Help with Pioneer VSX-515 setup

[Placebo005]

Ok heres the equipt.;
2 front Ikon CM6500 powered speakers http://ikon-audio.com/products/cm6500.html
1 center Ikon CM515 http://ikon-audio.com/products/cm515.html
2 surrond Ikon CM500 http://ikon-audio.com/products/cm500.html

Dynamics of the room:
unfinished basement - open
designated area for HT dimensions: 10ftx12ft

Obsticles: Brick fireplace to the left - 2ft from left front speaker
Back wall is cement with half top covered insulation

current setup
front speakers positioned 6' apart
viewing area: 8' away from front speakers and tv

NOTE: I do not have a subwoofer
help:
1)is it better to have the rear bookshelf speakers set in to surround back or leave them as surround (just wanna make sure)

2)I have 2 Energy ESAT-2 satilite speakers on stands; there about 10yrs old, would it be benefiecial to connect them as surround backs?

3) Should i set the surround speakers as Large?

4) What is the ideal setting the LFE Att be set at?

If you can help me out - awesome, i know theres some great ppl on here
also if u know something i should have due to the room atmoshphere i would appreciate it if you shared the advice

Thanks alot!

 

[JMO_PWR]

Hey,

1. Firstly by using your rear speakers as surround backs you will not be able to listen to 5.1 Encoded Audio properly. Not only that, the surround back channels are equilized as there is little media out there today that actually supports 7.1

2. Depends on your tastes, and of course if they improve the soundstage/Dialogue. Sometimes differant speakers sound good sometimes they dont. Try it out and judge it for yourself.

3. They are Satillite speakers/Bookshelf (unless im mistaken) so no. Depending of course on the frequancy response/power handling. The small setting just has a higher cut off frequancy. Usually around 50-80(adjustable)

4. The LFE ATT feature is the LFE (sub pre out) attenuator to prevent very low bass tones from distorting the subwoofer. Often found in DD and DTS audio tracks. (Useful if you have "porthole" noise / distortion on low bass tones through your sub)

However the feature that sets X.Over is under the M. MCACC setup menu. Go to SP Setup > X.Over then change this. This sets the cutoff between the bass frequancies playing through the speakers selected as LARGE, or the subwoofer(absent in this case), and bass frequancies playing back from those speakers set as SMALL.

It also decides what the cutoff will be for bass freq. through the LFE (Sub Pre-Out) Channel.

If you are using anologue inputs INPUT ATT could be useful to "tone down" (attenuate) the signal through analogue inputs to prevent distortion.

Also i would comment on speaker placement but i know little about your speakers so you wouldnt get the best reply. If you want a generalized answer...Then a good room will have little corners and low sonic reproduction (eg. clap your hands...if it echo's its no good) You should go by what your book says for placement as general guidelines. If you like, posting specs of your speakers and pics of the room would help us forum guru's help you out with speaker placement.

Goodluck.

 

[Placebo005]

ok the picsa are attached of what my HT looks as of now.

Also another question, would it bbe benificial to add a drop drape in the back behind either the stereo or behind the listening area?

Note: i apologize in advance for the horrible quality of pictures, its a crappy old 2.1 digital cam

 

[JMO_PWR]

Probebly Not, No. As it will muffle the bass and reduce bass sound throughout the room. However the room (basement) looks as if it wouldnt have the best room acoustics. Depending again. There are many other people in this forum that will help you, if you post a question about Room Acoustics and Speaker Placement.

GoodLuck.