MK Sound SS-150THX User manual

SS-150THX tripole surround speaker
Miller & Kreisel Sound Corporation
10391 Jefferson Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232 USA
[phone] FAX [phone]
© 1996 MILLER & KREISEL SOUND CORP.
operation
manual
Manufactured under license from Lucasfilm Ltd. U.S. Patent
Nos.5,043,970,5,189,703,and5,222,059. Foreignpatents
pending. Lucasfilm and THX are registered trademarks of
Lucasfilm Ltd.
http://www.mksound.com

SS-150THXsatellitespeaker page 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................3
2. THE HOME THX AUDIO SPEAKER SYSTEM.......................................................3
3. THE TRIPOLE SURROUND SPEAKER DESIGN.......................................................3
4. INSTALLATION OF YOUR SS-150THX SPEAKERS............................................................4
5. SS-150THX SPEAKERHOOK-UP.........................................................................................5
6. PLACEMENT OF THE SS-150THX AS A SURROUND CHANNEL SPEAKER...................7
7. CUSTOM MODES & REMOTE OPERATION...............................................................8
8. SPEAKER PHASING TEST.........................................................................................9
9. SPEAKER DAMAGE & HOW TO AVOID IT.................................................................8
10. IFYOUNEEDSERVICE......................................................................................................10
11. SPECIFICATIONS.........................................................................................................10
12. CABINET MAINTENANCE...........................................................................................10
13. USE WITH OMNIMOUNT BRACKETS.......................................................................10
DIAGRAMS
FIGURE 1 USING THE SS-150THX MOUNTING BRACKETS................................................4
FIGURE 2 BASIC WIRING WITH THE SS-150THX................................................................5
FIGURE 3 WIRING THE SS-150THX FOR TRIPOLE OPERATION....................................6
FIGURE 4 WIRINGTHESS-150THX FORTHXDIPOLEOPERATION......................................6
FIGURE 5 USE OF AN OMNIMOUNT BRACKET..............................................................11

SS-150THXsatellitespeaker page 3
1. INTRODUCTION
Congratulations! Your new M&K SS-150THX Tripole surround speaker will give you years of unmatched
enjoyment and excitement while listening to your favorite musical and audio/video sources, whether in Dolby Digital
or other discrete multichannel digital systems, Dolby Pro-Logic, or your processor's enhanced stereo modes.
Weencourage youtoreadthisowner’s manual,as thereisa greatdeal ofinformationprovided hereto helpyou
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.
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 home
theatre music and video reproduction. The precise and exacting standards developed by Lucasfilm's Home THX
division assure that you will hear every element of film 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.
To do this in a home environment requires different equipment and standards than are found in a THX motion
picture theatre. The standards developed for Home THX Audio are critically important to achieving the 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.THE TRIPOLE SURROUND SPEAKER
The Tripole is a new concept in surround channel speaker design, offering the performance aspects of two
different types of speakers. Think of it as a dipole surround speaker that includes a very high quality direct radiating
speaker in the same cabinet.
Thespeakercanoperateintwomodes:TripoleandDipole. Youcanselectthesemodesbyinsertingorremoving
ajumperonthebackofthespeaker. Theyalsocanbeaccessedbyusinganexternalamplifierswitchbox(notavailable
from M&K). See Section 7 on Page 8 for more information. The mode you should use is dependent on your room
environment, the source material you are playing, and your personal preference.
As a Dipole (the THX configuration), it radiates sound mostly from its left and right baffles, which are at a 15
degree angle to the front baffle. Some sound (in the midbass region) is produced by the front woofer driver.
As a Tripole, the front baffle drivers (direct radiator) operate full range. The side Dipole drivers also operate, so
sound is radiated on three axis. This means that the speaker can simultaneously produce a directional stereo image
inthesurroundchannels and anenvelopingsoundthatwrapsaroundthelisteners. Thedirectionalqualitiesandstereo
imaging may be preferred for playing back the "split" (stereo) surrounds of 5.1 channel discrete digital recordings
The Tripole mode is not necessarily better than the Dipole mode for 5.1 channel material.
