Fail to hear a "surround effect" on Surroundbar 50, Onkyo SR705 and Paradigm Sub

infinity2heaven

I've been using an Onkyo SR705 7.1 setup from Paradigm's Cinema Series and Ultracube (a 2500$ setup) so my experience could be critical. However, after moving into a smaller apt and reading favorable reviews of the Surroundbar50 I wanted to give it shot at downsizing and "compromising" my true surround sound.

I just got the surroundbar and I hooked it up to my Samsung 40" HDTV with the same Onkyo SR705 receiver and Paradigm Ultracube. I tried the following settings after following several threads on forums like this and this.

1) Speaker Settings
Speaker Impedance - 4 ohms
Speaker Type - Normal

2)Speaker Config
Subwoofer - Yes
Front - 150Hz
Center - 150Hz
Surround - 150Hz
Surr Back - None
LPF of LFE 80Hz THX

3) Speaker distance
I let Audyssey choose but it wasn't accurate. I set all of them to the same (in y case, 7.5 feet)

4) Level Calibration
Left, Center, Right - 0db
Surr Right +3db
Surr Left + 3db
Subwoofer -6db

5) Equalizer settings
Audyssey

I ran the Audyssey settings for three positions but the results were not good. For instance the Level calibrations shot to -9db to -11db for most speakers and the distance of L, C, R were off.

Anyways, the list given above is the final settings.

I also noted that depending on surround mode like THX cinema, DVD Multichannel, All Channel Straight, DVD Orchestra, DVD Theater etc., the sound was different.

In conclusion, the bass is obviously kickass. I like the sounds from the L, C, and R. But the biggest problem I have and this is the reason I bought the "surround" bar in the first place is that there is NO surround effect. I'mean I understand that the sound is no audiophile or equivalent to a high end surround setup but I was expecting some sort of effect, atleast something like a flying sword and an explosion from the sides. None. I watched a blueray disk of 300 and the sound was coming from the TV, all from the front box. In comparison to my original Paradigm setup, this pales in comparison and can be crushed.

My question to the forum and the moderators is, has any one downgraded from a high-end 5.1 system to Surroundbar 50 and found it to be a good compromise? It looks like most people on Amazon and other review sites have upgraded from a cheap 2.1 system and find this a good upgrade (for which I won't be surprised) but how much of a good surround effect has it given?

I'd like to believe that something in my settings is still wrong and would like to hear from others (including which surround mode they're listening for optimum effect). I hope that there really is some Surround sound. Else, I might return my purchase and get my older speakers.

Thanks.

infinity2heaven

I've been using an Onkyo SR705 7.1 setup from Paradigm's Cinema Series and Ultracube (a 2500$ setup) so my experience could be critical. However, after moving into a smaller apt and reading favorable reviews of the Surroundbar50 I wanted to give it shot at downsizing and "compromising" my true surround sound.

I just got the surroundbar and I hooked it up to my Samsung 40" HDTV with the same Onkyo SR705 receiver and Paradigm Ultracube. I tried the following settings after following several threads on forums like this and this.

1) Speaker Settings
Speaker Impedance - 4 ohms
Speaker Type - Normal

2)Speaker Config
Subwoofer - Yes
Front - 150Hz
Center - 150Hz
Surround - 150Hz
Surr Back - None
LPF of LFE 80Hz THX

3) Speaker distance
I let Audyssey choose but it wasn't accurate. I set all of them to the same (in y case, 7.5 feet)

4) Level Calibration
Left, Center, Right - 0db
Surr Right +3db
Surr Left + 3db
Subwoofer -6db

5) Equalizer settings
Audyssey

I ran the Audyssey settings for three positions but the results were not good. For instance the Level calibrations shot to -9db to -11db for most speakers and the distance of L, C, R were off. Anyways, the list given above is the final settings.

Also, depending on surround mode like THX cinema, DVD Multichannel, All Channel Straight, DVD Orchestra, DVD Theater etc., on the Onkyo receiver, the sound was different. I liked the DVD Theater sound the most.

In conclusion, the bass is obviously kickass. I like the sounds from the L, C, and R. But the biggest problem I have, and this is the reason I bought the "surround" bar in the first place, is that there is NO surround effect. I'mean I understand that the sound is no audiophile or equivalent to a high end surround setup but I was expecting some sort of effect, atleast something like a flying sword and an explosion from the sides. None. I watched a blueray disk of 300 and the sound was coming from the TV, all from the front box. In comparison to my original Paradigm setup, this pales in comparison and can be crushed.

My question to the forum and the moderators is, has any one downgraded from a high-end 5.1 system to Surroundbar 50 and found it to be a good compromise? It looks like most people on Amazon and other review sites have upgraded from a cheap 2.1 system and find this a good upgrade (for which I won't be surprised) but how much of a good surround effect has it given?

I'd like to believe that something in my settings is still wrong and would like to hear from others (including which surround mode they're listening for optimum effect). I hope that there really is some Surround sound. Else, I might return my purchase and get my older speakers.

Thanks.

dorokusai

I've had a few dedicated 5.1/7.1 seteups and owned or demo'd every Surround Bar product available from Polk. Have any of them been a replacement for a dedicated? No, and they don't try to sell themselves as a replacement from what I've read either.

I currently run a SB6K and while I appreciate the improvement, it's not surround sound. The most impressive SB I've heard is the SB360 as it truly created the effect. The SB50 is a much better choice the the SB42(Original) and does an obviously better job when heard side by side.

Is it your settings? I'm not sure as they appear to be solid. Change the impedence to 8ohm on your AVR and I'd skip the Audessey setup for further troubleshooting.

My belief is that your expecting too much coming off a self-proclaimed high end, dedicated system and you may need to settle in for a while and let it alone. I also think your Audessey setup is psuedo-DSP'g the SB but that's just a comment.

Give it a couple weeks, a handful of movies and come back.

RuSsMaN

Run some simple test tones, from L,C,R,LR,RR and see if the sound is coming from the right areas. I can't remember if it was a 42 or a 50, but I had one where the rear channels were labled wrong - left was right, right was left.

Cheers,
Russ