Def Techs in the House II

[jgw4]

All,

The 7006's and the 2300 center are sitting in boxes alongside the Yamaha RXV663. How should I proceed with set up? Should I let the receiver do the auto setup thing or should I do it manually. If manual, what should I use as settings? Eventually, I'll have a 5.1 system. Thanks.

 

[GlocksRock]

Might as well do it all manually... set both the front and center to large, and use a tape measure to measure the distance from the speakers to your listening position. If you can't do this, then the auto setup is pretty accurate with setting distance, and grab your SPL meter to set the levels. Of course if you don't have an SPL meter, then just let the auto setup do it all, since it usually likes to set speakers to large even when they shouldn't be. You can let it set the PEQ and see how you like it, but most will just say turn it off.

 

[jcPanny]

Autosetup

I have had good luck with the autosetup on my Yamaha for the distance and speaker levels. I usually manually adjust the speaker sizes to SMALL and the crossover for the sub, but these are not really applicable since you don't have a sub. Make sure all speakers are set to LARGE or the Mains to LARGE and center to SMALL.

 

[Matt34]

http://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/speaker-setup-guidelines/setting-speaker-levels-distance-in-a-surround-sound-system

This might help.

 

[jgw4]

The 2300 has a port labeled "full range low level in". Where do I plug this in? Will it add alot to the system?

I did the auto set up with Yamaha 663. I first run it said I wired the left front and center out of phase. I checked both, the left front was wired wrong but the center was wired correctly (white stripe of pair cable to red + terminal on 663 and center speaker). I tried the test again, it report that left front was ok but center still out of phase. I reversed the wires (now wired out of phase). Ran the test a third time, now reports that all are wired correctly. What should I do? Wire it correctly and have the out of phase warning or reverse wires and have the error message gone?

I don't know jack about speakers but I must say I was running around trying old CDs because I was hearing things I didn't know where there.

 

[jgw4]

Oh, I noticed another thing while watching directv. There is occasionally some delay between the lips moving and the sound coming up... mildly irritating.

 

[GlocksRock]

The 2300 has a port labeled "full range low level in". Where do I plug this in? Will it add alot to the system?

I did the auto set up with Yamaha 663. I first run it said I wired the left front and center out of phase. I checked both, the left front was wired wrong but the center was wired correctly (white stripe of pair cable to red + terminal on 663 and center speaker). I tried the test again, it report that left front was ok but center still out of phase. I reversed the wires (now wired out of phase). Ran the test a third time, now reports that all are wired correctly. What should I do? Wire it correctly and have the out of phase warning or reverse wires and have the error message gone?

I don't know jack about speakers but I must say I was running around trying old CDs because I was hearing things I didn't know where there.

The full range input is basically for if you are using it as a left or right main speaker, you can use the built in sub for your .1 or LFE channel, but for use as a center channel, you dont' need it, just set your receiver's center channel to large, and it will play full range.

As far as the wiring error message, if you are positive you have it hooked up right, just disregard that it's telling you it's wrong. You should be able to defeat the option to have it check wiring when you run the setup.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The 2300 has a port labeled "full range low level in". Where do I plug this in? Will it add alot to the system?

The Full Range Low Level In is for the Preamp Center Channel Output from your receiver. It is for the lower frequencies in the Center Channel. It is NOT meant for the LFE or Subwoofer.

If you want to do this, hook the speaker wire from the Yamaha Center Channel to the CLR2300's speaker post. Then hook the Center Channel Preamp Output from the Yamaha to the Full Range Low Level In - that is if your Yamaha has the Preamp outputs.

But like GlocksRock says, it really doesn't do a whole lot.

Realize that even when you use a single speaker cable to hook the BP7006s and CLR2300, you are BI-AMPING each of them already.

 

[jgw4]

The Full Range Low Level In is for the Preamp Center Channel Output from your receiver. It is for the lower frequencies in the Center Channel. It is NOT meant for the LFE or Subwoofer.

If you want to do this, hook the speaker wire from the Yamaha Center Channel to the CLR2300's speaker post. Then hook the Center Channel Preamp Output from the Yamaha to the Full Range Low Level In - that is if your Yamaha has the Preamp outputs.

But like GlocksRock says, it really doesn't do a whole lot.

Realize that even when you use a single speaker cable to hook the BP7006s and CLR2300, you are BI-AMPING each of them already.

Oops, I hooked up the sub out to the center input. I'll disconnect immediately. Also, I don't notice any difference when I play with the sub volume on the center speaker. I notice a huge difference when I play with vol on the 7006. What gives? Is the sub bad on the center?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Oops, I hooked up the sub out to the center input. I'll disconnect immediately. Also, I don't notice any difference when I play with the sub volume on the center speaker. I notice a huge difference when I play with vol on the 7006. What gives? Is the sub bad on the center?

You did not notice the difference in volume of the 2300's sub when you accidentally hooked up the Subwoofer/LFE to the 2300?

Or you do not notice a difference when you hook the speaker wires to the 2300 (nothing hooked to the FULL RANGE input)?

Most of the time, you will not notice much bass from the center channel because it's mainly dialogue.

The only time you will hear bass is when you listen to SACD, DVD-Audio, or DTS-CD, or when there is actually low frequency information in the center channel. And you set the Center Channel to LARGE, right?

 

[GlocksRock]

I notice quite a lot of bass coming from my center channel and it's set to large and is only connected with speaker wires, with the volume set to about 11 o'clock. I guess I noticed soo much more bass coming from the center since my current towers don't have powered subs built in. After hearing how much better the speakers sound with powered subs in them I had to upgrade my fronts. My apologies for the misinformation about the LFE/full range input on the center.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I notice quite a lot of bass coming from my center channel and it's set to large and is only connected with speaker wires, with the volume set to about 11 o'clock. I guess I noticed soo much more bass coming from the center since my current towers don't have powered subs built in. After hearing how much better the speakers sound with powered subs in them I had to upgrade my fronts. My apologies for the misinformation about the LFE/full range input on the center.

Yeah, I have my CLR3000, BP7000s, & BP7001s all set to 11 o'clock too.

My CLR3000 is also connected with just speaker wires and set to LARGE (FULL RANGE INPUT not used). And I also hear plenty of bass for movies and music. But it all depends on the source.

You gotta have the bass in the original soundtrack's center channel.

Some sources do not have any bass/low frequency material in the center channel whatsoever. For example, Crowed House DVD-Audio has just the lead vocal in the center channel and nothing else is recorded in the center channel - not even the music.

 

[jgw4]

Ok, I just directed some bass from a music CD to the center 2300. It's definitely working and I played with the volume - it works too...now set to 1100. I connected the full range in to the pre out for the center - correct?

The 663 is still doing some weird stuff in the speaker set up menu. Now it shows the center channel is wired correctly (it's not) and the left front wired incorrectly (it is). Guess I'll be calling Yamaha

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I connected the full range in to the pre out for the center - correct?

That is correct-- Receiver Center Preout to the CLR2300 FULL RANGE Input.

 

[GlocksRock]

That is correct-- Receiver Center Preout to the CLR2300 FULL RANGE Input.

What is the point of connecting the receivers preout to the full range input? As long as the receiver is set to large for the center channel, it will play full range with just speaker wire connected.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

What is the point of connecting the receivers preout to the full range input? As long as the receiver is set to large for the center channel, it will play full range with just speaker wire connected.

I have absolutely no idea.

I tried that for a little, but I can't tell the difference, so I stopped.

Def Tech says that using 2 external amps (tri-amping) plus using the Full Range Input gives you the ULTIMATE hook-up.

More detail, bla, bla, bla.