We strongly recommend experimentation to see which mode works best in your listening environment.

SS-150THXsatellitespeaker page 4
FIGURE 1
USINGTHE SS-150THX MOUNTING BRACKET
Most users will set the speaker to a single mode for all playback, and we recommend that the choice be made
based upon room conditions. Still, some users may prefer the Dipole mode for some material and the Tripole mode
for other material. If you have questions regarding this, please contact your M&K dealer or the M&K factory.
4. INSTALLATION OF YOUR SS-150THX SPEAKERS
YourM&KSS-150THXscanbeinstalledinavarietyofways. Choosingthecorrectlocation,however,isimportant.
READ SECTION 6 (page 7) BEFORE DECIDING WHERE TO INSTALL YOUR SS-150THXs.
Theycan beplacedontallstands (M&KST series);shelvesor bookcases;or morepermanentlymounted using
bracketsora ceilingsuspensionsystem. Tomake theirinstallationaseasyaspossible,we haveprovidedanintegral
flush-mountbracketthatallowsyouto installthe SS-150THX quicklyandsecurely. Integralmountinghardwareisalso
providedfor an Omnimount50 series mountingbracket. Remember that when the speaker is installed above the
listeners' heads, the tweeter should be at the bottom.
YourSS-150THX speakershaveoneflush-mountwallbracketattachedtoeachcabinet,mountedonthesidethat
sits against the side wall. Also enclosed is a kit consisting of two matching brackets that attach directly to the wall,
as well as all necessary mounting screws and drywall inserts.
In order to use these brackets, see Figure 1 and the enclosed template, and then follow these instructions. The
initial step is to determine where you will locate your SS-150THXs. See Section 6 (page 7), for guidelines on where
tolocate thespeakers. Then,using thetemplate sheetenclosed(which isreproducedbelow),markholes onthewall
where the brackets will be permanently mounted. We strongly recommend that the bracket be mounted into a wall
stud. Thiswillprovidethemostsecuremounting. Whenlocatingthemountingholesintothestud,firstlocateitscenter.
Please use the separate enclosed sheet to mount the speaker to the wall. The reproduction of the sheet
that appears below is not to scale and is reproduced only for reference.

SS-150THXsatellitespeaker page 5
If you are mounting the bracket to a wall stud, drill two 3/32" holes per bracket. Remember that the wallboard
material is 1/2" or 5/8" inches thick, and you will drill through this before meeting the stud. If you are mounting the
bracket to drywall with the plastic anchors, drill two 1/4" pilot holes per bracket. Once all holes have been drilled,
remove the template from the wall. Press the plastic wall anchors into the 1/4" pilot holes until they are flush with the
wall. Tap them gently into place if necessary. Tape the four corners of the template sheet to the wall in the location
youhaveselected,usingacarpenter'sleveltomakesurethelinemarked"LEVELTEMPLATETOTHISLINE"islevel.
The template sheet has locations marked for two mounting holes for the bracket needed to hang the SS-150THXs.
Onceyouareabsolutelycertainthatyouhavethecorrectlocation,youarereadytodrillthepilotholes. Goahead
and drill right through the paper template into the wall. Re-check your measurements (especially making sure the
holes are level) at least once before drilling. Follow the instructions on the template.
WARNING:IT IS POSSIBLE THATELECTRICALWIRINGMAY BE LOCATEDBEHINDTHEWALL AT THE
LOCATION THAT YOU HAVE SELECTED. BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL ANY TIME YOU DRILL INTO A WALL.
Once the holes are drilled, place one bracket against the wall, making sure that the "tongue" (the portion that
engages the bracket on the speaker) is facing away from the wall and pointing up. Using the two #6 - 1 3/4" wood
screws provided, fasten this bracket to the wall. BE VERY CAREFUL. DO NOT FORCE THE PLASTIC ANCHORS
THROUGH THE WALL OR OVERTIGHTEN THE SCREWS. Install the second bracket in the same fashion.
