or when angled towards your listening location. They sound better when they are not sitting on the floor.
M&KspeakerstandsaredesignedtosetM&KSatellitespeakersattherightheightandtoeasilyadjusttheirangle
of sound radiation. Your M&K dealer has more information on these stands.
Your Satellite speakers can be used with OmniMount®Systems brackets, without the use of wood screws,
because their cabinets have integral threaded hardware in patterns for OmniMountbrackets. These brackets offer
tremendousflexibilityforinstallationinawidevarietyofenvironments. Formoreinformation,seeSection12(page11),
or contact OmniMount at [phone].
For more detailed information on placement of your speakers, see Section 4 (page 6).
SPECIAL NOTE - TV SHIELDED SATELLITE SPEAKERS
If you place your Satellite speakers close to a television set (about 2 feet), the speaker magnets may cause
distortion of the television's picture. For these applications, M&K makes special TV Shielded versions. Shielded
Satellites are identified by markings on the shipping carton and by a label on the back panel of the speaker. Unless
your Satellites are Shielded, allow 2 - 3 feet of clearance around any television.
In some rare instances, Shielded Satellites may have a small amount of residual magnetism at a specific angle
thatmaycauseaslightgeometricorcolordistortionofthepictureonyourtelevisionset. M&Kcenterchannelspeakers
have M&K's Ferromagnetic Shielding System to prevent this. If you do get this distortion, try moving the Satellite
speaker slightly until the problem disappears. If you cannot solve any magnetic problems, contact the M&K factory.
3. SPEAKER HOOK-UP & USAGE
ThebackpanelofyourSatellitespeakerscontainstwopairsofspeakerterminals(insteadoftheusualsinglepair).
Therefore it is extremely important that you follow these instructions carefully, to avoid any possible damage to the
speakers or your amplifier, and to get the best possible sound.
ThesoundqualityofyourSatellitescanbeaffectedbythetypeofspeakerwirethatyouusetoconnectthem. While
it is possible to use speaker wire as thin as 22 gauge to hook your Satellites up, we recommend using the largest
diameter wire that you can. This means a minimum of 18 gauge wire. Over 10 feet, you should use 16 gauge, and
for more than 30 feet, we recommend using 14 gauge or heavier. The smaller the number, the thicker the wire.
There are a very wide variety of premium speaker cables available from a number of specialist manufacturers.
We do not endorse any specific brand of premium cable, but we do recommend using as high quality a cable as fits
your budget. Using better quality cables will improve the sound of your Satellites.

S-125/S-125C/S-85/S-85C page 4
YourM&KSatellites are not designed forbi-wiring. Donotuse the four input terminalstobi-wireyour Satellites,
asthismaydamageyouramplifierandspeakers. Ifyouwishtobi-amplifyyour Satellites in combination with an M&K
Powered Subwoofer, see Section 9 (page 11) for more details.
HOOKUP (BOTH REGULAR & CENTER CHANNEL SPEAKERS)
There are four terminals on the backplate. Depending on which combination of the four terminals you use to
connect your amplifier, you can alter the tonal quality of your speakers to better match your room, electronics, or
personal preference.
These"VariationsofSound"letyouachievemuchsmootherandflatterfrequencyresponseinyourroom,atyour
listeningposition. SeebelowforadiscussionoftheMAXIMUMOUTPUT/NORMALOUTPUTterminalsandtheLOW
CUT (HIGH PASS FILTER)/WIDE RANGE terminals.
ThePositive(+)leadfromyouramplifierorreceivershouldbeconnectedtooneoftheRED (+)INPUTterminals
(either MAXIMUM OUTPUT or NORMAL OUTPUT), and the Negative (-) lead from your amplifier or receiver should
be connected to one BLACK (-) INPUT terminal (LOW CUT [HIGH PASS FILTER] or WIDE RANGE). See Figure 3.
VERYIMPORTANT: NEVERCONNECTTHEAMPLIFIERLEADSTOBOTHREDTERMINALSORTOBOTH
BLACK TERMINALS AT THE SAME TIME. YOU MAY DAMAGE YOUR AMPLIFIER AND SPEAKERS. ANY
RESULTING DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
VARIATIONS OF SOUND
YourM&KSatellitesreproducesoundwithexceptionaltransientaccuracyandaverywidedynamicrange. They
will give you give outstanding results with any high quality amplifier or receiver in virtually any listening environment.
However, getting the best tonal balance in any given room involves many variables. Therefore, your M&K
Satellites allow you to alter their tonal balance in order to get the ideal sound quality at your favorite listening location
(where it counts!), by using one of two combinations of input terminals to connect the speakers to your amplifier.
The terminals are labelled MAXIMUMOUTPUTand NORMAL OUTPUT. Both positions havethesame power
handlingcapacity,buttheMAXIMUMOUTPUTpositionplaystheloudest,andworksbestwithlowpoweredamplifiers.
