new system sounds sloppy

[luckaz]

I've been researching a lot and I finally convinced my wife to let me start building a home theater.
I just bought; RX-V659, X-sub, x-ls bookshelves.
I am having trouble with the set up. I used YPAO but I am still confused about setting speakers to large or small and also LFE settings.
The audioholic bass management articles say to set fronts to 'small' so the sub gets the proper LFE signals. The audioholics review of the 659 suggests the opposite for 2 channel use

"In the great tradition of excellent bass management, Yamaha offers a variable crossover point from 40Hz to 200 Hz and also allows subwoofer output in 2CH mode if the speakers are set to LARGE via the LFE/Bass Out set to “Both”. "​

I am using this for music 90% of the time. Several of the processing modes send no signal whatever to the sub including the 'pure direct' mode.
Does anyone have any suggestions for the proper settings for a 2.1 channel setup?
So far my wife is not very impressed with the sound.
Cheers

 

[MDS]

Here is a simplified explanation of bass management:

When speakers are set to Small, any bass below the xover point you set is redirected to the subwoofer. Any speakers set to Large will get a full range signal with no portion of that signal sent to the subwoofer.

The 'Both' setting however WILL send the bass below the xover to the subwoofer in addition to the Large speakers. Other manufacturers call this setting 'double bass' because the Large speakers AND the subwoofer are reproducing the bass.

99% of the time the correct setting is Small for all channels, a xover setting of 80 Hz, and the subwoofer mode set to 'Sub only'.

 

[Nick250]

The audioholic bass management articles say to set fronts to 'small' so the sub gets the proper LFE signals. The audioholics review of the 659 suggests the opposite for 2 channel use

"In the great tradition of excellent bass management, Yamaha offers a variable crossover point from 40Hz to 200 Hz and also allows subwoofer output in 2CH mode if the speakers are set to LARGE via the LFE/Bass Out set to “Both”. "​

Cheers

"40Hz to 200 Hz and also allows subwoofer output in 2CH mode if the speakers are set to LARGE via the LFE/Bass"

Please note the "if". The comment is just a note of a particular setting that the receiver is capable of. It is not a recommendation to use it or not. As MDS said, your system will sound best with the x-ls set to small and crossed over at 80Hz.

Nick

 

[billnchristy]

Have you tried the system minus the YPAO?

I have had problems with it sucking the bass right out of the system.

Also it is highly reccommended to run a Y-cable to your X-sub and put one into the sub in and the other into one of the other inputs...my sony had 2 sub outs and I really miss the extra output (cant find my Y)

I suggest this:

Let the YPAO do the simple stuff, check wiring, check distance and skip the rest.

Also check to see what the settings on the PEQ are...mine seriously took every bit of bass out of the system.

Some things might not apply, I have an HTR-5790 and I dont know what they may have added/subtracted since mine.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me, I have the Yamaha feeding 4 X-LS/1 X-CS/1 XSub

2 ch stereo and straight stereo will have sub output, pure direct doesnt.

 

[PENG]

I am using this for music 90% of the time. Several of the processing modes send no signal whatever to the sub including the 'pure direct' mode.
Does anyone have any suggestions for the proper settings for a 2.1 channel setup?
So far my wife is not very impressed with the sound.
Cheers

For music I prefer pure direct without the sub. It really depends on what your L/R speakers can do. If they are truly full range, such as 40 to 20,000 Hz +/-3 dB you should do quite well without the sub. Otherwise you could either go with L/R set to small, XO at 80 Hz, or L/R set to large but with LFE/Bass set to both.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Room acoustics could be a factor...

...I had several different issues with my system until I added a few acoustic panels. They made a night and day difference for me. My listening area is rather small, so I got a megaphone type effect that made listening unpleasant at higher (above background) levels. The panels fixed this and I've been able to comfortably listen at 12-15 DB's higher while maintaining clarity of sound.

Just something for your consideration.

Jack