That's it! All that is left for you to do is attach the speaker wire to the input terminals (Section 5, below), and,
from the top, gently slide the speaker into place against the wall. Do the same for the other channel.
5. SS-150THX SPEAKER HOOK-UP
LEFT SURROUND SPEAKER / RIGHT SURROUND SPEAKER
YourSS-150THXscomeinleftandrightchannelversions. Externally, bothspeakersmay appeartobeidentical,
but in fact it is critical that the correct speaker be used in each channel.
Onthebackofthespeakerisalabelwithanarrowprintedwiththenomenclature "PointArrowTowardsScreen."
Toproperly installthe SS-150THXs,make surethat thearrow printedoneachspeakerisorientedproperly. When the
speakers are on the side walls, the arrows should be pointed towards the television screen. When the speakers are
mountedonthebackwall,thearrowsshouldpointtothenearestcorner. Thearrowswillnotbevisibleoncethespeaker
is installed.
WIRING THE SS-150THX
The Positive ( + ) lead from your surround channel amplifier or receiver should be connected to the RED ( + )
FIGURE 2
BASIC WIRING
WITH THE SS-150THX
(one channel only
is shown for clarity)
MADE IN USA
SS-150 THX TRIPOLE
SURROUND SPEAKER
MILLER & KREISEL
SOUND CORPORATION
10391 Jefferson Boulevard., Culver City, CA 90232
Voice [phone] Fax [phone]
Manufactured under license from Lucasfilm Ltd.
U.S. Patent Nos. 5,043,970; 5,109,416; 5,189,703;
and 5,222,059. Foreign patents pending. Lucasfilm
and THX are registered trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd.
INPUT
4 ohms
FOR TRIPOLE
OPERATION:
install jumper
between
terminals
3 and 4
DO NOT CONNECT YOUR
AMPLIFIER TO TWO RED
TERMINALS.
1
3
2
4
FOR THX
(DIPOLE)
OPERATION:
remove jumper
between
terminals
3 and 4
Connect your
amplifier to
terminals
1 and 2.
For remote control operation,
see your owner's manual.
AMPLIFIER
RIGHT SURROUND
+
_+
_
LEFT SURROUND

SS-150THXsatellitespeaker page 6
"INPUT" terminal labelled "1", and the Negative ( — ) lead from your amplifier or receiver should be connected to the
BLACK ( — ) "INPUT" terminal labelled "2". See Figure 2 on Page 5.
TRIPOLE OR DIPOLE OPERATION
To operate in the Tripole mode, the jumper between the terminals labelled "3" and "4" must be in place. To
operatethespeakerintheTHXDipolemode,thejumperbetweentheterminalslabelled"3"and"4"mustberemoved.
Do not throw away or lose this jumper. See Figures 3 and 4 on page 6.
VERY IMPORTANT:
The sensitivity of the speaker is slightly higher in the Tripole position. For critical listening, when
switching from one mode to another, you should re-calibrate the level of the surround channels.
Disconnect the
Jumper between
terminals 3 and 4
MADE IN USA
SS-150 THX TRIPOLE
SURROUND SPEAKER
MILLER & KREISEL
SOUND CORPORATION
10391 Jefferson Boulevard., Culver City, CA 90232
Voice [phone] Fax [phone]
Manufactured under license from Lucasfilm Ltd.
U.S. Patent Nos. 5,043,970; 5,109,416; 5,189,703;
and 5,222,059. Foreign patents pending. Lucasfilm
and THX are registered trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd.
INPUT
4 ohms
FOR TRIPOLE
OPERATION:
install jumper
between
terminals
3 and 4
DO NOT CONNECT YOUR
AMPLIFIER TO TWO RED
TERMINALS.
1
3
2
4
FOR THX
(DIPOLE)
OPERATION:
remove jumper
between
terminals
3 and 4
Connect your
amplifier to
terminals
1 and 2.
