MK Sound S-5000THX User manual

THX®front channel satellite speakers
Miller & Kreisel Sound Corporation
9351 Deering Avenue
Chatsworth, CA 91311 USA
[phone] Fax [phone] www.mksound.com
©2001 MILLER & KREISEL SOUND CORP.
operation
manual
S-5000THX
S-150THX
Manufactured under license from Lucasfilm Ltd. U.S.
Patent Numbers 5,043,970; 5,189,703; and 5,222,059.
Foreign patents pending. Lucasfilm and THX are registered
trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd.
DO NOT REMOVE THE SPECIAL ACOUSTIC FOAM ATTACHED
TO THE FRONT BAFFLE AND/OR GRILLE OF YOUR SPEAKERS.
This foam is a critical part of your loudspeaker system and plays an important role
in its high level of performance. It focuses the radiation of the tweeters, minimizes
cabinet diffraction, and provides the flattest possible frequency response.

S-5000THX &S-150THX satellitespeakers page 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................3
2. THE HOME THX AUDIO SPEAKER SYSTEM............................................................3
3. PLACEMENT OF YOUR M&K THX SPEAKERS.....................................................3
4. SPEAKER HOOK-UP..........................................................................................4
5. OPTIMIZING SPEAKER PLACEMENT...........................................................................5
6. SPEAKER PLACEMENT IN A HOME THX AUDIO SYSTEM..........................................7
7. USE OF THE "NORMAL" / "SPECIAL INPUT SELECTION SWITCH (S-5000)...............8
8. USING THE S-5000 WITHOUT GRILLES.......................................................................9
9. SATELLITE/SUBWOOFER PHASING TEST.................................................................10
10. SPEAKER DAMAGE & HOW TO AVOID IT...................................................................10
11. BIAMPLIFICATION WITH AN M&K HIGH-PASS FILTER................................................11
12. IF YOU NEED SERVICE.................................................................................................11
13. SPECIFICATIONS..................................................................................................12
14. CABINET MAINTENANCE............................................................................................12
DIAGRAMS
FIGURE 1 WIRING..................................................................................................5
FIGURE 2 SEPARATION BETWEEN LEFT & RIGHT SPEAKERS......................................7
FIGURE 3 S-150 & S-150AC SPEAKER ORIENTATION...........................8
FIGURE 4 USING THE S-5000 WITHOUT GRILLES (FOAM PATTERN)..............................9
DO NOT REMOVE THE SPECIAL ACOUSTIC FOAM ATTACHED TO THE
FRONT BAFFLE AND/OR GRILLE OF YOUR SPEAKERS.
Thisfoamisacriticalpartofyourloudspeakersystemandplaysanimportantroleinitshigh
level of performance. It focuses the radiation of the tweeters, minimizes cabinet diffraction,
and provides the flattest possible frequency response.

S-5000THX & S-150THX satellite speakers
page 3
1. INTRODUCTION
Congratulations! Your new M&K THX speaker system will give you years of unmatched enjoyment and
excitement while listening to your favorite musical and audio/video sources.
Weencourageyou toreadthis owner’smanual,as thereisa greatdealof informationprovidedhere tohelp
you get 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.
Thismanualgivesyoubasichook-upinstructionsfirst,followedbymoredetailedtechnical,installation,and
service information.
2.THE HOME THX AUDIO SPEAKER SYSTEM
Your choice of an M&K Home THX Audio speaker system assures you of achieving the state of the art in
hometheatremusicandvideoreproduction. ThepreciseandexactingstandardsdevelopedbyLucasfilm'sHome
THXdivision,asappliedbyM&K'sengineering team,assurethat youwillheareveryelementoffilm sound-from
the softest brush of an object against an actor's clothing to the awesome impact of effects such as an exploding
planet - with the same sonic quality heard by the film's director and sound designer as they created the final mix
of sound on the studio's dubbing stage.
TodothisinahomeenvironmentrequiresdifferentequipmentandstandardsthanarefoundinaTHXmotion
picturetheatre. The standardsdeveloped for HomeTHX Audioare criticallyimportantto achievingthe following
performance attributes:
- wide frequency range, extending to the limits of audibility
- smooth, naturally balanced overall sound
- excellent dialog intelligibility
- wide dynamic range with extremely low distortion
- well-matched timbre (tonal balance) between front speakers and surrounds
- precise localization of specific sounds (as in special effects)
- envelopment by ambient soundfield (without any localization of individual speakers to distract from the
action on-screen
- superb performance with musical sources
The unsurpassed quality of your M&K Home THX Audio speaker system means that all of the excitement
and emotional involvement of films and music will be brought to life in your home. Turn down the lights, and let
the experience begin!
3. PLACEMENT OF YOUR M&K THX SPEAKERS
Your speakers can be installed in a wide variety of locations. They can be placed on stands, shelves, or
bookcases, or more permanently mounted using brackets, direct attachment to the wall, or a ceiling suspension
system.
Your speakers have threaded mounting hardware permanently mounted into the cabinet in different
locationson thespeaker's backbaffle. These allowyoutomountthespeakersinawidevarietyoflocations,and
toorientthemforthebestpossiblesound. Thishardwareis1/4-20,meaning1/4inchindiameter,and20threads
per inch.
When handling the S-5000 speaker (not the S-150), do not lift the cabinet by
gripping the grilles or the white plastic fittings on the speaker's back baffle. They are
not handles! You may damage these parts, affecting the speaker's performance.

