Advice on how to set up Denon AVRX4200W with powered mains and sub?

[95wht6spd]

Need technical advice on how to set up my new Denon AVRX4200W with my Mordaunt Short 5.1 speakers.
The sub is powered as well as the subs/woofers on the mains. The mains and rear surrounds can be bi-wired. The mains are 502 THX Declaration speakers with matching series rears and center. https://www.manualslib.com/manual/105790/Mordaunt-Short-500-Series-Thx.html?page=6

I tried hooking it up but it didn't sound good at all, like the woofers/sub were not firing.
* NOTE: My equipment is in storage, as I sold my house, and in an apartment until I find a new house, so I do not have the ability to test and tune. I just want to get advise from those that have experience with this receiver and powered speakers, plus bi-wiring.

I like having all the configuration choices on the AVR, but with the choices on the speakers as well, I figured I better get some advice ahead of time, rather than messing with it for a long time once I set it up again.

Any advice appreciated.
Some specific questions I can think of off hand:
1. Should I daisy chain the powered mains subs/woofers line-level with the main sub from the sub output, or just run the mains separately from speaker level?
2. Should I bi-wire the mains since the main subs are powered?
3. Is it worth it to bi-wire the rear surrounds, and should/can I assign the extra AVR amps to the rears if I don't assign them to the fronts?
4. I think you are supposed to run an RCA for the sub using the left sub output of the AVR, or does it not matter if only using 1 sub?

Thanks

 

[Bucknekked]

Need technical advice on how to set up my new Denon AVRX4200W with my Mordaunt Short 5.1 speakers.
The sub is powered as well as the subs/woofers on the mains. The mains and rear surrounds can be bi-wired. The mains are 502 THX Declaration speakers with matching series rears and center. https://www.manualslib.com/manual/105790/Mordaunt-Short-500-Series-Thx.html?page=6

I tried hooking it up but it didn't sound good at all, like the woofers/sub were not firing.
* NOTE: My equipment is in storage, as I sold my house, and in an apartment until I find a new house, so I do not have the ability to test and tune. I just want to get advise from those that have experience with this receiver and powered speakers, plus bi-wiring.

I like having all the configuration choices on the AVR, but with the choices on the speakers as well, I figured I better get some advice ahead of time, rather than messing with it for a long time once I set it up again.

Any advice appreciated.
Some specific questions I can think of off hand:
1. Should I daisy chain the powered mains subs/woofers line-level with the main sub from the sub output, or just run the mains separately from speaker level?
2. Should I bi-wire the mains since the main subs are powered?
3. Is it worth it to bi-wire the rear surrounds, and should/can I assign the extra AVR amps to the rears if I don't assign them to the fronts?
4. I think you are supposed to run an RCA for the sub using the left sub output of the AVR, or does it not matter if only using 1 sub?

Thanks

I recently purchased a Denon x4200w and set it up in 2.1 (R L S) mode for stereo + sub listening.
The Audessey setup will take you where you need to go for adjustments in levels and balance.
If you have a big screen TV for the menus, its so easy its like falling off a log.

Your questions
1. Daisy chaining? I have no idea. Someone brighter than me will have to chime in
2. Bi-wire the mains? IMO, nope. No audible advantage that I know of
3. Bi-wire the rears? IMO nope. No audible advantage that I know of
4. An RCA cable to the sub = yes. Does it matter which one if you have 2 outputs and just 1 sub, nope. Just pick one. The frequencies coming out of the sub are non-directional to the human ear if the bass management is done properly. On the Denon, its sub 1 and sub 2 not left and right sub.

The Audessey menus will help you with the setup and bass management.

 

[lovinthehd]

I'd simply connect your active speakers and sub to the appropriate pre-outs (and any passive speakers to their appropriate speaker level outputs) and run Audyssey....bi-wiring/passive bi-amping is foolish marketing crap IMO.

 

[95wht6spd]

OK, thanks for the replies. I just checked this now, as I never received an email notifying me of replies. I hope to find a house in the next 4 months, so I can get this setup and play with it. I did run the Audyssey when I had it set up in old house, but I think I had the speakers connected wrong, or some setting not programmed correctly. I was excited to hear how the Audyssey would sound, but it didn't sound as good as with my old much lower end receiver, but I didn't have time to play with the configuration then.

PS: On the old set up, when I bi-wired the mains (RCA to the lower powered subs and speaker level to the mid/tweets, I did notice an improvement in sound.