For remote control operation,
see your owner's manual.
AMPLIFIER
RIGHT SURROUND
+
_+
_
LEFT SURROUND
FIGURE 3
WIRINGTHE SS-150THX FORTHX (DIPOLE) OPERATION
(one channel only is shown for clarity)
FIGURE 4
WIRINGTHE SS-150THX FORTRIPOLE OPERATION
(one channel only is shown for clarity)
MADE IN USA
SS-150 THX TRIPOLE
SURROUND SPEAKER
MILLER & KREISEL
SOUND CORPORATION
10391 Jefferson Boulevard., Culver City, CA 90232
Voice [phone] Fax [phone]
Manufactured under license from Lucasfilm Ltd.
U.S. Patent Nos. 5,043,970; 5,109,416; 5,189,703;
and 5,222,059. Foreign patents pending. Lucasfilm
and THX are registered trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd.
INPUT
4 ohms
FOR TRIPOLE
OPERATION:
install jumper
between
terminals
3 and 4
DO NOT CONNECT YOUR
AMPLIFIER TO TWO RED
TERMINALS.
1
3
2
4
FOR THX
(DIPOLE)
OPERATION:
remove jumper
between
terminals
3 and 4
Connect your
amplifier to
terminals
1 and 2.
For remote control operation,
see your owner's manual.
AMPLIFIER
RIGHT SURROUND
+
_+
_
LEFT SURROUND
Connect the
Jumper between
terminals 3 and 4

SS-150THXsatellitespeaker page 7
6. PLACEMENT OFTHE SS-150THX AS A
SURROUND CHANNEL SPEAKER
Thisspeakerisdesignedtobeorientedwiththefronttweeterclosesttothelisteners. Whenthespeaker
is mounted above the listeners' heads, make certain that the tweeter on the front baffle is at the bottom. If
the speaker is mounted below listeners' heads, the tweeter should be at the top.
Your SS-150THX speakers are designed to be used as surround channel speakers, especially in a Home THX
system,playingDolbyDigital,otherdiscretedigital,orPro-Logicsources. TheSS-150THXwillachieveexcellentresults
in non-THX systems as well. While not specifically designed to be used as front channel or as stand-alone stereo
speakers, feel free to experiment with them. The instructions given here apply to surround channel applications
(including use for multi-channel music modes such as ambience recovery or acoustical environment synthesis).
The surround channels can be installed in a wide variety of locations, but in some environments, they are a
challenge to install. If you have questions, please call the M&K factory. We will be happy to discuss them with you.
PLACEMENT WHEN USED IN THX DIPOLE MODE
In general, the SS-150THXs should be located relatively high on the side walls of the room, to the sides of the
listeningposition. Infact, thekey to placementof the SS-150THXsinTHX modeis that theyradiate sound tothe front
and the rear of the room, as opposed to directly at the listeners. Therefore the speakers should be directly to the left
and to the right of the listeners, which places the listeners in the NULL of the speaker radiation pattern.
Thisconfigurationpreventslistenersfromlocalizingthesurroundspeakersasadirectsourceofsound. Instead,
theyareenvelopedbyadiffuseambientsoundfield,hearingonlyindirectsoundreflectedfromvariousroomsurfaces.
a. POSITION RELATIVE TO SEATING
In THX Dipole mode, the SS-150THX speakers should be located on the side walls adjacent to the seating
position. If there is one row of seats, the SS-150THXs should be located directly to the left and to the right of this row
of seats. If there are multiple rows of seats, then the SS-150THXs should be located directly to the left and right of
the geometric center of the listening area.
If the SS-150THXs cannot be located directly to the sides of the seating area, it is better for them to be towards
the back of the room, behind the listening position, rather than in the front of the room. You want to avoid having the
surrounds producing sound in front of the listeners, which would be between the listening position and the screen.
b. HEIGHT
TheSS-150THX shouldbelocatedabovethelisteners'heads.Preferablythecabinet'sbottomwillbeatleasttwo
feetaboveaseatedlistener's head. Infact,ifat allpossible,thespeakersshould belocatedabovestandinglisteners'
heads, so that people walking around the room will also hear an enveloping sound and will be unable to localize the
speakers. Remember that this speaker should produce an enveloping, non-directional sound, so there is no
requirement that it be located particularly close to the listeners.