BearinmindthattheMAXIMUMOUTPUTterminalrequiresahighersettingofthesubwooferlevel. Conversely,
if you switch to the NORMAL OUTPUT terminal, the subwoofer level should be set lower.
We recommend that you experiment with the terminals, starting out by using the NORMAL OUTPUT and the
WIDERANGEterminals. Ifthesoundistoodullorboomy-sounding,tryswitchingtotheMAXIMUMOUTPUTterminal.
Ifyouhaveaverylargepowerampandarehearingdistortionorspeaker"bottoming"athighvolumes,trytheLOWCUT
(HIGH PASS FILTER) terminals.
Weprovidethemultipleterminalsbecausewecannotpredictinadvanceexactlywhatresponsethespeakerwill
produce in your room. The choices available through the terminals, however, can allow you to create a virtually ideal
responseforyourroom. Hence,youshouldusetheterminalsthatbestbalancethesoundforyourearsandyourroom,
so that you get maximum enjoyment from your speakers.
MAXIMUM OUTPUT / NORMAL OUTPUT TERMINALS
The NORMAL OUTPUT terminal gives a warm "musical" sound very similar in character to the finest British-
manufacturedmonitor speakers, but witha significantly wider dynamicrange. Sometimesreferred to asthe"English
Sound." This should be used in most installations, including mounting on stands, shelves, mounting brackets, etc.
TheMAXIMUMOUTPUTterminalgivesabright,forwardsoundwithgreatefficiencyandawiderdynamicrange,
with a slightly rising high frequency characteristic. Particularly useful for producing maximum sound power levels,
especiallywith low-powered amplifiers. Sometimes referredtoas the "German Sound." Itisparticularly useful when
theSatellitesareusedassurroundspeakers,asitshighfrequencycontourmakesforbetterhighsatthelisteners'ears
when the speakers are not directly aimed at the listeners. It also works very well when the speaker is mounted flush
against a large surfaces such as a wall, and sometimes when a Center channel speaker is on top of a large rear-
projection television. As always, we recommend experimentation.
LOW CUT (HIGH PASS FILTER) / WIDE RANGE TERMINALS
The51/4"woofer(s)and1"tweeterofyourSatelliteshaveveryhighpowerhandling. Butitispossibletooverdrive
thewooferwithdeepbasssignals, especially when you use a high powered amplifier. This isthereasonfortheLOW
CUT(HIGHPASSFILTER)terminal. Thisterminalhasabuilt-infilterthatreduces(rollsoff)thespeaker'sbassoutput
below 80 Hz (at 6 dB per octave), but it does reduce the mid-bass output of the speaker slightly.
Therefore,formostsystems,werecommendusingtheWIDERANGEterminal. Thisgivesyouthenaturalrolloff
of the speaker and will give you the best sound quality in almost all cases.

S-125/S-125C/S-85/S-85C page 5
MADE IN USA
MULTICHANNEL DIGITAL MONITOR
MILLER & KREISEL SOUND CORPORATION
10391 Jefferson Boulevard., Culver City, CA 90232 310.204.2854
Connect your amplifier to only one red
terminal and only one black terminal.
Select the two terminals whose descriptions
best fit your speaker installation conditions.
(see descriptions below and your owner's manual)
INPUTS
4 ohms
WIDE
RANGE
Crossover
does not
reduce bass
MAXIMUM
OUTPUT
Brighter
midrange
timbre
LOW CUT
(HIGH PASS
FILTER)
Reduces bass
below 80 Hz
NORMAL
OUTPUT
For most
installation
conditions
use with
either input
use with
either input
use with
either input
use with
either input
CAUTION: CONNECT YOUR AMPLIFIER TO ONLY
ONE RED AND ONLY ONE BLACK TERMINAL
SELECT ONE
SELECT ONE
_
+
_
+
AMPLIFIER
(only one channel is shown)
MADE IN USA
MULTICHANNEL DIGITAL MONITOR
MILLER & KREISEL SOUND CORPORATION
10391 Jefferson Boulevard., Culver City, CA 90232 310.204.2854
Connect your amplifier to only one red
terminal and only one black terminal.
Select the two terminals whose descriptions
best fit your speaker installation conditions.
