Yamaha RX-A830 7.1 Surround Sound?

[BriDown]

Hello everyone, thanks for looking. Recent lurker and first time poster. Here we go... I got the Yamaha A830 a few days ago, overall I am very pleased with my purchase but have a few questions and small issues. First, my setup is as follows- A830, 7 x Polk Audio Monitor 35b's, Polk Audio DSW Pro 550wi. I am very pleased with this medium budget setup, it blows away my previous AV System. Configuration info- the source signal is coming from a DirecTv, HR34-700. It is set to output Dolby Digital. I have my Blu-Ray and DTV going into the a830 HDMI 1 and 2, respectively. A830 HDMI 2 output to television. Yamaha receiver automatically changes the digital output according to the input- DD, DTrue, DTS... etc. Here is my issue- after setting things up with YPAO in 7.1 configuration and applying Pro Logic IIx for 7.1, my SR/L and SBL/R speakers are barely audible. The set db levels are-

FL= 0.0
Center= -2.0
FR= -0.5
SR= 0.0
SBR= 2.0
SBL- -1.5
SL= 2.5
Sub= 1.0

When I play White Noise, all the speakers sound well balanced(by ear). The Surround Speakers and Surround Back Speakers sound equal to the Front's and Center. What is going on? Should I adjust the db levels of the problem surround speakers? Is this the result of PL IIx processing 7.1? I was under the impression that you used Pro Logic IIx to process sound from 5.1 to 7.1 channels. Is there another way to get 7.1 channels from the AV Receiver?


What can I do here?

EDIT: I am unable to locate the Sub-woofer LPF setting on the A830. Does anyone who has experience with this model know where it is? Or is it set to 120 by default?


Thanks so much,

Brian

 

[markw]

There's not really a lot that is supposed to come out of the rear surrounds.

That all channels sound when in the test mode is a sign that it's set up correctly.

Movies use them only occasionally for ambiance/spatial/dramatic effect. Most of the sound comes from the front, the center mainly.

Most music sources (tuner, CD, tape, MP3) are two channel and that only uses the front right and left speakers.

Now, if your receiver has some sort of "All channel stereo" or some such mode (most do - check your manual) in your surround settings it will force "stuff" to come out of all channels at all times when you have a two channel source. It's not real multi channel, but you will use all the channels you paid for.

But, you may find that you actually prefer the pure two channel sound that the source was recorded in. Some do, myself included but it's your system to enjoy as you please. If many people didn't like these other modes they wouldn't put them in these things..

 

[herbu]

my SR/L and SBL/R speakers are barely audible.

"Barely audible" when listening to what, and with what settings on the A830?
Like markw said, when listening to TV or movies, you will hear little from the sides, even less from the rears. Plus, your receiver default for music may be stereo... and even the Dolby and NEO settings for music only simulate echoes and reflections like you might hear if listening to live music on a stage in some kind of auditorium.

The Yamaha gives you choices of simulated concert halls, from great big high ceiling rooms to small coffee shop rooms. Each simulates different levels of echo and sound reflection from the walls & ceiling. They are all described in the manual.

If you really want equal output from all speakers, use the Multi-Channel or All-Channel setting. It will output stereo, but send "left" to all your left side speakers, and "right" to all your right side speakers equally. I use it occasionally when I have people over and want to fill the room w/ low volume music without having a loud spot near my front speakers. Plus you can use it to verify all speakers really are doing what the White Noise tells you they're doing during setup.