For additional information regarding speaker placement, see your dealer and the THX Installation Manual.
PLACEMENT WHEN USED IN TRIPOLE MODE
In Tripole mode, the SS-150THXs are less critical of placement. They still should be located high on the wall, to
thesidesorbehindthelisteningposition.Theycanbemountedonthebackwalloftheroom.TheTripolemoderadiates
soundtothefrontandthe rearof theroominadditiontodirectlyatthelisteners. The usualinstallation willbe mounted
flush on the side or back wall of the room, but improved results may be obtained by angling them either towards or
awayfrom themain listeningposition. If youwant amore directionalsound quality,point thefront bafflemore directly
towards the listeners. If you want a more diffuse sound quality, point the front baffle towards the back wall.
a. POSITION RELATIVE TO SEATING
In Tripole mode, the SS-150THX speakers can be located either adjacent to or behind the seating position. For
maximum enveloping quality, with one row of seats, the SS-150THXs should be located directly to the left and to the
right of this row of seats. If there are multiple rows of seats, then the SS-150THXs would then be located directly to
the left and right of the geometric center of the listening area.
If they cannot be located exactly adjacent to the seating area, it is better for them to be located slightly towards
theback oftheroom,behindthe listeningpositions, ratherthanin thefront oftheroom, betweenthe listeningposition
and the screen.
b. HEIGHT
The SS-150THX should be located relatively close to the ceiling. Placement above the listeners' heads is very

SS-150THXsatellitespeaker page 8
important,preferablywiththecabinet'sbottomatleasttwofeetaboveaseatedlistener'shead. Infact,itisevenbetter
ifthespeakersarelocatedabovestandinglisteners'heads,forwhenlistenersarestandingorwalkingaroundtheroom.
c. WALL LOCATION
The SS-150THX can be mounted on either the side walls or on the back wall, or even directly in a corner. They
can be flush on the wall, on shelves, on brackets, etc. The Tripole's great flexibility makes it very forgiving of room
placement that is less than optimum.
The Tripole will give you a combination of an enveloping sound with directionality. You will hear directional
effects, and even imaging when the recording has these qualities. Yet at the same time you will also hear a diffuse
sound from the Dipole drivers mounted on the left and right cabinet baffles.
If the sound lacks the directionality you desire, point the front baffles directly at the main listening position.
Omnimountbrackets are veryuseful for this. Ifthe soundis too directional,angle thespeakers towards theback wall
or the side wall surface directly behind them. By reflecting sound behind the listening position, you may increase the
sense of envelopment in the sound.
d. USE OF MULTIPLE PAIRS OF SURROUNDS
Some listeners prefer multiple pairs of surround speakers. In very large rooms, this may even be necessary.
Multiplespeakerscanmakeadramatic improvementandprovideabroaderand deepersurroundeffect. Whenusing
multiple pairs of surround speakers, a symmetrical installation pattern works best. For example, one pair could be
mountedon thebackwall ofthe room,mountedequidistant fromthebackcorners,with theotherpair mountedon the
side walls of the room, equidistant from the same back corners. When using two pairs of Tripoles, make sure that
thespeakersontheback wallhave theirarrowslabelled"PointArrowAtScreen" pointedat thesidewallsoftheroom.
7. CUSTOM MODES & REMOTE OPERATION
IMPORTANT: The following options are provided for enthusiasts and installers
who wish to experiment with their systems.
The design of the SS-150THX provides a tremendous amount of flexibility. Because it is designed as if it is two
separate speakers (a Direct radiator and a Dipole), you can independently vary the amount of output from either the
Direct radiator or the Dipole elements.