(see descriptions below and your owner's manual)
INPUTS
4 ohms
WIDE
RANGE
Crossover
does not
reduce bass
MAXIMUM
OUTPUT
Brighter
midrange
timbre
LOW CUT
(HIGH PASS
FILTER)
Reduces bass
below 80 Hz
NORMAL
OUTPUT
For most
installation
conditions
use with
either input
use with
either input
use with
either input
use with
either input
CAUTION: CONNECT YOUR AMPLIFIER TO ONLY
ONE RED AND ONLY ONE BLACK TERMINAL
SELECT ONE
SELECT ONE
_
+
_
+
AMPLIFIER
(only one channel is shown)
MADE IN USA
MULTICHANNEL DIGITAL MONITOR
MILLER & KREISEL SOUND CORPORATION
10391 Jefferson Boulevard., Culver City, CA 90232 310.204.2854
Connect your amplifier to only one red
terminal and only one black terminal.
Select the two terminals whose descriptions
best fit your speaker installation conditions.
(see descriptions below and your owner's manual)
INPUTS
4 ohms
WIDE
RANGE
Crossover
does not
reduce bass
MAXIMUM
OUTPUT
Brighter
midrange
timbre
LOW CUT
(HIGH PASS
FILTER)
Reduces bass
below 80 Hz
NORMAL
OUTPUT
For most
installation
conditions
use with
either input
use with
either input
use with
either input
use with
either input
CAUTION: CONNECT YOUR AMPLIFIER TO ONLY
ONE RED AND ONLY ONE BLACK TERMINAL
SELECT ONE
SELECT ONE
_
+
_
+
AMPLIFIER
(only one channel is shown)
MADE IN USA
MULTICHANNEL DIGITAL MONITOR
MILLER & KREISEL SOUND CORPORATION
10391 Jefferson Boulevard., Culver City, CA 90232 310.204.2854
Connect your amplifier to only one red
terminal and only one black terminal.
Select the two terminals whose descriptions
best fit your speaker installation conditions.
(see descriptions below and your owner's manual)
INPUTS
4 ohms
WIDE
RANGE
Crossover
does not
reduce bass
MAXIMUM
OUTPUT
Brighter
midrange
timbre
LOW CUT
(HIGH PASS
FILTER)
Reduces bass
below 80 Hz
NORMAL
OUTPUT
For most
installation
conditions
use with
either input
use with
either input
use with
either input
use with
either input
CAUTION: CONNECT YOUR AMPLIFIER TO ONLY
ONE RED AND ONLY ONE BLACK TERMINAL
SELECT ONE
SELECT ONE
_
+
_
+
AMPLIFIER
(only one channel is shown)
FIGURE 1
SPEAKER WIRING
The four diagrams below show all possible wiring configurations for the S-125, S-125C, S-85 and S-85C. See
page 4 for a detailed discussion of the effect these configurations have on the sound of the speakers.
MAXIMUM OUTPUT / WIDE RANGE NORMAL OUTPUT / WIDE RANGE
MAXIMUM OUTPUT /
LOW CUT (HIGH PASS FILTER) NORMAL OUTPUT / LOW CUT (HIGH PASS FILTER)

S-125/S-125C/S-85/S-85C page 6
Ifyouhaveaseparateelectronichigh-passfilter(suchastheM&KVF-80orHP-80),alwaysusetheWIDERANGE
terminals, as you do not want to have this combination of dual filters operating. This also applies if your amplifier or
controller has built-in high-pass filters (such as THX-approved components and AC-3 units).
4. S-125C & S-85C CENTER CHANNEL USAGE
Because the S-125C and S-85C center channel speakers are designed to match their left and right channel
counterparts,the instructions insection 3 apply identicallyto both speaker versions. Thesecenter channel speakers
are designed to be oriented horizontally and located above or below your television screen. The front baffle of these
speakers is angled so that its sound can be focused towards your ears when you are seated in the main listening
position. Whenthespeakersitsontopofatelevisionset,placeitsothatitaimsdown. Whenitisunderneathorbelow
the screen, place it so that it aims up. For a more discussion of center channel speaker placement, see page 8.
CAUTION: Ifyouarefeedingyoursubwooferwithspeakerwiresfromyouramplifier'sleftandrightchannels(not
withanRCA-RCAcablefromtheprocessor'sSUBWOOFEROUTPUT),youMUSTsettheprocessor'scenterchannel
switch to the NORMAL position. If you do not, the center channel bass will not be fed to the subwoofer. You should
still use the LOW CUT (HIGH PASS FILTER) terminal, as the combination of both filters will be about 12 dB/octave.
5. OPTIMIZING SPEAKER PLACEMENT
The sound quality produced by your speakers can be significantly enhanced by careful attention to their
placement. While we understand that you may not redesign your room to accommodate your speakers, coming as
close as possible to the ideal placement will give you much better sound.
The left and right channel speakers can be oriented either horizontally or vertically (if you have the S-125s, the
preferredorientationisvertical,buthorizontalorientationisacceptable. Whenorientedvertically,theangleonthefront
baffle should point towards the center of the room, not to the side walls (see Figure 2 on page 7). When oriented
horizontally,theangleonthefrontbaffleshouldpointdownifthespeakerwillbeaboveyourheadwhenyouarelistening,
and up if the speaker will be below your head. The Center channel speaker is designed for horizontal orientation
(tweeter and woofer drivers next to each other), and should be angled towards your listening position.
