Speaker settings w/o Sub

[SamJam]

Noob Warning!! This is my first HT system and I don't yet have a subwoofer. However, I want to get the best sound out of what I have today. I ask for guidance in optimizing my receiver settings with the following components. I'm reading the manual on the receiver but would love to hear from those more experienced than me. The components are all wired in, but factory settings have not been modified.

Denon AVR-2310CI
Polk RTI A5's (L&R)
Polk CSI A4 center
Monoprice MST-63-2K for surrounds
Samsung PN58B540
I intend to add a sub (SVS PC12-NSD is my hope) as soon as funding allows but for now my port is empty.

TV/stereo usage is about 40% movies, 20% games, 20% music and 20% TV/sports. Currently my surrounds are not putting out much sound when playing a movie. I think I should run the Audyssey MultEQ process but wasn't sure if I should first modify receiver settings for the speakers (large vs small, crossover settings, etc.). Again, I want to get the best possible sound from this system without the sub for now. Then I am happy to reset everything when I get the sub but it could be a few weeks.

Thanks in advance for any/all recommendations!

Sam

 

[jostenmeat]

TV/stereo usage is about 40% movies, 20% games, 20% music and 20% TV/sports. Currently my surrounds are not putting out much sound when playing a movie. I think I should run the Audyssey MultEQ process but wasn't sure if I should first modify receiver settings for the speakers (large vs small, crossover settings, etc.). Again, I want to get the best possible sound from this system without the sub for now. Then I am happy to reset everything when I get the sub but it could be a few weeks.

Thanks in advance for any/all recommendations!

Sam

Set mains to large. Tell receiver that sub is NOT connected. The LFE normally meant for the sub will now be routed to your mains, but with an extremely reduced signal (to protect both speakers and amp). Like 1/20th is what I read.

Since most speakers are not actually full range, just use common sense, turn it down if it starts sounding bad.

Make sure to find the best spots for all of your equipment, and then run the Audyssey. Use all of the available measuring spots, which for you is 6, all around the main viewing spots.

After running the Audyssey, write down all of the settings it gives you. You can always tweak things afterward for personal preference. It will definitely give you xover points for center speaker and surrounds, and perhaps for the mains. If it does so for the mains, you can always defeat that xover, but know that Audyssey does absolutely no calibration below what it finds the capable range of a speaker to be. (For instance, if it finds a Bose speaker to work only down to 250hz, it will only apply corrections above 250hz).

Good luck.

 

[SamJam]

Set mains to large. Tell receiver that sub is NOT connected. The LFE normally meant for the sub will now be routed to your mains, but with an extremely reduced signal (to protect both speakers and amp). Like 1/20th is what I read.

Since most speakers are not actually full range, just use common sense, turn it down if it starts sounding bad.

Make sure to find the best spots for all of your equipment, and then run the Audyssey. Use all of the available measuring spots, which for you is 6, all around the main viewing spots.

After running the Audyssey, write down all of the settings it gives you. You can always tweak things afterward for personal preference. It will definitely give you xover points for center speaker and surrounds, and perhaps for the mains. If it does so for the mains, you can always defeat that xover, but know that Audyssey does absolutely no calibration below what it finds the capable range of a speaker to be. (For instance, if it finds a Bose speaker to work only down to 250hz, it will only apply corrections above 250hz).

Good luck.

This is perfect - thanks so much for the advice!

 

[jostenmeat]

This is perfect - thanks so much for the advice!

You're welcome. This link is going to scare the living hell out of you, so muster up some courage if you want to look at it, but I post it here for your future reference.

 

[SamJam]

You're welcome. This link is going to scare the living hell out of you, so muster up some courage if you want to look at it, but I post it here for your future reference.

Yikes! It's good to know that level of detail is available but I'm not familiar enough with my equipment to go there. I'm hopeful the the "basics" will get me by for a while.

Thanks also for the info on the remote... I ordered the RFS200 today. I get a new toy and my lovely wife is is excited about the purchase (she hates multiple remotes and visible hardware). What a great combination!

Sam

 

[jostenmeat]

Thanks also for the info on the remote... I ordered the RFS200 today. I get a new toy and my lovely wife is is excited about the purchase (she hates multiple remotes and visible hardware). What a great combination!

Sam

A few tips:

1. I recommend the learning method when programming. Takes about 5 minutes per macro.

2. When programming volume, instead of just hitting the original remote quickly to program, hold it down. This will let you hold down volume button on the URC for large volume changes. There is a very small chance that a single click, however, will be greater than the finest gradation, but highly unlikely.

3. Make sure the emitters are truly plugged in at base station. Even if just one millimeter out, the signal doesn't pass, and it's hard to diagnose!