By adjusting the ratio of sound produced by these elements, you can fine-tune the speaker to your listening
environment or personal preference. You make these adjustments by choosing which input terminals, jumpers, and
(if desired) resistors are used to connect the speaker to the amplifier.
PLEASE NOTE: The sensitivity of the speaker is slightly different in each of these modes. For critical listening,
when switching from one mode to another, you should re-calibrate the level of the surround channels.
Regardless of configuration, the Ground (-) lead from the amplifier must connect to Terminal 2.
a. THX Dipole Mode
Seepage6.TooperateintheDipole(THX)mode,connectthepositive(+)leadtoTerminal1. Usenojumper.
b. Tripole Mode
See page 6. To operate in the Tripole mode, must connect the positive (+) lead to Terminal 1 and insert the
jumper between terminals 3 and 4.
c. Tripole With Attenuated Dipole Elements
Compared to the standard Tripole configuration, the output from the Direct (front) drivers will be unchanged,
but there will be significantly reduced output from the Dipole (side) drivers.
Toattenuatethe Dipoleelements, connect thepositive (+) leadto Terminal3,and insertthe jumper between
terminal 3 and 4.
d. Tripole With Adjustable Attenuated Direct Radiator
Compared to the standard Tripole configuration, the output from the Dipole (side) drivers will be unchanged,
butthere willbe reducedoutputfromtheDirect drivers. Thisconfiguration willgive youasound morelike the
THX Dipole configuration.
ToadjusttheattenuationoftheDirectRadiatorelement,connectthepositive(+)leadtoTerminal1andinsert
a5wattresistorbetweenterminals3and4. Theresistorcanbeanyvaluebetween2and11ohms. Thelarger
the value of the resistor, the greater the attenuation.
e. Tripole With Adjustable Attenuated Dipole

SS-150THXsatellitespeaker page 9
Toadjusttheattenuationofthe Dipoleelement,connect thepositive(+) leadtoTerminal 3andinserta5watt
resistor between terminals 3 and 4. The resistor can be any value between 2 and 11 ohms. The larger the
value of the resistor, the greater the attenuation.
f. Tripole With Maximum Output From All Drivers (2.4 ohm impedance)
Compared to the standard Tripole configuration, the output from the Dipole (side) drivers will be unchanged,
but there will be significantly greater output from the Direct (front) drivers.
To get maximum output from all drivers, connect the (+) lead from the amplifier to Terminal 1. Connect a
jumper wire between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. CAUTION: This configuration presents a 2.4 ohm load
to the amplifier. Do not use this configuration unless your amplifier is rated to 2 ohms.
g. Direct Radiator Only Mode
There will be very little (virtually no) output from the Dipole (side) drivers.
To operate as a Direct Radiator, connect the (+) lead from the amplifier to Terminal 3. Use no jumper.
Remember, regardless of configuration, the Ground (-) lead must always connect to Terminal 2.
REMOTE SWITCHING OF MODES
If you want to be able to switch between any of the above modes, you can do so by using a speaker level switch
box. The specific instructions will vary according to the particular switcher you are using and the , so this is section
is intended to be general in nature.
Forexample,to switchbetweenTHXDipole modeandTripolemode,connectonewire betweenTerminal3and
theswitcher Input. Connecta separatewire betweenTerminal 4and oneof theswitcher outputs.For theTHX Dipole
mode, the switcher output connected to Terminal 4 should be turned off. For the Tripole mode, the switcher output
should be turned on. Nothing else should be connected to the switch box, especially your amplifier.
As another example, you can also use a switcher to direct the (+) signal from the amplifier to either Terminal 1
or Terminal 3, to switch between some of the custom modes described above.
CAUTION: DO NOT WIRE THE SWITCH BOX SO TERMINAL 2 CAN BE CONNECTED TO ANY OTHER
TERMINAL. If Terminal 2 is connected to Terminal 1, 3, or 4, the output of the power amplifier will be shorted,
which will almost certainly damage the amplifier.
