I need speaker help or suggestions

[hodge913]

I currently own a Harman/Kardon AVR 225. The speakers hooked up to it are Polk Audio (center-RM1600S) (surround-RM1300) (sub-PSW250)
I am having a terrible time hearing dialog in about 40% of the shows/movies we watch. If I set the speakers to hear the dialog clearly, a bomb or gun will go off and it will wake the neighbors in the next house. I have tried to balance everything but still have the same problem. I'm about to get a new Samsung HD LCD TV and don't want to screw around with this constantly.
I am a novice at this. Do I have crappy speakers or am I doing something wrong? Suggestions? Budget won't allow more than about $600.00 for new speakers.
Thanks for your help

 

[deedubb]

This might sound like a dumb question, but is the dialog coming from the centre channel? ie. is the receiver sending out in 5.1 or perhaps do you have it set to stereo. If it is coming from the centre, check speaker levels. Perhaps the centre channel is set too low. Go to Radio Shack and pick up an analog sound level meter to adjust it correctly.

 

[mazersteven]

IMO it's the quality of the speakers you are using. Plus I'm not sure if a system like that can be properly calibrated.

 

[hodge913]

This might sound like a dumb question, but is the dialog coming from the centre channel? ie. is the receiver sending out in 5.1 or perhaps do you have it set to stereo. If it is coming from the centre, check speaker levels. Perhaps the centre channel is set too low. Go to Radio Shack and pick up an analog sound level meter to adjust it correctly.

Yes, it is coming out of the center and it is set up for 5.1. I have set the center to max and the remaining speakers very low and that only helps slightly.

 

[hodge913]

IMO it's the quality of the speakers you are using. Plus I'm not sure if a system like that can be properly calibrated.

Do you mean that the AVR is a piece of crap too???
Any suggestions?

 

[mazersteven]

Do you mean that the AVR is a piece of crap too???

Not a piece of crap? But your receiver setting are probably all off. I'm not a guru of receiver knowledge. So maybe someone can walk you through properly getting the right settings on your receiver.

 

[no. 5]

I am having a terrible time hearing dialog in about 40% of the shows/movies we watch. If I set the speakers to hear the dialog clearly, a bomb or gun will go off and it will wake the neighbors in the next house.

If the volume is set loud enough to hear, but dynamic things end up too loud, try setting the dynamic range compression to a higher setting. It is a band-ad solution, however, as intelligibility problems are likely related to the speakers.

 

[Nuance AH]

I currently own a Harman/Kardon AVR 225. The speakers hooked up to it are Polk Audio (center-RM1600S) (surround-RM1300) (sub-PSW250)
I am having a terrible time hearing dialog in about 40% of the shows/movies we watch. If I set the speakers to hear the dialog clearly, a bomb or gun will go off and it will wake the neighbors in the next house. I have tried to balance everything but still have the same problem. I'm about to get a new Samsung HD LCD TV and don't want to screw around with this constantly.
I am a novice at this. Do I have crappy speakers or am I doing something wrong? Suggestions? Budget won't allow more than about $600.00 for new speakers.
Thanks for your help

When you say "balance everything" does that include using an SPL meter and level matching the speakers at the listening position? You'd be surprised how large of a difference than can make.

A few other things to take into consideration are, is the center at ear level, or is it perhaps set above or below the front speakers? Ideally you want them on the same plane, but sometimes decor circumstances prevent this. Also, how do you have the center set up through the receiver? Is it set to small or large? What is the layout of the room?

The dynamic range compression is a good idea. Does your receiver have that setting/option?

You should be able to individually adjust the volume for the fronts, center, rears and subwoofer. This is where that SPL meter will come in handy.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[deedubb]

Make sure it's wired in phase, so positive terminal to receiver is positive terminal to speaker, and same (obviously) for negative.

 

[DD66000]

If you have a spl meter, run pink noise through all the speakers, while the volume control is at the position you normally listen to. Adjust each channel to 75db, except the center, set it to 78db.
If that doesn't make it better, its time for a new center speaker.

 

[Midcow2]

I currently own a Harman/Kardon AVR 225. The speakers hooked up to it are Polk Audio (center-RM1600S) (surround-RM1300) (sub-PSW250)
I am having a terrible time hearing dialog in about 40% of the shows/movies we watch. If I set the speakers to hear the dialog clearly, a bomb or gun will go off and it will wake the neighbors in the next house. I have tried to balance everything but still have the same problem. I'm about to get a new Samsung HD LCD TV and don't want to screw around with this constantly.
I am a novice at this. Do I have crappy speakers or am I doing something wrong? Suggestions? Budget won't allow more than about $600.00 for new speakers.
Thanks for your help

Don't take this the wrong way, but I tried to do some reasearch on your equipment and came to two conclusions: (1) it is fairly old 6 years + or more is my esitmate and (2) was fairly inexpensive. Again no offense.

In 5.1 mode your primary dialog should come from the center speaker. If the dialog is unclear you might want to consider upgrading your center speaker. If you like Polk Audio , you might consider CS1 or CS10 both ( MSRP $199) The other two most important speakers are the front speakers which you did not mention the model. If replacing the center does not work you might also consider upgrading the front speakers also. The R series has some at $399 per pair.

Another possible suggestion is a Polk Audio SurroundBAR at $599 . This replaces all of your speakers. http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/surroundbar/buynow.php

I have not had personal experience with the specific Polk Audio speakers mentioned above.

Some time in the future you migth want to consider replacing you Harmon Kardon receiver. Good inexpensive receivers can be purchased in the $200-$300 range.

Again my intent was to help, not offend. GOOD LUCK!!

 

[hodge913]

No offense taken at all. You are correct. I tried to buy something slightly above HTIB about 5 years ago. Maybe it's time for an upgrade. Thanks for doing the research.

 

[3db]

No offense taken at all. You are correct. I tried to buy something slightly above HTIB about 5 years ago. Maybe it's time for an upgrade. Thanks for doing the research.

Before going out and buying new speakers, make sure that all your speaker channels are balanced in terms of equal SPL thru each speaker. You'll need to get a radioshack or equivalent SPL for aaround 50 to 70 dollars.

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hifi-writer.com/he/applianceretailer/spl-meter.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hifi-writer.com/he/applianceretailer/receiver-setup.htm&h=248&w=300&sz=10&hl=en&start=17&usg=__ElvG_M8VmJjAwEOFB7GFigJ3vY0=&tbnid=bVm4LYkEIE19PM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=116&prev=/images?q=radio+shack+SPL&gbv=2&hl=en&sa=G

Next, look over your receivers's settings to see if there is some kind of compression setting. My receiver has three settings, none, standard, and max. When I'm watching a movie by myslef, I set it to none and I get the full dynamcis (loudness and quietness) of a movie. If the kids and me are wtaching a moive I set it to standarrd which reduces some of the loudeness slam. When the wife is watching I set compression to max which reduces the diffrence between loud and soft scenes the most. I hate this mode.

If you have done these two things and still are not happy, then go out and purchase new speakers. You will still need the Radio Shack meter to calibrate the new speakers anyway and if you don't have an Avia or Digital Essentials test DVD, try using one of the Disney movies that include the THX optimizer in its menu. That works in a quick pinch.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.