Denon 3500

[Old Onkyo]

I finally connected this receiver. Ehh! Sound is all right, I am hoping I missed something.

1. I did not connect to ARC, using hdmi and optical cable for sound.

2. I have not run Audyssey yet. Tried to manually set speakers, test tone was not loud enough to hit 75 dB on my meter.

3. Music sounds great at low volume, but not so good when pushed.

4. I thought about changing the impedance to 4 ohms, but I read an article adding against it.

5. Right now I feel like I purchased a lot of computer but a little receiver. All the apps and connectivity are cute but....

 

[-Jim-]

Hopefully we can help you out here as you must be as frustrated as hell.

When I get a new receiver I typically connect the Fronts only first and try a decent stereo sound source. Then add the Sub. I suggest you start like that. The Denon 3500 should have more than enough power to light up your speakers.

Your B&W DM603 S3 loudspeaker Specifications:

"2½"-way vented-box loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) aluminum-dome tweeter, 6.5" (165mm) woven-Kevlar cone bass/midrange, 6.5" (165mm) aluminum-cone woofer. Crossover frequencies: 150Hz, 4kHz. Frequency response: 44Hz–22kHz, ±3dB on reference axis. Frequency range: –6dB at 34Hz and 42kHz. Dispersion within 2dB of response on reference axis: over 40° arc horizontal, over 10° arc vertical. Sensitivity: 90dB/2.83V/m. Impedance: 8 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum. Power handling: 25–150W into 8 ohms on unclipped program. Harmonic distortion: second and third harmonics, <1%, 55Hz–20kHz (90dB SPL, 1m). Maximum recommended cable impedance: 0.1 ohm.

 

[Old Onkyo]

I ran Audyssey, it measured all the speakers correctly except it doubled the subwoofer’s distance. I corrected it manually. Audyssey set all my speakers at -6 or -7. Sub was -7, I set it to -3. I have to admit it is a better blend, I can’t tell it’s on until it hits.
Watching Spider-Man homecoming.

 

[ryanosaur]

It's very common for the subwoofer distance to be set further away because of the Digital Signal Processing that takes place in the Sub's Plate Amp. The Distance adjustment affects delay time. My bass response improved significantly when I let Audyssey correct for that. I still turned Aud. off, maintaining the levels and distance calibration it set (which for my subs was about twice as far away as they physically are).

 

[lovinthehd]

When trying manual setup did the volume adjustment affect test tone level?

 

[Old Onkyo]

Hopefully we can help you out here as you must be as frustrated as hell.

When I get a new receiver I typically connect the Fronts only first and try a decent stereo sound source. Then add the Sub. I suggest you start like that. The Denon 3500 should have more than enough power to light up your speakers.

Thanks Jim, when I try to configure the speakers manually the test tones won’t get to 75db, which is where the speakers should be set according to the manual.

 

[Old Onkyo]

It's very common for the subwoofer distance to be set further away because of the Digital Signal Processing that takes place in the Sub's Plate Amp. The Distance adjustment affects delay time. My bass response improved significantly when I let Audyssey correct for that. I still turned Aud. off, maintaining the levels and distance calibration it set (which for my subs was about twice as far away as they physically are).

That’s what happened to me. It definitely sounds better blended.

 

[Old Onkyo]

When trying manual setup did the volume adjustment affect test tone level?

I will check today.

 

[Leemix]

Its a good idea to listen both with and without Adyssey EQ active. Some like with and some like it turned off. (Its on or off per source input so easy to have on for movies and off for music feks.)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Old Onkyo]

I will check today.

Yes

 

[rom3]

On recent Denons the test tones are tied in to the master volume. Raise the master volume up to 0dB (if using the relative scale, ie. -10 = 10 dB below reference) before checking the test tones. Unfortunately, I believe the test tones generated by the AVR do not go through Audyssey EQ processing so won't necessarily be accurate depending on cuts/boosts that Audyssey is applying throughout the frequency range.

Also agree with ryanosaur regarding the sub distance. Audyssey is measuring the time delay (expressed in feet/meters) which can increase vs. actual physical distance due to signal processing. In my setup, it adds 3' to each of my SVS-SB2000 subs. I still end up needing to ADD about 3' additional to the distance to get rid of a dip around the crossover point ("distance tweak") verified with REW measurements. YMMV.

 

[Old Onkyo]

On recent Denons the test tones are tied in to the master volume. Raise the master volume up to 0dB (if using the relative scale, ie. -10 = 10 dB below reference) before checking the test tones. Unfortunately, I believe the test tones generated by the AVR do not go through Audyssey EQ processing so won't necessarily be accurate depending on cuts/boosts that Audyssey is applying throughout the frequency range.

Also agree with ryanosaur regarding the sub distance. Audyssey is measuring the time delay (expressed in feet/meters) which can increase vs. actual physical distance due to signal processing. In my setup, it adds 3' to each of my SVS-SB2000 subs. I still end up needing to ADD about 3' additional to the distance to get rid of a dip around the crossover point ("distance tweak") verified with REW measurements. YMMV.

Thanks, I will try it today.

 

[PENG]

If you sit no further than 10 ft, for stereo music listening, you should be able to get very decent sound quality. Adding a high end separate amp will only get you more headroom if you like to listen at or near ref level. I have compared the 3400 to my separates, so it know a little about that
..

If you run Audyssey correctly, at volume 0 you should get 71 to 75 dB from the main mic position using c scale. The older models seemed to be closer to 75 dB.

 

[lovinthehd]

If you sit no further than 10 ft, for stereo music listening, you should be able to get very decent sound quality. Adding a high end separate amp will only get you more headroom if you like to listen at or near ref level. I have compared the 3400 to my separates, so it know a little about that
..

If you run Audyssey correctly, at volume 0 you should get 71 to 75 dB from the main mic position using c scale. The older models seemed to be closer to 75 dB.

If you run Audyssey volume 0 should get you (with movies recorded to the standards) 85 dB average and allowance for 20dB peaks. Or are you referring to the test tones?

 

[PENG]

If you run Audyssey volume 0 should get you (with movies recorded to the standards) 85 dB average and allowance for 20dB peaks. Or are you referring to the test tones?

Yes, op referred to test tone so I referred to test tone.

 

[lovinthehd]

Yes, op referred to test tone so I referred to test tone.

I was confused as you said running Audyssey, which would negate using the test tones or consider their volume...unless you want to just measure what they're doing while running Audyssey

 

[PENG]

I was confused as you said running Audyssey, which would negate using the test tones or consider their volume...unless you want to just measure what they're doing while running Audyssey

Not really, it doesn't negate the fact that Audyssey would set the levels such that are volume 0, the AVR generated test tone will be about 75 dB loud (a little lower for the newer models for whatever reason) at the main mic position.

 

[lovinthehd]

I just meant in terms of manual setup....

 

[PENG]

I just meant in terms of manual setup....

Agreed, if the op is talking about manual, then he should forget about the 75 dB number because it depends on his speakers, room, distance etc.

 

[Old Onkyo]

I was talking about manual set up. Using my Radio Shack spl meter, I turned all speakers up to 75db. This equaled +6/+6.5. Audyssey set them all at -6/-6.6. It sounds good either way.
I set the receiver at 4ohms. Thicker, clearer, more powerful sound. Music is nice.
The multi channel stereo sounds the best. The rest of those listening modes sound like garbage.
I listen to Donald Fagen -Kamakiriad as my test cd.