installed andrew jones pioneer system, underwhelmed.

[Jimefam]

I'm probably doing something wrong but here is the story. I have a dedicated theater room in the basement(25'L X 12'W) that I built two level platforms in for stadium seating. Platform is 2x8's 16" on center with plenty of insulation and covered in 3/4" mdf. I also used those rubber isolators from a company whose name I cant recall at the moment. Have a 7.1 pioneer system(4 bookcase speakers, center and 2 towers and the matching sub) hooked up to a denon avr-x2000 receiver. Set it all up according to the guide in the denon and I have to say I am a bit underwhelmed with the sound overall. Biggest issue is I feel a big lack of bass but also I feel the front speakers completely overpower the surround effect.

I am a complete noob when it comes to sound systems so think of it lile your talking to a child lol. It is exactly as the denon set it up at the moment as I dont know enough to think I can do better but I just dont feel like I am getting much of a theater experience. In my previous home I had a very similar setup in a slightly larger room with just the energy take 5.1 system and feel like that was much better? What am I missing? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[OKLAGMCRUISER]

Are you sure you have the Denon processor set to 7.1 and not in a DSP or two channel mode? Also, try increasing your center and surround channel's volume while playing test tones to get matching volumes, while sitting in your sweet spot.

 

[zieglj01]

Also, I would replace the Pioneer subwoofer - that for sure is a problem

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Also, I would replace the Pioneer subwoofer - that for sure is a problem

^^ That! Pioneer sub is lost in your large room.
Get a proper sub (around $500) and re-run Auto calibration

One idea for sub is this one:
Outlaw Audio LFM-1 Plus Powered Subwoofer

 

[j_garcia]

That sub is probably the one thing that should not have been purchased, especially for a decent sized room.

I run the towers by themselves in a fairly large, open room and feel they already have decent bass even for movies IMO. I watched Catching Fire on them. Not going to knock you over with bass, or shake the house, or reach the bottom octave without a sub too, but they're not bad.

 

[Jimefam]

Are you sure you have the Denon processor set to 7.1 and not in a DSP or two channel mode? Also, try increasing your center and surround channel's volume while playing test tones to get matching volumes, while sitting in your sweet spot.

I hit movie on the sound selection and it is playing surround for sure but maybe not the best mode. For sure I will look into a better sub then. The other question is sub placement, the builder(its a new house) put the sub wiring in the middle of the back wall so I have it in the back left corner at the moment. It is about 8" away from each wall at the moment and 3' from the last row of seats. One last question was would I be better off putting a y on the rca cable the goes to the sub and putting another one just like it in the back right?

 

[zieglj01]

One last question was would I be better off putting a y on the rca cable the goes to the sub and putting another one just like it in the back right?

Having 2 mickey mouse's, will not equal a mighty mouse

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Having 2 mickey mouse's, will not equal a mighty mouse

the correct math is :
one sub on top of the other = 2x mickey mice
subs across the room = 1.5x mickey mice

As mentioned in no situation two(three or even four) pioneer subs could match performance of one proper sub like one I have linked to above

 

[j_garcia]

I hit movie on the sound selection and it is playing surround for sure but maybe not the best mode. For sure I will look into a better sub then. The other question is sub placement, the builder(its a new house) put the sub wiring in the middle of the back wall so I have it in the back left corner at the moment. It is about 8" away from each wall at the moment and 3' from the last row of seats. One last question was would I be better off putting a y on the rca cable the goes to the sub and putting another one just like it in the back right?

Start with "auto detect" mode and allow the receiver to decode in the original format sent by the player. Which also means configuring the player to send the correct signal, and the best setting for that might simply be BITSTREAM so the receiver only has to apply Audessey and bass management.

The sub is 8" and not hefty in the power department, so adding a second will give you double the output of exactly the same thing; a second is not going to be a benefit. LOL, I think it would take quite a few of those subs to even come close to one LFM-1EX.

Do you have a budget for the sub? Can you still return the Pioneer?