8. SPEAKER PHASING TEST
In any system using a subwoofer separate from Satellite speakers, especially in multi-channel surround sound
applications, a phasing test must be performed to insure proper phase in the system, in order to achieve optimum
sound in the critical bass frequencies.
Therefore,youmusthavecorrectphaseamongallthespeakersinthesystem. Werecommendusingatestdisc
tocomparethephaseofthefrontchannels,surroundchannels,andsubwoofer. Testbycomparingthephasebetween
individual channels (starting with the front right and left) until you have established that all units have identical phase.
9. SPEAKER DAMAGE & HOWTO AVOID IT
Animportant factortoconsider withanyspeaker systemisthe potentialforspeaker damage. Eventhoughyour
SS-150THXs have high power handling ability, they still can be damaged by relatively low powered amplifiers.
While very few M&K speakers ever need service, the vast majority of those returned are not for manufacturing
defects. Instead,theyarereturnedbecausetheyhavebeenoverdriven,andalmostalwaysbecausetheamplifierused
was driven into clipping distortion. This damage is abuse, and is not necessarily covered under warranty.
This distortion occurs when the demands of the music are greater than the amplifier's power. It can occur at 20
wattswithasmallamplifier,orat400wattswithalargeamplifier. Regardless,whenthishappens,theamplifier'soutput
waveform (which usually looks like a smooth arc) is "clipped" off, exhibiting a flat top instead of the arc.
Thisflat topcontains multiplesof theoriginal amplifiedfrequencies,sometimesathigher levelsthan theoriginal
signal itself. For tweeters, this can be very damaging, as this distortion is well above the audible range, where you
will be unable to hear it, and where the tweeter is more vulnerable to damage.
When an amplifier clips, its sound becomes harsh and grating, and a break-up is often audible in the bass
frequencies. It will become uncomfortable to listen to, compared to a slightly lower volume level. When you are
listening at high volume levels, be aware of the onset of clipping distortion, and turn the volume down slightly if the

SS-150THXsatellitespeaker page 10
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
amplifier. Ifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutthis,pleasecontactM&K,andwewillbehappytodiscussitwithyoufurther.
10. IFYOU NEED SERVICE
Contactyourdealer orM&Kwith acompletedescriptionof theproblem. Pleasehave theunit'smodeland 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 5:00PM Pacific Time,Monday throughFriday, at [phone]. If youcall outside thesehours, leave
a message, and we will return your call.
DO NOT RETURN YOUR SPEAKERS TO THE FACTORY FOR
SERVICE WITHOUT OBTAINING PRIOR AUTHORIZATION.
Your SS-500THX speakers carry a five year limited parts and labor warranty. This warranty is transferable to
new owners. It does not cover abuse, misuse, repairs by unauthorized service stations, speakers without serial
numbers, and those damaged in shipping or by accident. If you have warranty questions, please contact M&K.
11. SPECIFICATIONS
IMPEDANCE: 4 ohms
MINIMUM POWER: 10 watts RMS
RECOMMENDED POWER: 50 watts RMS to 200 watts RMS
MAXIMUM POWER: 200 watts RMS unclipped peaks
FREQUENCY RESPONSE:80Hz - 20 KHz (high frequencies above 8 KHz are not rolled off)
12. CABINET MAINTENANCE
Treat the cabinet as you would any piece of fine furniture. Its painted black or white finish does not require any
specialmaintenance; regulardusting witha lint-free clothand periodic cleaningis allthatis required. Matchingpaint
can be used if necessary to repair any surface damage.
13. USE WITH OMNIMOUNT®BRACKETS
TheSS-150THX containsa threaded(3/8") insert,located on thespeaker's backbaffle. This allows thespeaker
tobe securely fastenedto wall-mountbrackets offeredby OmnimountSystems. Theappropriate bracketis aspecial
order part of the 50 series, known as the 53-RST. This part (order the 53-RST) is available from M&K Sound.
For more information, including alternate mounting configurations such as ceiling mounts, contact Omnimount