Problem with the sound

[FantasyGhost]

My set-up:
Onkyo TX-NR905 receiver (7.1 and then some ). I'm using a 5.1 set up at the moment, because the livingroom structure doesn't suit for a 7.1 set up.

B&W 6 series speakers
684
61
DS3

REL Subwoofer

I have to turn up my speakers really high to get a good performance out of my speakers. Just when listening to the radio it's really quiet.

Also i have a problem when i'm watching a movie, the surround quality. I'm only hearing the sub and front speakers, nothing from the DS3 speakers. When i come up really close to them you hear they're working, but not as much as i expected. Am i doing anything wrong?
I played Blu-ray movies, and DVD's from my PS3 on it.

 

[anamorphic96]

Check the delay setting for the surrounds. The manual should have a section explaining this and how to set it. Also check the output levels for the surrounds to make sure they are consistent with the front speakers. Audyssey usually does a good job with this but is known to get things wrong from time to time.

An SPL meter from Radio Shack will let you check the levels. It's only 35.00.

Give us some more info on room dimensions and maybe some pics on how things are set up as well as what the Onkyo's settings are this could help us troubleshoot more.

One last thing to keep in mind is that surround speakers are there for effects and not meant to always be as active as the mains.

 

[FantasyGhost]

Yes it's done with Audyssey
Dimensions: 5 x 7 x 2,5m ( 16,4 x 23 x 8,2ft )

I have to set it to -20dB to hear the frontal speakers well enough for movies. When listening to music it's set to -35dB.












The subwoofer is behind the television set, that's why Audyssey placed it so far away i guess. And accoring to the manual i had to place the back speakers on the side outputs when working with a 5.1 set-up.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Yes it's done with Audyssey
Dimensions: 5 x 7 x 2,5m ( 16,4 x 23 x 8,2ft )

I have to set it to -20dB to hear the frontal speakers well enough for movies. When listening to music it's set to -35dB.


The subwoofer is behind the television set, that's why Audyssey placed it so far away i guess. And accoring to the manual i had to place the back speakers on the side outputs when working with a 5.1 set-up.

If your levels are properly matched and to the so called reference level, then that -20 is about right and might be on the low side
Usually, others have it as high as -10 or -5 to get it closer to theater reference levels

Yes, CD music volume will be different for comfortable levels. Don't use that as a guideline.

 

[FantasyGhost]

Then how is it that i don't hear the back speakers that well? Do i have to get the level up higher on them alone then?

I used to have a Sony DAV-S300 and you could hear the back speakers very well. They were at the same height as the DS3's. So there must be something that i'm not doing right.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Then how is it that i don't hear the back speakers that well? Do i have to get the level up higher on them alone then?

I used to have a Sony DAV-S300 and you could hear the back speakers very well. They were at the same height as the DS3's. So there must be something that i'm not doing right.

If you are having issues with the surround channels even after an auto calibration, you should invest in an RS analog SPL meter and do a manual level matching with either the internal test tones, or a test disc that may and should have a more accurate level signal to all the channels; it would also account for any signal path difference between the channels all the way from your DVD player to the speakers.

 

[jcPanny]

receiver modes.

Try the 7 channel stereo mode will listening to a CD. You should be able to hear all of the speakers, including the center and surrounds. Some movies take advantage of the surround channels much more than others.