 

[zieglj01]

The Outlaw is on sale till the 30th

Another sub to look at is Reaction Audio - so far the comments have been good/positive
$499 each or, $899 for 2
Reaction Audio — BPS 212 "Turbo" Powered Subwoofer

http://reaction-audio.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/dual-bps-212-turbo-powered-subwoofers

 

[Jimefam]

Having 2 mickey mouse's, will not equal a mighty mouse

the correct math is :
one sub on top of the other = 2x mickey mice
subs across the room = 1.5x mickey mice

As mentioned in no situation two(three or even four) pioneer subs could match performance of one proper sub like one I have linked to above

Start with "auto detect" mode and allow the receiver to decode in the original format sent by the player. Which also means configuring the player to send the correct signal, and the best setting for that might simply be BITSTREAM so the receiver only has to apply Audessey and bass management.

The sub is 8" and not hefty in the power department, so adding a second will give you double the output of exactly the same thing; a second is not going to be a benefit. LOL, I think it would take quite a few of those subs to even come close to one LFM-1EX.

Do you have a budget for the sub? Can you still return the Pioneer?

Lol that was an excellent way of making your point. Yes I can swing the sub if it will give me the kick im looking for. Not to sound like a total dumbass but how do you put it in auto detect mode lol. I saw it on lime but cant find it in the menu. Cant return the pioneer but I will find somewhere for it.

 

[agarwalro]

Did you run auto setup process? This will set up the things like level matching, distance, identify speaker phase, etc. This is important to get a minimally correct configuration

 

[j_garcia]

Lol that was an excellent way of making your point. Yes I can swing the sub if it will give me the kick im looking for. Not to sound like a total dumbass but how do you put it in auto detect mode lol. I saw it on lime but cant find it in the menu. Cant return the pioneer but I will find somewhere for it.

Not familiar with the menus on the new X0000 lines, but it should be a mode selection just like "movie" is, and may simply be called "Auto" like it was on my previous Marantz. Some call it AFD = Auto Format Detect, and it actually means decode the signal as is with no additional processing.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Lol that was an excellent way of making your point. Yes I can swing the sub if it will give me the kick im looking for. Not to sound like a total dumbass but how do you put it in auto detect mode lol. I saw it on lime but cant find it in the menu.

You start it by plugging in included microphone into front port

 

[j_garcia]

You start it by plugging in included microphone into front port

That's different than what I was suggesting, but yes, Audessey should be run as well if it hasn't been.

 

[zieglj01]

Look at page 145 here - under input mode
http://a248.e.akamai.net/pix.crutchfield.com/Manuals/033/033AVX2000.PDF

 

[Jimefam]

Did you run auto setup process? This will set up the things like level matching, distance, identify speaker phase, etc. This is important to get a minimally correct configuration

That's different than what I was suggesting, but yes, Audessey should be run as well if it hasn't been.

Yes I ran that Audessey setup deal.

Look at page 145 here - under input mode
http://a248.e.akamai.net/pix.crutchfield.com/Manuals/033/033AVX2000.PDF

Thank you so much that is better. I also changed the movie to the avengers which I believe is better for a 7.1 system then the other movie I had. Sounds pretty good just need more bass. Is the sub recommended in this thread the consensus choice for $500ish?

 

[rojo]

Svs, hsu, outlaw, and rhythmic are the most often recommended for less than a grand. Since the outlaw is on sale, that'd be my recommendation this week.

Sent from my LG-VS980 using Tapatalk

 

[zieglj01]

Is the sub recommended in this thread the consensus choice for $500ish?

As all things audio and being subjective - you will not get 100% agreement
Subwoofers tend to be the most sensitive subject on most forums and it can
tend to get crazy and silly. A lot of it tends to come down to preference and
some nit-picking.

For around $500 - the Outlaw (till the 30th), SVS PB-1000, Reaction Audio BPS-212
and HSU VTF-2 are good options to look at.

I agree with rojo - this week the Outlaw Audio

 

[psbfan9]

I would look at SVS for your sub. One of the SB12's in piano gloss or charcoal ($549.00) would be good for your room.

SVS Outlet Specials