How should I tweak my Pioneer VSX-816 to make my speakers sound fuller?

[ovaltine22]

Hi, I am quite new to this field of speakers and such, and had a few questions that I hoped could be answered

I recently purchased the Pioneer VSX-816
along with the BIC ACOUSTECH 5.1-CHANNEL LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM

It sure is alot better compared along side with the regular TV speakers on my 50" Panasonic plasma, but the problem is... they really don't sound "that great" compared to the small bookshelf speakers I see at bestbuy or frys. I mean, these BIC's I purchased are full size speakers, but i'm confuzed on how a few small POLK bookshelf speakers that cost less than $800 can sound better than mine.

Is it because I haven't tuned my receiver correctly? Because I did use the automatic setup mic and it seems to have done a pretty good job. My living room where everything is setup is pretty rectangular, so I really don't see any acoustic problems.

There are numerous settings on my receiver, but for TV i tend to leave it on the ADV_GAME setting. On this setting, it seems like all the speakers are being used not like when I have it on the ADV_MOVIE setting. On the movie setting while watching TV, its mostly the center speaker where all the sound is coming out of, making everything sound small and dull. My subwoofer on the other hand has to be turned all the way up to 7 to be heard, is this normal? Or could this be adjusted through the receiver?

All my speakers are set to small as recommended so I'm not sure why my sub has to be turned up so high...


If any of you could help me out, I'd greatly appreciate it. It seems like the guys at Frys didnt really know much about speakers... they recommended me switching to MONSTER speaker wire to get better sound

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Go back and check the settings after the auto-cal. Change the speaker size to small and make sure the crossover is correct (start with 80-90hz) and that the crossover on you sub is turned all the way up. Also make sure the LFE is sent to the sub only.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I would also turn off the Room Acoustic Equalizer and see if it sounds better.

When I had my Harman Kardon 247, I did the auto-set up and then rechecked manually. The speaker Levels were pretty matched, the Types were correct (Small Speaker for NHT SuperZeros), but the Room Acoustic Equalizer really made the sound terrible. So I turned it off and it sounded great.

 

[ovaltine22]

Go back and check the settings after the auto-cal. Change the speaker size to small and make sure the crossover is correct (start with 80-90hz) and that the crossover on you sub is turned all the way up. Also make sure the LFE is sent to the sub only.

Yes, my speakers are all set at small. But what do you mean by turning the crossover on the sub all the way up? Do you mean like I should have the crossover on my sub at 100 and the crossover on my receiver set at 80?

 

[Seth=L]

If you can hear and echo in your room when you speak or yell, you have some acoustic problems that need addressed.

Edit: Also, maybe your speakers just don't fit your tastes. The Polk speakers are going to sound hugely different from the BICs, pick speakers you like for their sound, not their price, ratings, how much your friend likes them, how big they are...etc

 

[ovaltine22]

If you can hear and echo in your room when you speak or yell, you have some acoustic problems that need addressed.

Edit: Also, maybe your speakers just don't fit your tastes. The Polk speakers are going to sound hugely different from the BICs, pick speakers you like for their sound, not their price, ratings, how much your friend likes them, how big they are...etc

I chose the BICS because many people said they were great for movies. So naturally, I purchased them because I watch tons of movies

Its true, for movies they are great. But for watching TV and listening to music.... they fall short of even POLK or BOSE. By the way, you mentioned something about acoustic problems? How can they be fixed? My tv is placed in front of a fireplace that is all brick. Could this be a problem?

 

[no. 5]

but i'm confuzed on how a few small POLK bookshelf speakers that cost less than $800 can sound better than mine.

Well, speaker size has no relation to sound quality. And the room that a pair of speakers are in has much to do with the sound quality.

On a side note, one brand of speaker wire will not have a audible difference to another, if there is, something is very wrong.

 

[Seth=L]

I chose the BICS because many people said they were great for movies. So naturally, I purchased them because I watch tons of movies

Its true, for movies they are great. But for watching TV and listening to music.... they fall short of even POLK or BOSE. By the way, you mentioned something about acoustic problems? How can they be fixed? My tv is placed in front of a fireplace that is all brick. Could this be a problem?

