Audio settings with new receiver

[Aaron Kwekel]

Hello everyone.

I just recently upgraded my receiver from the Onkyo Tx-NR696 to Pioneer VSX -LX505. For some reason I didn’t find an improvement in audio levels. The center channel and all still seem very quiet. I have to like turn it up to like -18DB for it to punch I guess.

Current equipment.
Definitive technology 2x 8060st towers
Def tech 8060 CS center channel
Def tech 8080bp for rears
Kilpich R41 SA from my front heights that I use for atoms.

…. I have not ran Dirac live yet. but I do have my crossover settings set at Large for the towers. And small for the rest.

any suggestions?

Thank you

 

[witchdoctor]

Run dirac and please report back, looking forward to helping you get setup.

 

[lovinthehd]

Large isn't a crossover setting....it means don't use a crossover essentially (or don't use bass management for that channel). Or are you using a double bass feature instead? How is the change in receiver particularly an "upgrade"?

 

[Wardog555]

Use spl meter to ensure speaker levels are the same across each speaker. And set speaker distances using a tape measure from speaker to mlp.

This should make a improved to what you have.

You don't have a subwoofer do you and this is why fronts set to large?

 

[Aaron Kwekel]

I do not. Just the subs that are built into the speakers.

 

[Aaron Kwekel]

Use spl meter to ensure speaker levels are the same across each speaker. And set speaker distances using a tape measure from speaker to mlp.

This should make a improved to what you have.

You don't have a subwoofer do you and this is why fronts set to large?

Honestly,
I don’t know what to set them too. I do not have a sub at the moment. Just what’s in the towers .

 

[Aaron Kwekel]

Large isn't a crossover setting....it means don't use a crossover essentially (or don't use bass management for that channel). Or are you using a double bass feature instead? How is the change in receiver particularly an "upgrade"?

I do not have a sub at the moment. Just what’s in the towers. But I do believe I have double bass turned on. But I don’t know what def techs should be set to either large or small.
I got his receiver because it was very similar to the Onkyo TxRZ50. But theyre sold out. So I got the LX505 pioneer. Eventually, I would like to hook up an emotiva to this receiver. Because I wouldn’t been able too with the Onkyo TX NR696

 

[Wardog555]

Leave the fronts to large as you don't have a subwoofer.

The difference between large and small is when it's large the speaker receives the full audio signal range meanwhile small sends the lower frequencies where the crossover you set eg 80hz and under towards the subwoofer.

 

[Aaron Kwekel]

I feel like the subs in the tower and center channel make it confusing when it comes to setting up.
I currently have
Floors set to Large
Center: small
Rears: small
Front heights: small.
Sub woofer: yes
Double bass: yes
LFE connected from each tower and center channel.
Im assuming your going have me change this. Lol

 

[lovinthehd]

I would call them powered woofers more than subs. Some just use separate subs with those and set the speakers to small, some connect the sub pre-outs to the powered woofers. There's a setup thread about that either here or on avsforum IIRC....

 

[Trebdp83]

It is confusing because the LFE connections on the towers might seem kinda' redundant and the center channel is mislabelled. These front and center channel speakers are specified by Def Tech to be set at Large(Full Band.) The LFE port on the center channel is actually meant for the center pre out of a processor or receiver. Though, I would like to torture one of those center channels with an LFE connection. If using option 2 for connection of the towers, which is using the LFE cable connection as well as the speaker wire connection, the receiver's Subwoofer setting needs to be set at YES and Double Bass does need to be ON since the front are set at Large(Full Band) or no signal would be sent to the LFE channel pre out for output.

Here is the issue with these speakers regarding bass, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Combining the powered woofers in the same box with mids and highs means compromising low bass since the optimal layout for a front stage may not, and is often not, the optimal place for subs and these aren't exactly subs. The other issue with the front speakers and the surrounds is that they were designed for channel based systems and Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are object based formats that don't work optimally with bipolar type speakers. Upfiring Atmos modules placed on front speakers are also problematic as the sweet spot may not coincide with the front speakers' sweet spot and both may be compromised.

So, try setting the center at Large(Full Band) and turn off that f#%kin' Dolby loudness management feature in the receiver as it is ON by default. Many will recommend the purchase of a capable subwoofer or two for your system for proper bass output and they are not wrong. You may never get a good "punch" without one or two of them. Leave the LFE connections as they are in the front speakers for now. If and when you get a sub or two, you will simply transfer the connection of the LFE cables from the fronts to the subs. It's at this point you want to set all speakers to SMALL and run DIRAC. I don't think an external amp is really necessary here. Whatever you do, have fun with it.

 

[fmw]

Leave the fronts to large as you don't have a subwoofer.

The difference between large and small is when it's large the speaker receives the full audio signal range meanwhile small sends the lower frequencies where the crossover you set eg 80hz and under towards the subwoofer.

Yup and put the subwoofer at the top of your acquisition list. Nothing else will provide the impact of a subwoofer particularly with low frequency effects in videos.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

It is confusing because the LFE connections on the towers might seem kinda' redundant and the center channel is mislabelled. These front and center channel speakers are specified by Def Tech to be set at Large(Full Band.) The LFE port on the center channel is actually meant for the center pre out of a processor or receiver. Though, I would like to torture one of those center channels with an LFE connection. If using option 2 for connection of the towers, which is using the LFE cable connection as well as the speaker wire connection, the receiver's Subwoofer setting needs to be set at YES and Double Bass does need to be ON since the front are set at Large(Full Band) or no signal would be sent to the LFE channel pre out for output.

