Need setup advice on Denon AVR-X500 with Boston acoustics Soundware XS 5.1

[Sachb]

Hie guys, as u can see the thread title, i would like to know your setup recommendation for Denon X500 + BA soundware XS 5.1.

I have tons of options like Crossovers L, R, Center etc.
So can you tell me what settings do on crossover for both music & movies. Should i keep my crossover to 150 hz on all speakers or 80hz ?

My speakers have frequency range from 150hz to 20khz. So pls help me out here. Also other settings like sub & more.

The other thing i would like to ask is, Im using HAMA 2x1.5mm² cables for BA soundware, & they seem to come off when it gets slightly pulled. Its so difficult to connect cables into these speakers.

Why is this happnening?

 

[agarwalro]

I would say, let the auto setup complete and then don't lower the crossover the receiver selected. The satellites are tiny and I cannot imagine they will play lower than 120Hz at best. So, 150Hz for all of them sounds about right.

According to the good folks at Cnet, your issue with attaching the speaker cables is a symptom of the design. From this review of the XS 5.1, the process seems to be,

The push-to-open, all-metal connectors recessed into the speaker's rear accept only skinny bare wires (you can't use banana plugs, spades, or pins). We found the connectors extremely awkward to use; you have to push with a fair amount of pressure on the connector to open the hole, then ever so gently angle the bare wire into the hole, and then release the connector. Once the wire is in there it tends to stay put

 

[Sachb]

Thanx mate, I've put the crossover to 120hz, cause i need a bit of bass to come on the Satellite too. Is it ok to keep the speakers on the shelf instead of mounting, & last is good to keep surround speakers behind the front speakers??

 

[rojo]

Unfortunately, lowering your crossover setting won't deepen the response of the satellites, but it could create a gap between the subwoofer's high point and the satellites' physically limited -3dB low point. I'd stick with the Denon's recommended crossover point. If you need your mains to play deeper at a meaningful volume, you'll have to replace them with bigger speakers.

Surround speakers behind the front speakers... Well, they won't really do what surround speakers are intended to do back there. If running them to the sides of your primary listening position (or behind) isn't possible, I'd probably sooner just leave them unplugged than keep them active behind the main L+R. But do what you think sounds best.

If you're happy with the sound, then I won't argue with your ears. I don't think you're in any danger of releasing the magic smoke from any of your components, in any case.

 

[markw]

Thanx mate, I've put the crossover to 120hz, cause i need a bit of bass to come on the Satellite too.

You won't gain anything by doing that. You can lower them to 80 or even set them to large but no matter what you do they won't play below the 150 hxz they were designed to do. That's like putting 140 mph tires on a Smart Car and thinking that'll make it go 140 mph.

Is it ok to keep the speakers on the shelf instead of mounting, & last is good to keep surround speakers behind the front speakers??

I'm unclear as to what you're asking here. The speakers can most certainly be put on the shelf but the surround speakers should be behind you, not the front speakers. They will work there but you won't be getting the intended effect.

 

[agarwalro]

Thanx mate, I've put the crossover to 120hz, cause i need a bit of bass to come on the Satellite too. Is it ok to keep the speakers on the shelf instead of mounting, & last is good to keep surround speakers behind the front speakers??

If the receiver assigned 150Hz, leave it there. As Rojo and Markw mentioned, it does not make sense or help to lower it to 120Hz.

To get proper surround effect, the satellite speakers must be positioned as shown here,

 

[Sachb]

But to be honest, it sounds much better than my sony home theatre, which had only bass & no voice clarity. This one is just so clear & loud, but some frequencies are still missing. But overall much better & thanx for the adviice i'll set my crossover to 150Hz.

 

[zieglj01]

But to be honest, it sounds much better than my sony home theatre, which had only bass & no voice clarity. This one is just so clear & loud, but some frequencies are still missing. But overall much better & thanx for the adviice i'll set my crossover to 150Hz.

Small sub/sat systems can have their limitations - however, the Boston is nice for what it can do.

 

[Sachb]

Ok guys thanx for the quick response, Now how do i get the sound from the TV to be playing on my denon X500 receiver? I've put the HDMI cable on 2 (ARC) in the Samsung smart TV & external speakers settings also, but still no sound on my amp while playing music from USB in TV.

Does Denon Avr-X500 support Audio return channel aka "Arc" ? If yes then how do i do it?

 

[markw]

According to the manual that can be found here, I cannot find any reference to the AVR-X-500 supporting ARC. It is, after all, an entry level receiver. You get no bread with your one meat ball.

You're gonna have to find some other way to get sound from the TV to your receiver. Not knowing what TV you're using sort of makes it kinda difficult to offer any suggestions here.

 

[rojo]

I think when ARC is not available, using an optical cable is the traditional method of connecting a television's audio output to a receiver.

 

[agarwalro]

Looks like it certainly does not since the X1000 product page specifically states, 'HDMI out with ARC', while the X500 does not.

Optical would be your best alternate.

Any reason you are not going source > Denon > TV? By going TV > Denon, you are losing out on HD audio even if you have a BD Player.

 

[Sachb]

Oh that means i have to use optical, so many expenses occuring these days. Actually the purpose for the sound to come through receiver was coz i have smart hub, & i wish to play youtube & other music through my tv but i want the sound to come from receiver.

My BR player also has smart hub but its so slow to type with the remotes, but if i have the choice to play it through my TV i can do it faster because i have my android smartphone paired to the TV .

Therefore typing is faster.

 

[rojo]

As far as expenses go, this one isn't too painful, as long as the ride home is reasonable.

Edit: Well, I see your point. Shipping from Amazon USA to UAE will be about $14 US, or about 51 Diram. I haven't been able to find shipping costs from Amazon UK to UAE. Cheapest cables I could find without your having to import were this 1m cable for 49 AED, and this 10m cable for 68. There's not much in between for that cheap. I guess if your receiver is less than a meter from your television, you might save some money by ordering from that Souq website.

Edit 2: Order from China / Hong Kong. Dirt cheap cables, even with international shipping.

 

[Sachb]

Thanx for the help so far, now i would like to know if i can use wireless transmitter headphones for the reciever? How much does a good quality Headphone cost? Which brand do u recommend? My budget is less than $100 .