S-5000THX & S-150THX satellitespeakers page 4
There is a four hole mounting pattern on the rear baffle to accommodate either an Omnimount mounting
bracket. The S-5000 uses an Omnimount #100 pattern, and the S-150 uses an Omnimount #75 pattern. This
four hole pattern is also used with the M&Kspeaker stands and wall brackets.
You can place your speakers virtually anywhere in the room, but certain locations are better than others.
Ingeneral,locatethemaway fromobstructionsthatwouldinterferewiththedirectpathfromthespeakerstoyour
ears (such as walls, furniture, lighting, plants, etc.). They will sound better when they are around ear height, or
when angled towards your favorite listening location.
Unlike most Satellite speakers, the S-5000s are designed to give acceptable performance when they are
sitting directly on the floor. Do not hesitate to do this, especially if you have limited space under a projection
screen. You will need, however, to tilt them back so the tweeters point up towards your ears.
Both the S-150 and S-5000 are magnetically shielded. This means that they can be placed close to a
television monitor without distorting the picture. If you place the speaker directly on top of a large screen direct-
view monitor, there is some slight possibility of picture distortion. If that occurs, you may need to move the
speaker a few inches or to separate the speaker from the television by a similar distance. Call the factory if you
have problems.
For more detailed general placement information, see Section 5 on page 5. For detailed Home THX Audio
front channel speaker location, see Section 6 (page 7).
4. SPEAKER HOOK-UP
The sound quality that you get from your speakers can be affected by the type of speaker wire that you use
to connect them. While it is possible to use speaker wire as thin as 22 gauge to hook your S-5000s up, wire of
less than 16 gauge will compromise their sound quality. We strongly recommend using the heaviest gauge wire
possible. Your special M&K 5-way binding post input terminals will directly accept wire as heavy as 4 gauge!
Forwirerunsofupto10feet,16gaugewireisacceptable. Forrunsupto20feet,youshoulduseaminimum
of 14 gauge. For up to 30 feet, use a minimum of 12 gauge, and over 30 feet should use 10 gauge. See the
THX Installation and Operation Manual for more information.
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 the highest
quality cable that fits your budget. Beware, though —with cables, expensive is not always better. If you have
any questions, contact your M&K Home THX dealer for advice.
TheS-5000andS-150arenotdesignedforbi-wiring. Wedorecommend,however,thattheybebiamplified
with an M&K Powered Subwoofer. If you do not have a THX controller, and you wish to biamplify your speakers
in combination with an M&K Powered Subwoofer, see Section 11 (page 10) for more details.
WIRING
ThePositive(+)leadfromyouramplifierorreceivershouldbeconnectedtotheRED (+)"INPUT"terminal,
and the Negative ( — ) lead from your amplifier or receiver should be connected to the BLACK ( — ) "INPUT"
terminal. See Figure 1.

S-5000THX & S-150THX satellite speakers page 5
FIGURE 1
WIRING
(one channel only is shown for clarity)
5. OPTIMIZING SPEAKER PLACEMENT
The sound quality produced by your speakers can be significantly enhanced by careful attention to their
placement. You will get the maximum return in sound quality for your investment in the by following these
guidelines as closely as possible.
Four factors are important in getting the best sound. They are:
A. Height or angle (proper orientation of tweeters relative to listeners' ears).
B. Location away from room walls or reflecting surfaces.
C. Separation between left and right speakers.
D. Vertical orientation of the speaker cabinets.
AMPLIFIER
LEFT RIGHT
+
_
+
_
MADE IN USA
INPUT
4 ohms
MILLER & KREISEL SOUND CORPORATION
10391 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 310/204-2854
S-5000
THX
FRONT SATELLITE SPEAKER
Manufactured under license from Lucasfilm Ltd. U. S.
Patent numbers 5,043,970; 5,189,703; and 5,222,059.
Foreign patents pending. Lucasfilm and THX are
registered trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd.