Three factors are important in getting the best sound. They are:
A. Height (or angle).
B. Location away from room walls or reflecting surfaces.
C. Separation between Left and Right speakers.
A. HEIGHT (OR ANGLE)
YourM&KSatelliteswillalwaysdeliversoundsuperiortoconventionalspeakers,regardlessofwhereyoulocate
them. However, because they are designed for very fast and accurate transient response, they achieve even better
sound quality, and the flattest frequency response when properly oriented relative to your ear.
Ideally, the tweeters should be at the same height from the floor as your ears, when you are sitting in your main
listeningposition.
Ifyouhavethespeakersmountedaboveorbelowthisheight,werecommendthatyouanglethespeakerssothat
the tweeters are aimed at your ears when you are in the main listening position.
If you have a helper move the speakers while you sit and listen, you should be able to hear the difference when
the speakers are in the best location by listening for the brightest high frequencies and for the best "focus" of sound,
where you hear the sharpest sonic imaging of voices and instruments.
B. LOCATION AWAY FROM REFLECTING SURFACES
YourSatellitesshouldbelocated,wheneverpractical,awayfromwalls,thefloor,furniture,oranyotherreflecting
surfaces. Dothebestyoucan. Objectsclosetothespeakerwillreflectsound,andthisreflectedsoundarrivesatyour
ear slightly later than the direct sound, which blurs sonic imaging and makes transients seem muted.
The delay is very slight, so instead of hearing an echo, you hear a "blurred" sound with less clarity that is not as
sharp and distinct as it should be. This time delay also affects frequency response and sonic imaging.

S-125/S-125C/S-85/S-85C page 7
LEFT SPEAKER RIGHT SPEAKER
LINE X - Y SHOULD EQUAL
LINE A - B. (LINE A - B APPEARS
LONGER IN THIS DIAGRAM DUE
TO AN OPTICAL ILLUSION).
B
Ifthespeakersareon atelevisionsetorshelves,locatethemonthefrontedge,sothereisnoflatsurfacedirectly
infrontofthem. Ifthespeakerswillsitclosetowallsorother large objects, leave as much spaceaspossiblebetween
the speaker and the object. Ideally, your Satellites will be several feet from the nearest surface, but in most rooms
compromise is necessary.
C. SEPARATION BETWEEN LEFT AND RIGHT SPEAKERS
Here is a formula for achieving the ideal left to right stereo imaging. Think of a triangle formed by the locations
oftheLeftandRight speakers andyourlisteningposition. Ideally,thesubtendedangle formed shouldbebetween45
and50degrees. Roughly,thismeansthattheLeftandRightspeakersshouldbeseparatedbyaboutthesamedistance
thatyouaresittingbackfromthespeakers. Inotherwords,ifthedistancefromyourlisteningpositiontothepointdirectly
between the speakers is 10 feet, place the speakers so their centers are 10 feet apart. See Figure 2 above.
ThelengthoflineA- B shouldbeaboutthesameasthelengthof line X-Y. (Theymaynotseemtobe the same
in this diagram due to an optical illusion).
Try to follow the formula as close as you can. You can fine tune the placement by listening to a source with an
image (such as a vocalist) centered between the speakers. When listening in stereo (no Center Channel speaker),
movethespeakersclosertogetherorfartherapartinsmallincrementsuntilyouhearthesharpestandmostcohesive
image, especially in the phantom center. You may also want to angle (or "toe-in") the speakers slightly. This often
improvesthesharpnessofthestereoimage,reducesroomcolorations,andprovidesawiderseatingarea. Theangled
front baffles of your Satellites also provide this benefit.
6. HOMETHEATRE USAGE
TIMBRE-MATCHING
OneofthemostimportantfactorsinachievingexcellentHomeTheatreperformanceistimbre-matching. Onfilm
soundtracks, specific sounds are often moved from left to right or from front to back in the room. When the speakers
reproducingthesesoundshavedissimilarcharacteristics,therewillbeanaudiblediscontinuitywhenthesoundshifts
from one speaker to another.
Timbre-matched speakers have very similar tonal characteristics and sound, which come from three critical
elements: similar or identical drivers; similar or identical crossovers; and similar or identical frequency response. In
full M&K systems, these elements have been addressed. You can be assured that the system can achieve the full
potential of Home Theatre sound.
