Denon AVC-X3700H setup low quality

[Fletch8448]

Hi,

I’ve only had one surround sound setup in the past. I had it for twenty years and it sounded great. Kenwood amp with Bose Acoustimas 5.1. I only watched/listened to blu-rays through it.

As I’ve moved house I thought it was an opportunity to replace the system. Opting for a 5.1.4 setup.

I’ve got 5 Gallo Micro SE’s wired to a Denon AVC-X3700H.

I’ve got a MA MRW10 sub but the cables not arrived so it’s not yet connected. I’ve got 4 x MA C165 for the ceiling but I’ve not installed them yet.

So currently it’s just the Denon and the five gallo’s.
I’ve connected the Denon using Arc to my Sony KD55XG8505BU TV (5 years old). The HDMI is 2.1.

Ive so far only listened to Netflix and I’m underwhelmed with the quality. It’s quiet, a little muffled, flat and not what I was hoping for.

I know I have the Atmos and sub to add yet but this five speaker setup is the base of the system and should sound better.

is the tv too old now?

Do you have any recommendations?

I will dig out my Blu-ray player tomorrow and see if that’s better.

 

[Leemix]

You are replacing highly colored bose speakers with some tiny speakers that have 0 low end, you really need one or 2 good subs with that and then listen, there is no point until the sub is connected. Its a for looks system but so were the bose but manage expectations appropriatly.


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[Fletch8448]

Thank you for your reply.

I have listened to Music as well, Amazon music via Heos and it sounds great.

So I’m not sure the speakers are an issue.

it’s more when watching TV (Netflix, Prime, Disney +). I can’t make out what’s being said sometimes, like they are mumbling.

 

[lovinthehd]

Did you run Audyssey? How are the speakers positioned? Center dialog you might try raising the center's level up a bit. Sometimes with newer movies the dialog can be hard to make out as a deliberate thing....artistic choice.

I'd agree that these small speakers on their own likely won't do a lot without the subs.

ps Might want to check audio settings in the various apps, too. Are these tv apps fed back to the avr via ARC?

 

[Fletch8448]

Thanks,

Ive not run Audyssey. It was too loud for my children sleeping in the room above so something else for tomorrow.

I know the sub will make a massive difference to the overall effect. But it’s more about the clarity which I don’t think the sub will improve. I feel like somethings letting the set up down, the TV, the HDMI or the speakers.

I just don’t think it’s as good as my twenty year old system after a £3k outlay.

I will play around with the settings, try Audyssey, add the sub and try a Blu-ray. Then reassess.

Thanks

 

[Fletch8448]

Would it make a difference if the TV had eARC rather than just ARC?

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks,

Ive not run Audyssey. It was too loud for my children sleeping in the room above so something else for tomorrow.

I know the sub will make a massive difference to the overall effect. But it’s more about the clarity which I don’t think the sub will improve. I feel like somethings letting the set up down, the TV, the HDMI or the speakers.

I just don’t think it’s as good as my twenty year old system after a £3k outlay.

I will play around with the settings, try Audyssey, add the sub and try a Blu-ray. Then reassess.

Thanks

For Heaven's sake get some decent proper speakers, and ditch those toys. There is a saying: "You can't get a quart into a pint pot." Well you are trying to get 10 gallons into a pint pot!

You can't change the laws of physics. They are immutable, no matter how much you wish they were. Size matters and is actually crucial.

 

[lovinthehd]

Also, is this the same room all along for both sets of gear? That can be a huge difference as well as the speakers. (altho both sets of speakers leave a lot to be desired)

 

[Leemix]

If you havent run the auto setup yet the levels might be all wrong so difficult to say how itll be when properly set up.
As mentioned above, a lot of newer stuff have quite bad dialogue mastering for clarity so try a few different things. Also make sure you use the right sound modes, but do run the auto setup before you do much else. Will need to be redone when sub is connected.
Also as mentioned above, placement of speakers is key, if the center is plopped down at the back of a large hard surface it will mess with the sound a lot.