S-5000THX & S-150THX satellitespeakers page 6
A. HEIGHT (OR ANGLE)
Your M&K speakers will always deliver sound superior to conventional speakers, regardless of where you
locate them or where you are when you are listening. However, because of their design, they achieve their very
best sound quality and their flattest frequency response when properly oriented relative to your ear.
Ideally, your speakers' tweeters should be at the same height from the floor as your ears when you are
sitting in your main listening position. Specifically, this means the distance from the floor to the space between
the two tweeters (S-5000) or to the center tweeter (S-150).
If you have the speakers mounted above or below this height, you must tilt the speakers so that
the tweeters are aimed at your ears when you are in the main listening position.
Ifyou have thespecial Angled Centerversion oftheS-150 (S-150AC),itsfront bafflehasa built-in"tilt"that
aims the sound either up or down depending on orientation. This speaker is ideal for use as the center channel
speaker sitting on top of a rear-projection television set.
Startby aligning the speakers visually. Sitin your main listeningpositionand look at thecabinets'tops and
bottoms. Whentheir perspective is about thesame relative to whereyouare sitting (about thesameangle), you
are at least very close to the proper alignment.
The best way to determine the proper angle is to have a helper move the speakers while you sit and listen.
Youshould beable to hearthe differencewhen thespeakersare inthe bestlocationby listeningfor thebrightest
high frequencies and for the best "focus" of sound, where you hear the sharpest sonic imaging of voices and
instruments.
Todothis,playChapters8-10ontheLucasfilm"Wow"Laserdisc,oranyothersourceofpinkorwhitenoise.
When the speakers are aimed properly, you will hear the greatest amount of high frequencies. You will be able
to hear a distinct difference in the highs when each speaker is at the correct angle.
B. LOCATION AWAY FROM REFLECTING SURFACES
Yourspeakersshouldgenerallybelocated awayfromwalls,furniture,orany otherreflectingsurfaces. Any
object located close to the speaker will reflect the sound radiated from the speaker to your ear with a slight time
delay compared to the direct sound reaching your ear. This time delay will blur the sonic imaging and interfere
with transient performance.
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.
Bearin mind,however,that whilemany satellite speakersdo notperformwell whenplacedon thefloor, the
S-5000 is designed to deliver good performance whether sitting on the floor or mounted above it.
Ifthespeakerswillbesittingonshelves,locatethemonthefrontedgeoftheshelf,sothereisnoflatsurface
directly in front of them. If any speaker will sit close to a wall or any other large object, leave as much space as
possible between the speaker and the object. Ideally, your speakers will be located away from the nearest
surface, but in most rooms compromise will be 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 of the left and right speakers and your listening position. Ideally, the subtended angle formed should
be between 45 and 50 degrees. Roughly, this means that the left and right speakers should be separated by
about the same distance that you are sitting back from the speakers. In other words, if the distance from your
listening position to the point directly between the speakers is 10 feet, place the speakers so their centers are
about 10 feet apart. See Figure 2.
The length of line A - B should be about the same as the length of line X - Y. (They may not seem to be
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),move thespeakerscloser togetheror farther apartin smallincrementsuntil youhearthe sharpestand
most cohesive image, especially in the phantom center. You may also want to angle (or "toe-in") the speakers
slightly. This often improves the sharpness of the stereo image, and provides a wider seating area. The S-150
Left and Right speakers provide a default toe-in through the angle of their front baffles.