XY
A
FIGURE 2
SEPARATION BETWEEN LEFT & RIGHT SPEAKERS

S-125/S-125C/S-85/S-85C page 8
If the other speakers are not M&Ks, don't worry; M&K's unique tonal balance controls allow the M&K speakers
to be adjusted to emulate the sound of the other speakers. Here's how:
Set up a listening comparison between your the M&K speaker and the other speaker. Connect one speaker to
the front right channel and the other to the front left channel. Place them as close together as possible, and compare
their sound by alternately rotating the balance control fully to the right and fully to the left.
SwitchthecontrolsonthebackpaneloftheM&Kspeakeruntilitsoundsassimilaraspossibletotheotherspeaker.
Set the other M&K speaker identically (unless you are adding just one as a center channel), and you're all set. If you
have any questions, please give us a call and we'll be happy to discuss this with you.
The other factor critical to achieving excellent Home Theatre performance is level-matching the three front and
two surround channels. This is even more important than timbre-matching.
WestronglyrecommendthatyoupurchaseaRadioShackSoundLevelMeter(availableforlessthanabout$40,
andgettheanalogmeter,notthedigital)anduseittomeasuretheoutputofthespeakerswhenplayingthetest tones
generated by your processor or receiver. WHENEVER POSSIBLE, DO NOT CALIBRATE LEVELS BY EAR! Using
a meter is an inexpensive way to be certain that your system is calibrated properly.
When M&K Satellites are being used in a Home Theatre system, placement becomes extremely important, as
you will be balancing four or five (or more) speakers rather than two. The following guidelines are for a five-channel
Pro-Logic or 5.1 channel AC-3 system, but if you are not using a Center channel, the instructions for the other four
channels will still apply. CENTER CHANNEL
The Center channel speaker in a Pro-Logic or AC-3 system is the most important speaker in the system. This
speakeroften producesmoreoutputthantheleftandrightspeakers combined . Thisspeakershouldbeofthehighest
possible quality, and as similar as possible in response and radiation pattern to the left and right speakers. Three
identical speakers are best, unless the center channel is designed to work with a set of left and right speakers.
ItisalsoimportanttohaveasmuchamplifierpoweraspossiblefortheCenterchannel. Asaminimum,thethree
frontchannelsshouldbeidenticalinpoweroutput,butitisbetteriftheCenterchannelhasmore. Ifyouhavelesspower
in the Center channel, this will be the limiting factor in the total output capability of the system when watching and
listening to video sources.
All M&K Satellites, with their compact size and adjustable tonal balances, are ideal for Center channel use, but
our center channel models have been optimized for their application. M&K's adjustable tonal balances allow our
Satellitestoacousticallybalancewithawiderangeofotherspeakerstoprovideasmoothfrontchannelsoundfield. Our
non-center channel Satellites have optional magnetic shielding to allow them to be used close to a television set.
The Center channel speaker should be located as close as physically possible to the television or projection
screen. It should be just above or just below the screen. If that is not possible, then just to the left or the right of the
screen may still be acceptable.
Ifthetelevisionisnotinthecenteroftheroom(ornotcenteredbetweentheLeftandRightspeakers),theCenter
channelspeakershouldstillbeascloseaspossibletothescreen--evenifitisoutsidetheleftandrightspeakers(such
as a TV located in a corner of the room outside the stereo spread of the left and right speakers). Good results can be
achieved in unusual configurations when the Center speaker is as close as possible to the screen.
TheLeftand Right front channel speakersinaHome Theatre system should beplacedthesame as the left and
rightspeakersinastereosetup. Somelisteners,however,mayprefertoreducethedistancebetweentheleftandright
speakers to bring the size of the acoustic image closer to the size of the screen image.
Forexample,witha25"direct-viewtelevision, you would wantthespeakersclosertogetherthanyouwouldwith
a 100" projector. One recommendation is to separate the speakers by 1.5 times the diagonal screen size; another is
to place the left and right speakers to create a 45 degree angle with the main listening position.
Thereisagreatdealoflatitudeinthisarea,asitisoneofpersonalpreference(especiallyifyouwilllistentomusic
without video).
It is also preferred that the speakers be equidistant from the listening position. Equidistant usually means that
whenthecenterspeakerisontopofthetelevision,theleftandrightspeakerswillsitinfrontoftheset(theywillbefarther
fromthewallbehindtheTVthanthecenterspeaker). Ideally,thespeakersshouldbeatthesameheightasthescreen,
but it is much more important that all three speakers be at as close to each other's height as possible. If the center is
muchhigherorlowerthantheotherspeakers,theeffectcanbedistracting. Angling,ortoeing-inthespeakers,toaim
at the listening position often improves imaging.

S-125/S-125C/S-85/S-85C page 9
WhenusingaCenterchannelspeaker,youhaveextraflexibilityinplacingtheleftandrightspeakers,astheCenter
channel speaker will tie most dialog and effects directly to the screen.
SURROUND CHANNELS
TheSurroundchannelspeakerscanbeplacedinawidevarietyoflocationsintheroomtogivegoodperformance.
