Surround Problem

JakeCourtney

Here is my current setup:

AVR: Pioneer VSX-1120-k
Front Mains: Monitor 70's
Surrounds: Monitor 60's
Center: CS2
Sub: PSW505

Space is pretty limited and my seating arrangement is around a back wall. I've got my Monitor 60's along the sides as best I can get them.

How loud should surrounds be? With the Pio's auto calibration I really only seem to notice them when it's an extreme loud part in a movie soundtrack, but if I get my ear close I can hear the faint stuff on the soundtrack.

Should I be able to hear all the ambient noise from the surrounds or is it suppose to be very faint like that?

If I should be able to hear everything, then I fear that my rear's will be too close and pointed right at ear level thus being uncomfortable.

If I were to get a pair of Monitor 30's or 40's and wall mount them on the side, would that help being able to get them louder without them firing directly in peoples ears.

Would it be recommended to wall mount them 3-4 feet higher than ear level and have them angled down? Would this sound alright and if so what would be better to use Monitor 30 or 40's for the purpose.

I know the 40's are larger, but wouldn't they sound better with the extra driver.

I think these would work for wall mounting a 40,

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-jt2cnkGIuvW/p_121AM40B/Pinpoint-AM40.html?tp=586

I think it just clamps them tightly on there.


Anyway,

I'd appreciate any feedback or suggestions.

Thanks guy's.

tonyb

A pic of the room and setup would help. As far as volume goes,you can manually adjust the volume for the rears in your receiver. Also keep in mind not all discs are created equal. Some utilize that back channels more than others. You don't want the rear channel next to someones ear,you'll kill them in an action scene. Post a pic so we can best guide you or offer up suggestions.

spock 2054

How loud should surrounds be? With the Pio's auto calibration I really only seem to notice them when it's an extreme loud part in a movie soundtrack, but if I get my ear close I can hear the faint stuff on the soundtrack.

1) Check to make sure you have your rear surrounds connected to the correct terminals on the back of your receiver. They should be connected to the L and R surround, not the surround back channels. Check your surround mode too, set to Standard Surround.

Should I be able to hear all the ambient noise from the surrounds or is it suppose to be very faint like that?

2) After verifying your speaker connections, run your autocalibration again. Check levels manually with a sound pressure level meter, if you have one. If not, pick one up at radio shack for about $45

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103668


If I should be able to hear everything, then I fear that my rear's will be too close and pointed right at ear level thus being uncomfortable.

3) Rear surrounds, if used in a 5.1 application should not be pointed directly at your ears.

JakeCourtney

Ignore the cat's and all my girlfriends crap

I'm thinking I'm probably going to have to go with a mounted bookshelf speaker setup for the surround, unless I raise the 60's up off the ground.

Here is the link to the pictures. Poor picture quality as it's a small camera and there was a crap ton of sunlight coming in.

http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g193/JakeCourtney/Home%20Speaker%20Setup/

I've also got the center channel speaker on the floor, as I'm looking to replace that TV stand as there is no way I can get that center speaker where I want it.

Thanks for all the input so far guy's.

Erik Tracy

JakeCourtney wrote: »

Ignore the cat's and all my girlfriends crap

I'm thinking I'm probably going to have to go with a mounted bookshelf speaker setup for the surround, unless I raise the 60's up off the ground.

Here is the link to the pictures. Poor picture quality as it's a small camera and there was a crap ton of sunlight coming in.

http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g193/JakeCourtney/Home%20Speaker%20Setup/

I've also got the center channel speaker on the floor, as I'm looking to replace that TV stand as there is no way I can get that center speaker where I want it.

Thanks for all the input so far guy's.

Jake,
I've noticed I don't get alot of sound out of surrounds for movies - its for enhanced effects mostly.

If you are expecting equal volume to be dispersed thru all your speakers all the time, then you are probably expecting too much from them - I really don't think that is the intended volume relationship between fronts and rears.

One thing you can try if you AVR has it, is to force it into 7-channel (or multi-channel) "Stereo" - that is the closest I have found on my AVR to do a more even and equal distribution of volume across all speakers. You could try that as a test.

I find that mode to be a bit boring after awhile, though - a bit like 'mono' mixing.

YMMV,
Erik

djperez81

if you have your cs2 under the tv flip it upside down so that it points upwards. if you notice on your cs2 it slants down on the back put the slanted part on the floor.

soverdi

I have a pair of Polk R50's, with B&W center, Boston Acoustic Subwoofer and also rears. I have upgraded from a 5.1 to a Yamaha RX-V865 with a 7.1 option. I am looking for a good pair to add as surround speakers, or maybe make my R50 the surround, and upgrade my main speakers.

A salesman a Fry's told me that it is useless to put in flooring standing speakers as surrounds since there is not much sound coming out from them. He was recommending the OWM3's. I even saw other bookshelf speakers, like R150, or Monitor 30's that may fit the bill. R300's would make a good combo for floor standing speakers, or the Monitor 50.

I am just curious if it is worth utilizing the space, or if I should go with bookshelf or wall mounted surrounds for the kind of sound that will be emitted from them ? I hope you can share your experiences if you've been enjoying 7.1 sound!

spock 2054

JakeCourtney wrote: »

Ignore the cat's and all my girlfriends crap

I'm thinking I'm probably going to have to go with a mounted bookshelf speaker setup for the surround, unless I raise the 60's up off the ground.

Here is the link to the pictures. Poor picture quality as it's a small camera and there was a crap ton of sunlight coming in.

http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g193/JakeCourtney/Home%20Speaker%20Setup/

I've also got the center channel speaker on the floor, as I'm looking to replace that TV stand as there is no way I can get that center speaker where I want it.

Thanks for all the input so far guy's.

Hi Jake:

One reason you are not getting a lot of audio out of your surrounds is your couch. It is sucking the life out of your rear surround speakers. You would have to get your 60's about two feet of the ground to be able to hear anything. You would be better off with wall mounted speakers for your room.

The center channel speaker is probably a cat magnet on the floor. Cats love grill cloth. You've got the foundation for a good sounding system.

JakeCourtney

Is it best to have the rear's at ear level or above ear level. I wonder if I just couldn't get a pair of 30's or 40's and just set them on top of the current 60's, but kinda pointed straight at each other inside of directly at the ear level on the couch.

or I could just wall mount them and have them angled downward.

The 40's are just slightly more expensive than the 30's, would it be wise to just grab a pair of 40's just because of more even if it's not going to be used.

We will probably move in 6 months and get a bigger place at that time I would like to have a pair of bookshelf's for a 7.1 or for heights anyway.

Thanks guy's.

JakeCourtney

Anyone have any picture of the Monitor 30's side by side with some 40's.

I'm thinking those 40's would just be monsters to try and mount.

JakeCourtney

Do you think I'd be alright if I just got the Monitor 60's higher? Are there any stands that would get me to the recommended height while still being able to hold these speakers?