S-5000THX & S-150THX satellite speakers page 7
D. VERTICAL ORIENTATION
The performance of your speakers is dependent on their orientation. THX speakers are designed for
controlled vertical dispersion and wide horizontal dispersion. By controlling the vertical dispersion, we limit the
amount of sound that would otherwise be reflected with a time delay from the floor and ceiling (for the reasons
discussed in B. above).
This means the speakers should always be vertically oriented. The S-150 is vertically oriented when its
tweetersareverticallystacked (not next to each other). When vertical, the controlled dispersion is inthecorrect
plane. If they are oriented horizontally (on their sides), listeners right or left of a direct line from the center of the
speakerwillhearacompromisedsoundquality,anirregularfrequencyresponse,aswellassomeotherproblems.
While this may be acceptable for background listening, westrongly recommend that you do not place them on
their sides for any other listening.
The S-5000 and S-150 must be oriented vertically (tweeters in a vertical line) to meet THX
requirements.
6. SPEAKER PLACEMENT IN A HOME THX AUDIO SYSTEM
If your M&K speakers are being used in a Home THX Audio system, placement is very important.
You should take at least the same amount of time and care in setting up your M&K Home THX speakers
asyouwouldwiththemost exotichigh-endstereosystem. Somelistenersmake themistakeoftakingtoocasual
anapproachtotheinstallationofspeakersinahometheatresystem. Infact,inmanywaysthesetupofspeakers
in a home theatre is more critical than for stereo.
EventhoughtheS-5000andS-150arelessinfluencedbytheroomenvironment thanmostotherspeakers,
the time you spend in carefully installing them will significantly enhance your enjoyment of them later.
The Left, Center and Right speakers should ideally all be at the same height as the television screen.
BecausetheCenterchannelspeakercannotcoverthescreen,inwillhavetobeplacedaboveorbelowthescreen.
Try to set up all three speakers at the same height. If this is not practical, set them up so that they are no further
apart vertically than the speakers' two foot height. In other words, the bottom of the speaker the farthest from
the floor should be no higher than the top of the speaker closest to the floor.
Remember that the speakers need to be aimed at the listening position when they are not placed with the
FIGURE 2
SEPARATION BETWEEN LEFT & RIGHT SPEAKERS
LEFT SPEAKER RIGHT SPEAKER
A
Y
X
Line X - Y should equal
line A - B. (Line A - B appears
longer in this diagram due
to an optical illusion)
B

S-5000THX & S-150THX satellitespeakers page 8
tweeters at the same height as the listeners' ears. Your speakers have great flexibility in combination with
stands, mounting brackets, or speaker hangers to make this easy to accomplish. Remember that they are
designed to be installed vertically, with the tweeters aimed at the listeners' ears.
They can, however, be placed at virtually any height. This includes sitting directly on the floor, tilted up,
as well as being mounted at ceiling height and tilted down. Just remember that all three speakers should be at
the same height or as close to the same height as possible.
If desired, a slight toe-in of the Left and Right speakers will improve the sound quality for listeners away
fromthecenterposition,andcanoftenimproveimagingandoverallsoundqualitybyreducingtheamountofside
wall reflections reaching all listeners' ears. The S-150 Left and Right speakers give you a built-in toe-in through
their angled front-baffle design. See Figure 3 below for speaker orientation.
For additional information regarding speaker placement, see the THX Installation Manual.
7. USE OF THE "NORMAL"/"SPECIAL"
INPUT SELECTION SWITCH (S-5000 ONLY)
The "NORMAL"/"SPECIAL" Input Selection Switch, found on the back panel of the S-5000, allows for
greater flexibility in the use and installation of the S-5000 speaker. Under most conditions, this switch should
be set to the "NORMAL" position. However, there are specific conditions where the performance of the S-5000
is improved when set to the "SPECIAL" position, such as when the speaker is placed directly against a room
boundary surface (wall, floor, or ceiling).
S-150 Center (tweeters may be
oriented to either left or right)
S-150 Left
(tweeters to outside) S-150 Right (tweeters to outside)
S-150AC
Angled Center
(aiming down
towards listeners)
Television Set
Using S-150AC
Angled Center version
FIGURE 3
S-150 & S-150AC SPEAKER ORIENTATION