Ingeneral,thesurroundspeakersshouldbeeitheradjacenttoorbehindthemainlisteningposition,andlocatedhigher
thanthelistener'sheads. Theycanbemountedoneitherthesidewallsoronthebackwall,flushtothewall,onshelves,
on brackets, etc.
The goal is to achieve an enveloping sound. The surround channels should seem to come from all around you,
rather than seeming to come from behind you only or directly from a speaker.
This section discusses non-THX surround speakers. THX system requirements call for dipolar surround
speakersmountedtothesidesofthelisteningpositionabovethelisteners'heads. SeeM&K'sTHXsurroundspeaker
instruction manual and the THX Installation Guide for detailed instructions.
For non-THX surrounds, we recommend starting with speakers on the side walls of the room, two to three feet
abovethe listeners' heads,either directly adjacent tothe listening position orbehind it. You can aimthe speakers to
firetowards each other (acrossthelistening area), or youcanaim them to firetowardsthe back wall atanangle. The
surround speakers should not be in front of the main listening position if possible.
If you mount the surrounds on the side wall behind the listening position, they can be aimed towards each other
orangledtowardsthebackwallorthesidewallsurfacedirectlybehind them. By reflecting sound behind the listening
position, you may increase the sense of envelopment in the sound.
Ifyouwantorneedtomountspeakersonthebackwalloftheroom,thereareseveraloptions. Youcanaimthem
so that they fire towards each other (so they fire along the back wall); you can aim them towards the front wall of the
room; or you can angle them so they fire toward the side walls. Symmetrical arrangements work best.
Thespeakersshouldbeaminimumofafewfeetawayfromthenearestlistener. Ifthespeakerislocatedtooclose
toalistener,itssoundwillbecometoodirectionalandmaydistractthatlistener. Ideally,thesurroundspeakersshould
not call attention to themselves and should not be audible as separate sources of sound.
Ifthesurroundsmustbelocatedclosetothelisteners,aimingthemattheroomwallsoreventheceilingcanhelp
to reduce any directional effect. As described above, this can produce a desirable result even in rooms where the
surround speakers are an adequate distance from the listeners' heads.
Ifthesurrounds cannot be placed on awall,tryplacementon tables or the floor tothesidesofthe main listening
position,firinguptowardstheceiling. Thiscanworkverywellinenvironmentsthatdonotallowpermanentattachment
of speakers to the walls.
Some listeners prefer to use multiple pairs of surround speakers. While this is not necessary, it can provide a
broaderanddeeper surround effect, with better coverageinverylargerooms. When using multiple pairs of surround
speakers, a symmetrical installation pattern works best. For example, if you are using two pairs of S-80 or S-85
Satellitesforthesurroundchannel,onepaircouldbemountedonthebackwalloftheroom,mountedequidistantfrom
the back corners, with the other pair mounted on the side walls of the room, equidistant from the same back corners.
The surround channels can be installed in a wide variety of locations, but because they are usually mounted on
the walls of the room, they can be a challenge to successfully install. If you have further questions, please call us at
the M&K factory, and we will be happy to discuss them with you in detail.
SUBWOOFER
SubwooferlocationforHomeTheatresystemsisessentiallythesameasformusicsystems. SeeourSubwoofer
operationmanualformoredetails. Remembertoleave 2 - 3feetofclearancebetweenanytelevisionandsubwoofer,
unless the subwoofer is magnetically shielded.
The preferred connection for the subwoofer is a subwoofer output from the amplifier or controller. This insures
that a full bass signal is being fed to the subwoofer. If you do not have such a subwoofer output jack, connect the
subwoofer to the front Left and Right channel amplifier outputs (do not use the Center channel).
VERYIMPORTANT:WhentheSubwooferisconnectedtotheLeftandRightamplifieroutputs,andthecontroller
isinPro-Logicmode,the switch onthePro-LogiccontrolunitlabelledCenter channel WIDE/NORMALmustbesetto
the NORMAL mode. If the switch is set to the WIDE mode, the bass content of the Center channel will not be fed to
the Subwoofer, and you will lose a significant amount of bass.

S-125/S-125C/S-85/S-85C page 10
7. SATELLITE/SUBWOOFER PHASINGTEST
In any system using a subwoofer separate from Satellite speakers, a phasing test must be performed to insure
good bass blending. This test insures optimum sound in the critical bass frequencies where your Subwoofer and
Satellite speakers overlap.
Playafamiliar CD, LP, or tape withsteady,consistentbasscontent through your system. Listen carefully tothe
"mid-bass"regionof75-125Hz. Thisisthepartofthespectrumwhereelectricorstringbassesanddrumspredominate.
Then reverse the phase of either the subwoofer or BOTH Satellite speakers.