Here is the issue with these speakers regarding bass, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Combining the powered woofers in the same box with mids and highs means compromising low bass since the optimal layout for a front stage may not, and is often not, the optimal place for subs and these aren't exactly subs. The other issue with the front speakers and the surrounds is that they were designed for channel based systems and Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are object based formats that don't work optimally with bipolar type speakers. Upfiring Atmos modules placed on front speakers are also problematic as the sweet spot may not coincide with the front speakers' sweet spot and both may be compromised.

So, try setting the center at Large(Full Band) and turn off that f#%kin' Dolby loudness management feature in the receiver as it is ON by default. Many will recommend the purchase of a capable subwoofer or two for your system for proper bass output and they are not wrong. You may never get a good "punch" without one or two of them. Leave the LFE connections as they are in the front speakers for now. If and when you get a sub or two, you will simply transfer the connection of the LFE cables from the fronts to the subs. It's at this point you want to set all speakers to SMALL and run DIRAC. I don't think an external amp is really necessary here. Whatever you do, have fun with it.

Sup Treb!!! One note about the idiotic Fukkin Dolby loudness management(wtf is that even for!!!!!) is that(at least in the past) you can only access that in the menu when there is a DD, DD+, and I think a trueHD signal present. IE: must be playing a disk with one of those tracks.
Good Fukkin advice. Carry on.

 

[Trebdp83]

Sup! Right, it's supposed to level out dialogue on Dolby TrueHD tracks. Turning it OFF also fixes Midnight Mode to OFF. That one works on DD+ tracks as well. Just turn all of the crap OFF.

 

[MaxInValrico]

Honestly,
I don’t know what to set them too. I do not have a sub at the moment. Just what’s in the towers .

Change the settings; try them out and keep them at what you like.

 

[Aaron Kwekel]

Just ran drac live. Unfortunately it sounds the same me I think. I the still seems very quiet coming from the center channel. This is what hat drac put me at. Some really weird settings.

Crossover settings:
front- Large
Center- small
Height- large
Surround - small
Crossover 80hz
Double bass- On

Run dirac and please report back, looking forward to helping you get setup.

Just ran drac live. Unfortunately it sounds the same me I think. I the still seems very quiet coming from the center channel. This is what hat drac put me at. Some really weird settings.

Crossover settings:
front- Large
Center- small
Height- large
Surround - small
Crossover 80hz
Double bass- On

 

[Aaron Kwekel]

It is confusing because the LFE connections on the towers might seem kinda' redundant and the center channel is mislabelled. These front and center channel speakers are specified by Def Tech to be set at Large(Full Band.) The LFE port on the center channel is actually meant for the center pre out of a processor or receiver. Though, I would like to torture one of those center channels with an LFE connection. If using option 2 for connection of the towers, which is using the LFE cable connection as well as the speaker wire connection, the receiver's Subwoofer setting needs to be set at YES and Double Bass does need to be ON since the front are set at Large(Full Band) or no signal would be sent to the LFE channel pre out for output.

Here is the issue with these speakers regarding bass, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Combining the powered woofers in the same box with mids and highs means compromising low bass since the optimal layout for a front stage may not, and is often not, the optimal place for subs and these aren't exactly subs. The other issue with the front speakers and the surrounds is that they were designed for channel based systems and Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are object based formats that don't work optimally with bipolar type speakers. Upfiring Atmos modules placed on front speakers are also problematic as the sweet spot may not coincide with the front speakers' sweet spot and both may be compromised.

So, try setting the center at Large(Full Band) and turn off that f#%kin' Dolby loudness management feature in the receiver as it is ON by default. Many will recommend the purchase of a capable subwoofer or two for your system for proper bass output and they are not wrong. You may never get a good "punch" without one or two of them. Leave the LFE connections as they are in the front speakers for now. If and when you get a sub or two, you will simply transfer the connection of the LFE cables from the fronts to the subs. It's at this point you want to set all speakers to SMALL and run DIRAC. I don't think an external amp is really necessary here. Whatever you do, have fun with it.

Just ran drac live. Unfortunately it sounds the same me I think. I the still seems very quiet coming from the center channel. This is what hat drac put me at. Some really weird settings.

Crossover settings:
front- Large
Center- small
Height- large
Surround - small
Crossover 80hz
Double bass- On

 

[witchdoctor]

Just ran drac live. Unfortunately it sounds the same me I think. I the still seems very quiet coming from the center channel. This is what hat drac put me at. Some really weird settings.

Crossover settings:
front- Large
Center- small
Height- large
Surround - small
Crossover 80hz
Double bass- On

OK, try setting your center to large manually, do you have a sound level meter? I recommend going into the test tones and manually setting the levels so they match after setting your center to large. As for the other settings Dirac is interacting with your room so this is typical.

 

[Aaron Kwekel]

Okay,
I do not. But can’t you download one on your phone though?
And so I should be setting my center and fronts to Large. While changing my configuration to where I have no sub and double bass turned off. Correct?

 

[witchdoctor]

Okay,
I do not. But can’t you download one on your phone though?
And so I should be setting my center and fronts to Large. While changing my configuration to where I have no sub and double bass turned off. Correct?

Only change one thing at a time. So download a sound meter to your phone, change the settings so the center is large, then raise the volume in the center so it matched the volume of the left and right, don't change anything else yet.