Question on my home theater setup (newbie)

[Chris Maxwell]

Pardon my newbie questions here, I'm looking for some advice. Any advice you can drop in with any of the info I've requested in my rant is VERY much appreciated!

Part 1----I have the Yamaha RX-A770 with a Definitive Technology ProCinema 600's 5.1 speaker set up. I'm running an ARC from my Samsung smart TV to the receiver, Mostly I watch movies on either Vudu or Netflix in UHD.

What would be the recommended settings on the receiver for the best surround sound. I've been playing with Cinema DSP in Sci-Fi and Adventure, Enhanced, Surround Decoder with Neo-cinema, Dolby, etc.

What would you all recommend?

Also, I'm assuming when I get a UHD blue ray player it will automatically detect and present DTS, Dolby Digital, etc??

Part 2---So, I'm okay with how this sounds in the multiple modes for the movies but the sub is definitely lacking a bit. If I spend another $600 I could return the speakers and upgrade from the DefTech Procinema 600's to the 1000's series. DO you all think that would be a noticeable difference and worth the extra cash?

 

[lovinthehd]

It's really a preference thing as to which sound mode you prefer. Some prefer no processing/sound mode. Personally I don't use the modes that are named after music genres or particular venues....but I don't have a Yamaha so not even familiar with the array they offer. Try 'em and see what you like, or not. If your player is set to bitstream then the avr will usually auto detect the codec and play accordingly (or change it to a sound mode you last used for that codec, look in your manual for your particular unit).

As to lacking bass, with DefTec "subs" that wouldn't surprise me, especially their very small "subs" like come with the ProCinema 600 set; there's only so much an 8" can do, too. I wouldn't even bother with a DefTec sub whatsoever (and they don't need to match brand, altho you want a sub that will cover the frequency range up to where your satellites take over). I'd look at different subs, altho larger satellites would probably be an improvement as well.

How big is your room?

 

[Chris Maxwell]

Thank you. I went and exchanged the speakers yesterday for the SVS satellites and the PB-1000 sub from what I have researched on here that should sound way better. However, I have a post up above this one. I can't get the sub to work unfortunately.

The room is probably 20x20.

 

[lovinthehd]

Better sub, different gain structure. The gain knob on the sub is simply to get it matched up to the pre-out level of your avr, and even having it at full is fine. I think your sub "volume" expectations are partially in play (are you trying to compare it to a sub in a car or something?), and your room at roughly 3200 cuft (assuming an 8ft ceiling) is fairly large for a 10" ported sub. If the room is square as you indicate that can create extra difficulties acoustically for a sub; if the room is open to others then its even harder for the sub to pressurize the room. Have you read up on sub placement (sub crawl etc)?

 

[Chris Maxwell]

So I did the sub crawl and the best spot was the corner where it is at. I re ran the YPAO and then turned the sub up from 1.5 where ypao set it to 5.0, I then turned the gain on the sub dial to about 3:00. I also set the five speakers too small and 80 hz and I’m using the LFE settings on the subwoofer. It sounds pretty good now.

Any other suggestions on helping me fine tune the system in general would be appreciated!

 

[lovinthehd]

So I did the sub crawl and the best spot was the corner where it is at. I re ran the YPAO and then turned the sub up from 1.5 where ypao set it to 5.0, I then turned the gain on the sub dial to about 3:00. I also set the five speakers too small and 80 hz and I’m using the LFE settings on the subwoofer. It sounds pretty good now.

Any other suggestions on helping me fine tune the system in general would be appreciated!

Personally once I calibrate my sub's level in the avr I only use the avr's sub level control after that to raise (or lower, altho I generally raise ), just for consistency sake from a known reference point, the dials on subs aren't all that accurate/repeatable if you change them after calibration. I'd maybe leave the sub's gain where you have raised it to now and now re-run YPAO to bring the level down from 5.0 (I prefer 0 or in the negative range).