If your Subwoofer has a PHASE switch on its back panel, move it either from (+) to (—) or vice versa.
IfyourSubwooferdoesnothave a PHASE switch, it takes a bit more work. YouwillhavetochangethePositive
and Negative speaker inputs on the back of BOTH Satellite speakers.
YoucandothisatthebackofbothSatellitespeakers,orattheSubwoofer'sTOSPEAKERSterminals,butnever
atbothlocations. TheleadthatwasonthePositive(+)terminalshouldbeswitchedtotheNegative(—)terminal,and
vice versa. When switching speaker wires, take care to protect your amplifier. Make sure that the wires do not touch
each other when you are making the switch. As a safety measure, we suggest that you turn the amplifier off before
making the switch.
Nowlistentothesamemusicalpassageasyoudidearlier,concentratingonthemid-bassregion. Ifyouhearless
bass, the original connection (or switch position) was correct. If you hear more bass, the new connection ( or switch)
is correct.
You need to perform this test because when Satellite speakers are located separate from a Subwoofer, each
speaker is at a different distance from your ear. In some cases, the difference will be just enough so that the output
fromthe Subwoofer arrives outof phase with theoutputof the Satellites. Whenthishappens, that critical mid-bassis
actually cancelled. You should re-do this test any time you move your speakers.
Ifyouwanttoexperimentfurther,movetheSatellitespeakerseithertowardsorawayfromyourlisteningposition,
making changes in small increments. This will "focus" the system's sound to its optimum. When you hear the best
combinationofstereoimagelocalizationandmaximumimpactandoutputinthemid-bass,youhavetheideallocation.
8. SPEAKER DAMAGE & HOWTO AVOID IT
An important factor to consider with any loudspeaker system is the potential for speaker damage. Even though
your M&K Satellites have extremely high power handling ability (especially for Satellite speakers), they still can be
damaged by relatively low powered amplifiers.
While very few M&K Satellites are actually returned for service, the vast majority of those returned are not for
manufacturing defects. Instead, they are returned because they have been overdriven, almost always because the
amplifierorreceiverusedwasdrivenintoclippingdistortion. Thisdamageisconsideredabuse,andisnotnecessarily
covered under warranty.
This clipping distortion occurs when the demands of the music are greater than the amplifier's available power.
Itcanoccurat20wattswithasmallamplifier,orat400wattswithalargeamplifier. Whenthishappens,theamplifier's
output waveform (which should look like a smooth arc) is "clipped" off, exhibiting a flat top instead of the arc.
Thisflattopcontainsmultiplesof the original amplified frequencies, sometimes at higher levels thantheoriginal
signalitself. Fortweeters,thiscanbeverydamaging,asthisdistortioniswellabovetheaudiblerange(whereyouare
unable to hear it), and where the tweeter is most vulnerable to damage.
When an amplifier clips, its sound becomes harsh and grating, and a break-up is often audible in the bass
frequencies. Itwillbecomeuncomfortabletolistento,especiallywhencomparedtoaslightlylowervolumelevel. When
you are listening at high volume levels, be aware of the onset of clipping distortion, and turn the volume down slightly
if the sound takes on the character described above.
When tone controls or equalizers are used to boost frequencies, the problem occurs much more rapidly. Even
a small boost of low or high frequencies can easily double the power requirement and lead to amplifier clipping at
moderate levels. Therefore, you should use your tone controls judiciously, avoiding extreme boosts of the bass and
treble controls, especially when you are listening at high volume levels.
The best way to avoid speaker damage is to use common sense. Use moderate boosts of tone controls or
equalizers, at the very most. Listen carefully for any harshness and break-up, especially at high volume levels, and
turn down the volume when needed. If you cannot get enough volume, you may need to consider a higher-powered

S-125/S-125C/S-85/S-85C page 11
amplifier. Ifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutthis,pleasecontactM&K,andwewillbehappytodiscussitwithyoufurther.
9. BI - AMPLIFYINGYOUR SATELLITES
WITH M&K HIGH PASS FILTERS
OneexcellentwaytoimprovethesoundofyourSatellitespeakers(andprotect them if you listen at highvolume
levels to music with substantial deep bass output), is by using an M&K High-Pass Filter. The M&K HP-80 and
VF-80 High-Pass Filters improve the performance of any system that allows for separation of its preamp and power
amp stages, by filtering the bass signal fed to the main amplifier and Satellite speakers.
Thesefilterswillgiveyougreaterdynamicrange,lowerdistortion,andanincreasedmaximumoutputlevel. Ifyou
have any questions about the suitability of your components, please contact your M&K dealer or the factory.