S-5000THX & S-150THX satellite speakers page 9
TOP VIEW OF THE FOAM
PIECES PICTURED ON
THE FRONT VIEW.
PLEASE NOTE: THE
ANGLED SIDE OF
THE FOAM MUST
GO TO THE OUTSIDE
OF THE CABINET.
ATTACH THESE TWO
PIECES OF FOAM
TO THE SPEAKER'S
FRONT BAFFLE
WHEN THE SPEAKER
WILL BE USED
WITHOUT A GRILLE
FRONT VIEW TOP VIEW
A. "NORMAL" SWITCH POSITION
When you are using the S-5000 away from walls, the floor, or ceiling, the switch should be set to the
"NORMAL" position. This includes placement on stands, risers, in furniture, suspended from ceilings, etc.
Unlessthe speaker is in directcontactwith a wall, floor, orceiling,use the "NORMAL" switch setting. Ifindoubt,
use the "NORMAL" position or contact the M&K factory for more information.
B. "SPECIAL" SWITCH POSITION
When any loudspeaker is in direct contact with a room boundary surface (wall, floor, or ceiling), its
frequencyresponseismodifiedbythatcontact. Specifically,thatcontactincreasesthebassandmidbassoutput
of the speaker. If a speaker (such as the S-5000) is designed for flat frequency response away from room
surfaces, placing it against a surface may cause its sound to become "muddy" or "boomy".
If you are locating your S-5000s so that they are in contact with a wall, floor, or ceiling, set this switch to
the "SPECIAL" position. This will attenuate the bass and midbass output of the speaker to compensate for the
increased bass produced by the speaker's room location. Feel free to experiment with the switch in both
positions to find the one that gives the flattest response in your room.
UsetheSPECIALpositionifyouareoptimizingyoursystem'sresponsewithaTHXorthird-octaveequalizer
and calibrating that equalizer by using a third-octave analyzer. The SPECIAL position will always maximize
output and dynamic range, and will play the loudest, regardless of the size of amplifier that you are using.
The reason that you may find that the SPECIAL position gives the best response when you are locating
the speaker directly against a wall or directly against the floor or ceiling is because this position is designed to
account for the increase in midbass response that occurs when a speaker is directly against a room surface.
(This is referred to as 2 pi space, in contrast to a speaker located out in a room, which is known as 4 pi space.
The SPECIAL position should be used for 2 pi conditions, and the NORMAL position should be used for 4 pi
conditions).
8. USING THE S-5000 WITHOUT SPEAKER GRILLES
If you look on the front baffle and inside the speaker grilles of your S-5000 speakers, you will find some
unusually-shaped pieces of foam. Do not remove this foam. This special acoustical foam is an integral part
of the speaker and an important element in its performance.
FIGURE 4
USING THE S-5000 WITHOUT GRILLES (FOAM PATTERN)

S-5000THX & S-150THX satellitespeakers page 10
The foam that is located inside the speaker grille is very important. Therefore, any time the S-5000 is used
without its speaker grille, it is very important that that foam be replaced. If your S-5000s are being installed
behindotherclothgrillesinorder to conceal them (or behind a THX front projection screen), the regular speaker
grilles should be removed.
In these cases, please contact the M&K factory at [phone], and we will send, at no charge,
replacement self-adhesive foam pieces that can be easily applied to the cabinet's front baffle. This will replace
the foam normally held in place by the speaker grille and will insure that you get maximum performance from
your S-5000s. If any of the other foam pieces become damaged, please contact us and we will send
replacements.
9. SATELLITE/SUBWOOFER PHASING TEST
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.
HOME THX AUDIO SYSTEM
For a Home THX Audio system, follow the system instructions provided with the THX controller, as you will
need to have correct phase among all the speakers in the system. These instructions will take you through the
front channels, surround channels, and subwoofer.
SATELLITE/SUBWOOFER SYSTEM
IfyouownanM&KTHXPoweredSubwoofer,seeitsowner'smanualforthecorrectprocedureformatching
phasebetween the Satellitesand Subwoofer. Its "SUBWOOFERPHASE"switch makesthisimportant test very
easy. If your subwoofer does not have a "SUBWOOFER PHASE" switch, follow this procedure:
Play a familiar CD, LP, or tape with steady, consistent bass content through your system. Listen carefully
tothe"mid-bass"regionof75-125Hz. Thisisthepartofthespectrumwhereelectricorstringbassesanddrums
predominate. Then, reverse the Positive and Negative speaker inputs on the back of BOTH Satellite speakers.
You can do this at the back of both Satellite speakers, or at the Subwoofer's "TO SPEAKERS" terminals,
but never at both locations. The lead that was on the Positive (+) terminal should be switched to the Negative
(—) terminal, and vice versa.
Now listen to the same musical passage as you did earlier, concentrating on the mid-bass region. If you
hear less bass, the original connections were correct. If you hear more bass, the new connections are 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 from the Subwoofer arrives out of phase with the output of the Satellites. When this happens, that
critical mid-bass is actually cancelled. You should re-do this test any time you move your speakers.
If you want to experiment further, you can move the Satellite speakers either towards or away from your
listening position, making changes in small increments. This will "focus" the system's sound to its optimum.
When you hear the best balance between stereo image localization and maximum impact and output in the mid-
bass, you have the ideal location.
10. SPEAKER DAMAGE & HOW TO AVOID IT
An important factor to consider with any loudspeaker system is the potential for speaker damage. Even
though your speakers have extremely high power handling ability, 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
becausetheamplifierorreceiverusedwasdrivenintoclippingdistortion. Thisdamageisconsideredabuse,and
is not necessarily covered under warranty.
This clipping distortion occurs when the demands of the music are greater than the amplifier's available
power. It can occur at 20 watts with a small amplifier, or at 400 watts with a large amplifier. Regardless, when
this happens, the amplifier's output waveform (which usually looks like a smooth arc) is "clipped" off, exhibiting
a flat top instead of the arc.