Best settings for music (New Setup)

[Micha3l1985]

Hi I have recently upgraded from a 500w rms Logitech 5.1 sound system to a home theater system which is a Onkyo 609 receiver, 7 yamaha HT series speakers and a yamaha YST-SW216 sub, with my old system i didn't have all the options i do with this new setup, i have basically tried to set it up so i cant blow the speakers when listening music via hdmi from my laptop at parties, the issue was having is that some songs i can play at 85 with no distortion where as others the woofers in the towers start popping at 70 yet the high frequency audio is still quiet, these are the settings i am using at the moment to solve this problem(cross over frequencies - 80hz for towers 100hz for center and 120hz for 4 small speakers) (sound levels - 0db for towers and center and -3 for 4 small speakers) ( lpf crossover is 120hz and sub is set to -10) i have also set max volume to 85, turned on music optimizer, turned on dynamic eq and turned on dynamic sound level to medium which seems to solve the popping woofers, with these settings it seem that every song i play does not distort, can someone confirm if the settings i am using are all right or am i trying to get too much sound out the system, my main experience is with car sound systems where you don't have to worry about harmonics of a room and can set the gain on the amps so they never over power the speakers. thanks

 

[markw]

Basically, whatever sounds good to you is "right". That you have it set so it won't blow anything is even better.

Me, I have mine set for straight stereo, no effects, speakers running full range and woofer cutting in below 80 hz on movies only, and with no tone controls but it's whatever floats your boat.

 

[afterlife2]

I keep my onkyo on Stereo too. I tried the other setting, but for 2 channel music I keep it on stereo.

 

[SandyRavage]

Are you playing MP3s?

If so, you might want to look into ReplayGain if your tracks are adjusting volume levels too harshly.

 

[Micha3l1985]

Yes I am listening to mp3's, there are just a few songs that the bass makes the woofers the towers distort at low volume and the vocals are quiet, they are encoded at 320kb so I don't know that replaygain would work, also how much distortion do woofers in speakers take before they damage, thanks

 

[markw]

Speakers should not distort at low volume no matter the frequency. Look for other problems.

Of course, a lot depends on your interpretation of "low volume". How many measured "real-world" decibels are you talking about?

 

[Micha3l1985]

The song in particular is Lighters by Bruno Mars and Eminem the bass in this song is distorting the speakers at 70 on the Onkyo amp it seems to be worse on pure audio mode, if I put on the dynamic sound level setting to medium it seems to solve this issue, I have read this is more for tv and wondering if it will affect song quality, I don't use the sub at the moment because I'm afraid it will cover the sound of the speakers distorting and I will damage them, cheers

 

[Micha3l1985]

Can someone explain why I can play movies at the reference level at 82 no distortion but not music, if I use a program like mp3gain and set all my music at 82db will this match the movies so I can play at refence level, cheers

 

[agarwalro]

Keep the player volume at "0dB gain" position and computer master volume at full and adjust the Onkyo volume as needed.

By reducing the volume upstream, you are limiting the track dynamic range as seen by the Onkyo. Keeping the computer volume low and cranking the volume on the Onkyo will result in compression artifacts being reproduced at a louder level compared to track data. That is most likely the cause of your low volume distortion.

Ideally, the less processing used the better it is in terms a faithful reproduction at speakers. Try playing the track with only room correction and nothing else.

 

[Micha3l1985]

I found a setting on the computer that allows you to change the signal quality sent through hdmi it was on DVD quality but you can change it to studio quality this has fixed all my issues I no longer have to have the dynamic volume on, I just don't know what kHz to put the studio quality on I have it on 44000 at the moment, im just guessing this is the maximum frequency it will allow the speakers to play, also I have noticed when the woofers are going there are slighty creases in the surrounds as they go in and out is this normal, cheers

 

[agarwalro]

What are the options? Can you post a screenshot of the settings screen?