Speakers

Speakers were their own row, separate from the receivers that drive them and from the all-in-one theater boxes. The two figures that decide a match are impedance and sensitivity.

Impedance, often 8 ohms or 4 ohms, is what the receiver is built to drive. A 4-ohm speaker on a receiver rated only for 8 ohms runs the amplifier hot. Sensitivity is how loud the speaker gets for a given watt. A low-sensitivity speaker needs a stronger receiver to reach the same volume. Bookshelf, floor-standing, and center-channel speakers were all this row. The center channel sits on its side and should be aimed at ear height. A subwoofer is powered from the wall and takes a line-level cable from the receiver. It does not use the same speaker posts as the fronts unless the sub is a passive box, which is the less common kind on this shelf.