I can't imagine Bose sounding better for music. I have an older set of BIC speakers and they would woop Bose. Polk makes some pretty good speakers for the money.

 

[no. 5]

By the way, you mentioned something about acoustic problems? How can they be fixed? My tv is placed in front of a fireplace that is all brick. Could this be a problem?

The fix to an acoustic problem depends on what the problem is. What is your room like (dimensions, finish materials, etc)? Pictures, or drawings are good for that too.

 

[ovaltine22]

The fix to an acoustic problem depends on what the problem is. What is your room like (dimensions, finish materials, etc)? Pictures, or drawings are good for that too.

I dont think this is an acoustic problem because back when I used my 2 small BOSE speakers, they sounded fine. But now with these BIC, it seems like they "physically" dont sound that great... if that made any sense at all. Do you recommend me finding a professional to come over and check whats wrong with my settings? Because after reading through the manual and doing everything people are telling me to do, my speakers arnt sounding any fuller. They just sound really.. dull and flat. Human dialogue sounds very "fake"

 

[Seth=L]

I dont think this is an acoustic problem because back when I used my 2 small BOSE speakers, they sounded fine. But now with these BIC, it seems like they "physically" dont sound that great... if that made any sense at all. Do you recommend me finding a professional to come over and check whats wrong with my settings? Because after reading through the manual and doing everything people are telling me to do, my speakers arnt sounding any fuller. They just sound really.. dull and flat. Human dialogue sounds very "fake"

Maybe you should take a shot at some different speakers. If you liked the sound of any other manufacturers give them a shot. The problem surely isn't an inadequacy of your receiver.

 

[no. 5]

I dont think this is an acoustic problem because back when I used my 2 small BOSE speakers, they sounded fine.

Acoustical issues present themselves in many, many, different ways.

Do you recommend me finding a professional to come over and check whats wrong with my settings?

If it makes you feel better, but the only settings that I think could cause an issue like what you are describing is the level of the subwoofer, or the frequency of the crossover.

If it's not either of those things, it is the speakers or the room.
What model of BIC's do you have? Is it these, or some other model?

 

[jagxtype]

I will let you in on what i did to get my vsx815 where i liked it

1. Make sure all of your speakers are set up in good spots (the manual is a good base to start from)
2. Set your crossover for you sub at around 120hz for a little leeway
3. Put your subwoofer where you sit and turn on something in the norm of what you listen to and go crawling around on the flow until you find the desired spot. Once you find that, change the songs a few times to make sure it is what your looking for. This should get you where you want to be with the sub or real close. Mine ended up close to a corner in the front next to the R main speaker but not too close to the wall. (just as a reference)
4. set your speakers to NORM in the SB Sytem setup menu
5. Run the MCAAC calibration completely
6. Go into the M. Mcaac, then Ch Level and adjust the sub level to 0
7. Then go to CH1 adjust and look at your equalizer settings. Change these all to 0 for a flat response. The Auto calibration does alright at this, but it will work better flat. Then make sure you go to the SP SET menu and set your speakers all to large then go to the Xover and set it at 80HZ
8. Then turn the EQ to off on the acoustic EQ mode (the previous steps made your distance and level and all that where it needs to be)
9. Set your bass to 0 and your treble to zero
10. Listen to a few songs and adjust the level of your subwoofer to a level that you like.
11. Try listening to it in stereo if your listening to it in 7 channel. 7 channel is good if your just listening to a little background music, but not good for anything even moderatly loud.
12. make sure your loudness/midnight mode is off
13. If you have to use 7ch mode then use the EFFECT/Ch ADj button on your remote and scroll until it says effect. Adjust that around to widen or narrow your front to back listening field.
14. Make sure your not in extended mode for music listening, it needs to be 7 CH if anything
15. Once agian...try stereo!!!!

How to get to any of these menus is in the manual.
Sorry for the long reponse thats kinda vague, but try it out!

 

[jagxtype]

hmm...i hope i didnt waste all this time for nothing...LOL

 

[3db]

hmm...i hope i didnt waste all this time for nothing...LOL

I wouldn't think so if it works and saves him from buying new speakers

 

[jagxtype]

I wouldn't think so if it works and saves him from buying new speakers

Just figured he hasnt seen it if he has no response...