Theater® 4 Hybrid "5.2-Set"

This new hybrid system set always has lots of questions accompanying it: 7.2? 5.2? What's the period mean? Wait - you mean I can use a receiver?

Don't worry. Read a bit further and all your questions will be answered...

Formidable sound in every living room
The Theater 4 Hybrid delivers amazing sound quality in rooms from 20 to 50 sqm.

Please note: It's important you check the listening area to calculate the number of square metres you've got to plan for; adjacent areas, such as space around a dining table, are deducted. In especially high ceiling rooms (higher than 3.50 M), multiply in a 1.5 meter adjustment.

Guaranteed HiFi sound - no ifs, ands, or buts
It doesn't matter whether you play home cinema or music on the Theater 4 Hybrid. It's an excellent set to switch to from your old stereo speakers.

Optically a standing speaker - technically a subwoofer/satellite combination
The M 420 F is not a break with the Teufel philosophy of satellites and subwoofer combinations, just a separation from passive mid/high range separation from the accompanying bass speaker.

The M 420 F is technically nothing other than a closed two-way satellite (M 420 C centre speaker) that's set upright on top of a narrow subwoofer - all for one price!

This way the Theater 4 Hybrid operates as a partially active subwoofer/satellite combination with other benefits - such as two subwoofers for the price of one and no additional space needed for a separate bass box! The Theater 4 Hybrid's goal is always original playback quality for the sound the engineer in the studio has created.

Connecting to an AV Receiver
The M 420 F standing speakers freely operate with any commercial AV Receiver. They're treated here as two normal, active subwoofers. You'll need a Y adapter, which doubles the sub-out output of an AV Receiver. A mono RCA cable is connected to each output, which connects the speakers to the AV Receiver.

A "high level" input is found on the back of the speaker. This additional input switch placed on "AV Receiver" ensures optimal filtering and polarity of the subwoofer.

Setup of the AV Receiver
The subwoofer channel should be turned to "on" in the speaker setup. The optimal frequency runs at 100 Hz (though 80 or 120 Hz are also available). The two midrange drivers and tweeter inside the speaker operate as a conventional satellite (which they are). So the setup for the front, rear and centre is the same: "Small" or "Normal", not "Large"!

Connection to a Stereo Amplifier
The M 420 F hybrid speakers are ideal for use as stereo speakers. You can run them with any standard stereo amplifier which will provide you a fantastic bass, powerful midrange and clear uppers. The hybrid speakers are treated as two normal passive stereo speakers and two speaker cables with speaker outputs are used to connect them to the amplifier.

Adaption to your living space
The sound you receive from a speaker is always in context to the space that the speaker occupies. To make optimal use of your space, you can adjust the ratio of the active share of the bass to the high and midrange drivers when in stereo mode in three steps:
-3 dB/0 dB / + 3 dB.

The components
The Theater 4 Hybrid is offered as a 5.2 set with three different speakers: 2 x M 420 F front speakers, 1 x M 420 C centre speaker, and 2 x M 420 R rear speaker.

5.2 instead of 5.1
The number after the period refers to the number of subwoofers included in a system. A 5.1 set has one subwoofer, and the Theater 4 Hybrid set is offered as a 5.2 set - which means you have two active subwoofers in the combination. The 5.2 set delivers the 5.1 sound required from a DVD easily - just know that the LFE (Low Frequency Effects) are played with two subs, not just one.

Expandable to a 7.2 configuration
The 5.2 set reflects all 5.1 tracks and offers an amazing home cinema experience. You can expand the 5.2 set with a "5.2 > 7.2 set" later or immediately with the purchase of two additional satellites.

The 7.2 format utilises two rear channel speakers (called rear centres) to further share the sound. These stereo effect-encoded channels enable a better detection of effects and music by the listener as it is placed directly behind the seated position.

If you expand to the 7.2 set, the exact required sitting placement is no longer so concrete: you can sit where you'd like and provide several more listeners with optimum sound.