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[Fletch8448]

For Heaven's sake get some decent proper speakers, and ditch those toys. There is a saying: "You can't get a quart into a pint pot." Well you are trying to get 10 gallons into a pint pot!

You can't change the laws of physics. They are immutable, no matter how much you wish they were. Size matters and is actually crucial.

ha, your not married to my wife.

she thinks these are too large and wouldn’t allow me to go any bigger.

they are bigger than the Bose speakers in my twenty year old system which I’m comparing them too.

 

[lovinthehd]

ha, your not married to my wife.

she thinks these are too large and wouldn’t allow me to go any bigger.

they are bigger than the Bose speakers in my twenty year old system which I’m comparing them too.

LOL you just might not go to waf extremes like TLS did Was the bass module enabled in the Bose system? Did you try without?

 

[Fletch8448]

Again, wife issues, yes I have been with her twenty years. She wouldn’t allow the bass on when she was around as she doesn’t like it. So I would listen without when with her then listen with when on my own.

 

[Fletch8448]

If you havent run the auto setup yet the levels might be all wrong so difficult to say how itll be when properly set up.
As mentioned above, a lot of newer stuff have quite bad dialogue mastering for clarity so try a few different things. Also make sure you use the right sound modes, but do run the auto setup before you do much else. Will need to be redone when sub is connected.
Also as mentioned above, placement of speakers is key, if the center is plopped down at the back of a large hard surface it will mess with the sound a lot.


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The speakers are on wall mounts.

I will play with the modes.

thanks.

 

[lovinthehd]

Can you diagram your speaker placement or provide pics?

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Again, wife issues, yes I have been with her twenty years. She wouldn’t allow the bass on when she was around as she doesn’t like it. So I would listen without when with her then listen with when on my own.

Wow... This is unfortunate. I wonder is she the only contributor to the mortgage? I do get it, my wife reminds me sometimes how much she hates my big ol monkey coffins and gear etc. I just have to remind her that I live here too, and also pay the bills. It’s called compromise. Anyways, that’s your battle to pick I guess.
The speakers however are too small but were well liked by many reviewers, so I’m surprised by lack of clarity. Wondering about placement, and room surfaces. If the space is highly reflective, that will cause problems. Also, they’re probably being run full range assuming you told the AVR sub is OFF. That would make them congested in trying to play a wider band of frequencies with limited resources. FWIW, there are many better speakers for less money. If the seller
Has a good return policy, it might be worth talking about returning.

 

[Fletch8448]

It’s fixed ... ‘sound mode’ is the answer.

 

[lovinthehd]

It’s fixed ... ‘sound mode’ is the answer.

Which one resolved the problem?

 

[Fletch8448]

Which one resolved the problem?

I don’t know what it was on last night but currently all of the DD’s sound great.

I’ve also turned up the central speaker a little

Sounds good, but definitely needs the sub.
just hope the subs good enough when the cable arrives.

One thing I did notice during Audyssey is one of the speakers sounded different to the rest. Didn’t snap like the rest during the strange sound. I will swop it out with another speaker and see what happens.

 

[VMPS-TIII]

Again, wife issues, yes I have been with her twenty years. She wouldn’t allow the bass on when she was around as she doesn’t like it. So I would listen without when with her then listen with when on my own.

One suggestion would be to have a room in the house that you can do whatever you want with. While respecting your wife wishes in other rooms. If you don't have that understanding you won't really have space to pursue your hobbies. Everyone needs some unrestricted space to expand their horizons.

 

[VMPS-TIII]

One thing I did notice during Audyssey is one of the speakers sounded different to the rest. Didn’t snap like the rest during the strange sound. I will swop it out with another speaker and see what happens.

That's the sound I got when I had a dead tweeter. If it's bad enough Audyssey will try equalizing the speaker several times with the volume rising each time.