Good sound sysem for small apartment

[Laban]

I recently bought a Yamaha Htr-4065 receiver that I use with my two Infinity IL-10 speakers. I use it mainly for listening to music (either from my PC or via the built-in Internet radio functionality of the receiver) and for movies on occasion.

Before I bought the Yamaha receiver I had an Onkyo TX-8511 and the sound quality was great! But with the new Yamaha, it lacks the clarity and punch I had before. I am not sure what the exact issue is. I have turned off the various surround features of the receiver and set it to stereo mode (and I called Yamaha support to double-check).

My apartment is very small - the living room (where the stereo is) is only about 8 x 12 feet and I have the two Infinity speakers mounted on the wall above the TV. The sofa is against the opposite wall, about 8 ft from the speakers.

Part of the issue might be that it is a 5.1 receiver driving only two speakers. I don't really have the space for 5 speakers + sub woofer, but I might be able to use a sound bar if that is needed.

I am trying to figure out the best route from here before the return period for the Yamaha expires.

Some questions:
1) Is there another receiver better suited for my setup with only two speakers and my small space (preferably < $350)? But I like to be able to play music w/o having to turn on the TV.
2) Someone recommended I look into a Roku device instead of a receiver and get a soundbar + sub woofer. But will that really give me better sound quality?
3) Maybe a small foot print surround speaker setup that would work better with my Yamaha receiver?
4) Other options?

I would really appreciate some guidance in this jungle!

Thanks.

 

[Laban]

Bump. Anyone?

 

[GranteedEV]

Before I bought the Yamaha receiver I had an Onkyo TX-8511 and the sound quality was great! But with the new Yamaha, it lacks the clarity and punch I had before. I am not sure what the exact issue is. I have turned off the variouste surround features of the receiver and set it to stereo mode (and I called Yamaha support to double-check).

You sure that the Onkyo didn't have a whole lot of smiley face in the equalizer?

Part of the issue might be that it is a 5.1 receiver driving only two speakers. I don't really have the space for 5 speakers + sub woofer, but I might be able to use a sound bar if that is needed.

it isn`t. In fact a 5.1 receiver will still "prefer" two speakers to five, although the sub could have some benefits. Is your receiver setting your speakers as small or large?

 

[Laban]

You sure that the Onkyo didn't have a whole lot of smiley face in the equalizer?

Yes (it did not have an equalizer AFAIK).

it isn`t. In fact a 5.1 receiver will still "prefer" two speakers to five, although the sub could have some benefits. Is your receiver setting your speakers as small or large?

Large (front). Here are the full speaker settings:
Subwoofer: None
Front: Large
Center: None
Surround: None
Crossover: 60 Hz
Subwoofer Phase: Normal
Extra Bass: Off

 

[sholling]

The first thing that jumps out at me is that you have rear ported speakers mounted to the wall. How close to the wall? Just for grins I'd try moving them out 12-18" from the wall with the tweeters at ear level while seated and then rerun the receiver's calibration routine and see how that sounds. The tweeters should be at ear level because high frequency sound is directional and the bass port needs to be well away from the wall to keep from muddying the bass. Bookshelf speakers really aren't and are intended to be placed on stands well away from walls.

The second thing that I'd try is moving your sofa out 12-18" from the wall to avoid reflections off the back wall hitting your ears at almost the same time and intensity as the sound from the speakers. You may need to look at some kind of wall treatment back there. The good news is treatments can be made to look really nice.

I'd move the speakers and the sofa before blaming the receiver.

 

[Laban]

The first thing that jumps out at me is that you have rear ported speakers mounted to the wall. How close to the wall? Just for grins I'd try moving them out 12-18" from the wall with the tweeters at ear level while seated and then rerun the receiver's calibration routine and see how that sounds. The tweeters should be at ear level because high frequency sound is directional and the bass port needs to be well away from the wall to keep from muddying the bass. Bookshelf speakers really aren't and are intended to be placed on stands well away from walls.

They are about 5 inches away from the wall (tilted down a bit, since they are about 7 ft up). I just don't have any space for stands.

The second thing that I'd try is moving your sofa out 12-18" from the wall to avoid reflections off the back wall hitting your ears at almost the same time and intensity as the sound from the speakers. You may need to look at some kind of wall treatment back there. The good news is treatments can be made to look really nice.

I'd move the speakers and the sofa before blaming the receiver.

I am not only listening from the sofa - the quality is about the same 1-2 feet away from the wall. And don't forget that the sound was much better with the old receiver with the same speakers and room. So since the receiver was the only thing that changed, that makes me suspect that that receiver is not a great match for my speakers. I am not saying that the Yamaha is bad - simply that it does not sound as good with my Infinity speakers as the Onkyo did.

Maybe I just have to try with another receiver (like the Onkyo TX-NR515 or Denon AVR-1613)...

 

[shadyJ]

I think you can get a Harman Kardon 3490 stereo receiver for $300 from J&R if you do that "email me a lower price" thing. That's a very good stereo receiver.

 

[Laban]

The HK 3490 looks like a great unit, except that it lacks the AVR features I need (no HDMI, no network ports, etc.). Perhaps the Harman Kardon AVR-1700?

I plan to check out these:
Onkyo TX-NR515
Denon AVR-1613?
Harman Kardon AVR-1700

Any recommendations on the above or other AVR that I should look at (<$500)?

 

[sholling]

The HK 3490 looks like a great unit, except that it lacks the AVR features I need (no HDMI, no network ports, etc.). Perhaps the Harman Kardon AVR-1700?

I plan to check out these:
Onkyo TX-NR515
Denon AVR-1613?
Harman Kardon AVR-1700

Any recommendations on the above or other AVR that I should look at (<$500)?

If you're in the US a factory refurbished Denon AVR-2113? I've had good luck with refurbs from A4L and the 2113 has Audyssey MultEQ XT room correction. The lowest I'd go on the Denon food chain is their AVR-1713 which also has MultiEQ XT. I'd take either of these over the others on your list.

 

[sholling]

They are about 5 inches away from the wall (tilted down a bit, since they are about 7 ft up). I just don't have any space for stands.


I am not only listening from the sofa - the quality is about the same 1-2 feet away from the wall. And don't forget that the sound was much better with the old receiver with the same speakers and room. So since the receiver was the only thing that changed, that makes me suspect that that receiver is not a great match for my speakers. I am not saying that the Yamaha is bad - simply that it does not sound as good with my Infinity speakers as the Onkyo did.

Maybe I just have to try with another receiver (like the Onkyo TX-NR515 or Denon AVR-1613)...

FWIW the reason that I suggested looking at speaker placement first is that other than room correction systems and special effects one brand of receiver pretty much sounds like everybody else's. That of course assumes that the receiver is not defective. I had a receiver that came with a defective setup microphone that incorrectly calibrated my system and made my speakers sound like total crap. Once I replaced the mic with a new one from the manufacturer I fell in love with my speakers again.

I don't know if your receiver has room correction but if it came with a mic you could ask Yamaha for a new mic and try it out. It has to be the exact same mic. If that doesn't work then I think your best bet is to try a receiver with an excellent room correction system and see if that sounds better. There is a setup routine that you'll have to follow but it really can help.

 

[Laban]

I have decided on the Denon AVR-1713.
Thanks for all your help!