A 7.1 or 7.2 combination offers even more when your AV Receiver/amplifier has two additional outputs for the rear centres. You can check this most easily when reading your performance specifications (for example, 7 x 100 watts). This would mean that including the already present rear speakers to the left and right (5.1) are added two rear centres (7.1) for rear listening support.

The setup of a Theater 4 Hybrid as a 5.2 combination

Centre, front and rear
There are still some site criteria to realise the best sound possible in your home cinema area. It's always best to focus on the real "listening area" - so where your TV and your sitting area is located. Centrally position the screen and then place the speakers around it to ensure optimum sound.

The centre speaker occupies a very important position as it's responsible for playback of actor's dialogue. Therefore, these speakers should be as central as possible to your main listening area, and should be positioned so that the language and picture function as a unit. For horizontal or vertical mobility, please note that wall mounting will be needed. The wall mount includes a M6 plug screw for easy fixation.

This plug screw works equally as well for fixing the speaker to the optional stands. The use of a base guarantees optimum playback for the centre, as it is then at the perfect playback height.

The M 420 F front speakers should be at an equal distance to the left and right of the TV or placed on the wall.

The laterally arranged woofers can be faced inside (to the middle of the room) or outside (to the walls). If the woofer is placed next to the wall, expect an increased bass level. Experiment which ratio sounds best to you. Don't forget that you have the ability to drag the level switch into your playback considerations.

The rear speakers are easy to play: left and right behind the seating area (ideally 20 °) offset to the rear. Either at the same height level (on a stand) or higher (up to 2.10 metres) with a wall mount.

A lower placment for the front speakers would not be recommended.

We recommend the M 420 R rear centre speaker's setup distance should amount to more than one metre (A) as well as a height of 1.50 to 2.10 metres. If the distance of the listening area to the rear centre speaker pair is less than a metre (because you sit directly on the sofa in front of the rear panel) we recommend using the speakers as dipoles. The ideal placement system assumes the rear effect speaker are at the side wall (B) next to the listener, and the rear centre speakers on the back wall at a height of 1.50-2.10 metres.

Setup of the Theater 4 Hybrid as a 7.2 configuration

Rear centre speaker
The ideal placement of a 7.2 system works with the idea that the rear effect speakers are installed on the side wall next to the listener, but the rear centres area always behind the listener and placed on the wall at a height of 1.50-2.10 metres.

Please note for 7.1 setup: if you were to draw a line between the speakers of a 7.1 setup, the ideal form would be a trapezoid. Each line within the trapezoid should have a length of over one metre. If the lengths in between the speakers differ, you're most certainly able to tell this from the end sound result. If they do, work on the speaker management with your AV receiver/amplifier (>> speaker setup <<).

General setup of the Theater 4 Hybrid: Theory and practice
These notes will help you setup the perfect multichannel playback in your home. However, you've not always the space, your partner's patience, or the area to allow such optimum placement. Try to meet the above requirements as best you can. Modern AV receivers are electronically able to compensate for any lack in the lineup. When stumped: let your ears and eyes decide.

A fitting AV receiver
The Theater 4 Hybrid can be combined with many different AV receivers. You can find a list of compatible AV receivers to the Theater 4 Hybrid on our homepage, of which all meet any technical requirements the system may have >>

The right cables and accessories
Our Theater 4 Hybrid system needs optimum cables to be able to realise its full potential. Speaker and connector cables to connect the subwoofer and AV receiver are not included in the delivery, as customer needs are so wildly different. Don't worry, though - you can check on our homepage and get cost effective and well designed cables directly from us.

The high quality connection panels of the Teufel speakers allow up to 6 qmm diametre cable connections. Banana plugs can be used. The cable can be twisted and/or briefly stripped before installation.

For the Theater 4 Hybrid, we recommend the 2 x 4 qmm connection cables for connection oft he satellites to the AV receiver/amplifier, two subwoofer cables to connection the active subwoofer and lastly a Y-adapter: you must have one to double sub-out output of the AV receiver for each of the integrated active subwoofers of teh speakers.

You can order these cables to your required lengths and many other accessories on our homepage >>