To use these filters with an integrated amp or receiver, the amp/receiver MUST have back panel RCA jacks
labelled Preamp/Main Output AND Power Amp/Main Input (or Front Out/Front In) for all of the channels you want to
filter(includingthecenterchannel). Youmayhavetooperateaswitchorremovejumperconnectionsontheamplifier.
Ifyoucanuseoneofthesefilters,yousimplyconnectonesetofshieldedRCA-RCAinterconnectcablesbetween
the receiver, amp or preamp's Main Output and the HP-80 or VF-80, with a second set between the HP-80 or VF-80
and the Main Input of the receiver or amplifier, and a third set from the HP-80 or VF-80 to the Subwoofer. See the
instruction sheet that comes with the High-Pass Filter for more information.
10. IFYOU NEED SERVICE
ContactyourdealerorM&Kwith a completedescriptionoftheproblem. Pleasehavetheunit'smodel and serial
numbers (found on the back of the cabinet), date of purchase, and your dealer's name. You can call M&K between
8:30AM and 5:00 PMPacific Time, Monday throughFriday,at [phone]. Ifyoucall outside these hours,leave
a message, and we will return your call promptly.
DO NOT RETURN YOUR SPEAKERS TO THE FACTORY FOR
SERVICE WITHOUT OBTAINING PRIOR AUTHORIZATION
AllM&KSatellitespeakerscarryafiveyearlimitedpartsandlaborwarranty. Thiswarrantyistransferabletonew
owners up to five years from the date of original purchase. It does not cover abuse, misuse, repairs by unauthorized
service stations, speakers without M&K serial numbers, speakers not sold by authorized M&K dealers, and those
damaged in shipping or by accident. If you have any questions about the warranty, please contact M&K.
11. CABINET MAINTENANCE
Treat the cabinet as you would any piece of fine furniture. Its painted black finish does not require any special
maintenance; regular dusting with a lint-free cloth and periodic cleaning is all that is required. Matching black paint
can be used if necessary to repair any surface damage.
12. USE WITH M&K STANDS & OMNIMOUNT®BRACKETS
The S-85 and S-85C Satellites contain a threaded (3/8") insert, located on the speaker's back baffle. Using the
3/8"screwprovidedwithyour S-85s, thisallowsthespeakertobesecurely fastened toanM&KST-1orST-2speaker
stand, as well as to wall-mount brackets offered by OmniMount Systems. Both the M&K stands and the OmniMount
bracketsoffertremendous flexibilityforinstallationinawidevarietyofenvironments,andbothareavailableinseveral
configurations. AlwaysuseonlytheOmniMountSerieslistedforeachspeakertoinsuresafeinstallationofthespeaker.
TheS-125 and S-125C Satellites containboththe threaded (3/8") insert and1/4"inserts (1/4-20) located on the
speaker's back baffle (the S-125 has two and the S-125C has four). This gives you two options to mount the speaker
to either the M&K ST-1 or ST-2 stands or to an OmniMount bracket.
See Figure 3 on page 12. For more information, including alternate mounting configurations such as ceiling
mounts, contact OmniMountat [phone].

S-125/S-125C/S-85/S-85C page 12
S125/85/Cman.pm5
rev 3
08/30/96
13. SPECIFICATIONS
S-125 & S-125C S-85 & S-85C
IMPEDANCE: 4 ohms 4 ohms
MINIMUM POWER: 10 watts RMS 10 watts RMS
RECOMMENDED POWER:
(applies to both models) amplifiers with between 50 and 200 watts RMS or more (see below)
MAXIMUM POWER:
(applies to both models) 200 watts RMS unclipped peaks
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 77 Hz - 20 KHz ± 2 dB 85 Hz - 20 KHz ± 2 dB
DIMENSIONS (H x W x D):
Left/Right speaker 18 1/2" x 6 1/4" x 8 1/4" 10 1/2" x 6 1/4" x 8 1/4"
Center Channel speaker 6 1/4" x 18 1/2" x 8 1/4" 6 1/4" x 10 1/2" x 8 1/4"
WEIGHT 16 lbs. 9 lbs.
FIGURE 3
USE WITH AN OMNIMOUNT ®BRACKET
S-125 (not S-125C) or S-85
USES OMNIMOUNT®53-RST
A single 3/8" x 16 threaded insert is
located on the back baffle of the
cabinet. Use only an OmniMount®
53 RST (special order) bracket.
S-125 and S-125C
USES OMNIMOUNT®75-WA
or 53-RST (see below)
Two threaded inserts are
located at the bottom of the
back baffle of the cabinet
Mount the bracket to the
speaker using 5/8" long 1/4" x 20
pan head or round head machine
screws. Use an OmniMount®
Series 75 mounting bracket.
The drawings below are from the OmniMount catalog and are not intended to show the actual dimensions and
specific mounting locations on the S-125 and S-85. Please see the back baffles of your speaker cabinets.