Please help with Audio Quality

bansheesho

My system sounds weak and seems to be lacking range... I am not very knowledgable on audio systems, but I am trying to learn, so please be patient and don't assume I know something because I probably don't. We use it mainly for home entertainment, but sometimes for music... I would really like it to perform better in both of these areas.

My system in as much detail as I can describe. Onkyo tx-sr506 reciever (7.1, 75w/ch), polk rm705 surrond sound system (w/ 8" 100w sub), polk monitor 60 front speakers.

I got the monitor 60's because it seemed to lack midrange punch and they sounded really good at the store. I added them in and it just sounded pretty much like more of the same... they sound nothing like they did in the store, and certainly didn't fill in the midrange gap they sound much similar to the rest of the surrond speakers and the whole system sounds weak like it isn't getting enough power.. I went through and tried setting it up and resetting it up and I just can't get them to sound nice.

So what am I missing? I should have done more research before buying stuff, but it is what it is now and I would like get the most out of it. So I've got a barrage of questions that I can think of and just be brutally honest with me..

When listening to music should it just be the front 2 speakers and the sub (right now its everything)?

Am I missing some hardware like maybe some amps?

Do I need to upgrade some hardware like the sub or the reciever or both?

Is my configuration wrong? Is there a good guide to proper configuration?

I want to be impressed by my sound system when I turn it on and enjoy it... right now its completely unimpressive... please help!!

Mon40CSMM10

Also try a Direct mode, Stereo mode, Pro Logic II Music mode, or any custom DSP mode on the receiver to see if it helps the sound quality.

If the sound quality does not improve: turn the volume down on the receiver. Set the Front speakers to Large instead of Small. Slowly increase the volume and listen to the music, does it improve any? If not, retry Direct mode, Stereo mode, Pro Logic II Music mode, or any custom DSP mode on the receiver to see if it helps the sound quality.

Be aware that with Dolby Pro Logic II Music mode, there are Dimension (rear bias, centered, front bias), Center Width (how much center presence) and Panorama (front speaker sound also in the corresponding surround speaker) options that can also be changed.

wutadumsn23

Sounds to me like you have "upgraditis" lol. I am not knocking the RM705 at all, but you have to keep in mind that they are satellite speakers, and have limitations. The 60's should be the stars of that show and hooked up as your Mains, which I'm sure you already have done. The 506 isn't Onkyo's most powerful AVR and is listed at 75W per channel, realisticly speaking rit is probably closer to 40 or 50W per channel when running a 5.1. As for adding an amp for more power, that is always a good idea, however, not possible with the 506 since it lacks the Pre Outs needed for adding one. I don't know how much more power you can squeeze out of that 506, so upgrading that may be the only way to get the extra "oompf" you are looking for. I would def. recommend trying to get your hands on a CS2 (may be hard to find) or a CS20 center, since it is the most important speaker in any HT setup since something like 75% of a movie's audio track is formatted to be played through it. I would look into upgrading your AVR to something that has Pre Outs and pushes out some more watts to the speakers, with a better AVR , a better center, and those 60's you should be well on your way to getting what you are looking for. Adding a better sub will improve things a lot too, the 505 is about the best bang for the buck these days and many forum members have one and have nothing but good things to say about it. Think I hit most of your questions and hope I was able to help. Anything I forgot, feel free to ask. Welcome to the Forum/

-Jeff

george daniel

wonder where Brad is these days

pietro944

Lets start a the beginning.....check to see if all your speakers are hooked up correctly....red + black on recvr and the same on the speaker end.....then go 2 channel only....then ctr only.....then 3 channel,etc,etc.The 60's are efficient,shouldn't take much to power them....good luck...keep at it.

jbooker82

Deffinatly try different surround modes. I listen to music mostly in Stereo wich is just the L&R towers and the sub on my Onkyo. This will give the two towers the maximum power by not powering the center channel, and Surrounds.

bansheesho

Thanks for the advice, I did some more playing around with the setup and poked around with the level calibrations. I found out that the auto setup with the microphone did some funny level adjustments. Both the front speakers were set to -7 and the surronds were tweeked a little bit oddly. I changed the fronts to +3 and evened out the surronds a bit and the sound has vastly improved. Thor was fun to watch last night, I love good audio!!

I didn't realize that the center channel did so much in movie mode.. I have it backed down a bit because it was making the voices sound disconnected and low quality... I think I will be upgrading that very soon.

As far as the sub goes. I was really playing with the idea of adding a second matching sub and putting it diagonaly across the room next to the viewing/listening area. I have really started to wonder though I it would be more benificial to do that or to replace the current one with a larger, more powerful one (with the option to add a second later down the line). I originally though of getting 1 larger sub in addition to the current one, but after a little research I read that mixing subs is a bad idea due to the resonance frequency differences (anyone have an opinion on that)? The room it is going in is carpeted, roughly 18' x 13' and is completely open to the kitchen/dinning room (which is about 19' deep, hardwood floors).

It would seem that I came to the right place for information, I am certainly on a better track that before... thanks so much for the advice!!

thsmith

Adding 2 of the same subs is fine but requires using tools to make sure you have phase correctly as well as placement.

I prefer one capable sub than 2 or more. Been there done that and in the end one great sub made me happy.

Learn REW, take measurements, raise the dips with sub placement and filters to cut the peaks. Then run your AVR speaker calibration.

bansheesho

Did a little looking, and I can get either the cs2 for $153 or the cs20 for $170 so the price difference is not an issue.... which one would be the better speaker to get?

Also for the sub, the current enclosure I have looks similar to the 440wi enclosure... is this a better quality enclosure than the psw505.... because I want clean, deep, full range bass... but I don't usually turn it up super loud i hate boomy bass (distorted muddy)... Would I be better off with a 550wi or 660wi instead?

cfrizz

Welcome to Club Polk Banshee.

I'd say go with the CS20. I have found that having two subs helps to balance out the bass in my room. I have 1 on each side of my entertainment center. Do it in steps, by getting the center channel first since as you discovered it does the bulk of the work for movies. At some point you should upgrade your receiver to one that has preouts for future amplification upgrades. I have a Polk DSW Pro 400 and it absolutely rocks compared to my Boston sub.

There is no one way or wrong way to listen to your music. I have always utilized all of my speakers and a sub for listening to music. Do whatever sounds best to you.

Keep up posted on your upgrades as you go along.

jbooker82

bansheesho wrote: »

I didn't realize that the center channel did so much in movie mode.. I have it backed down a bit because it was making the voices sound disconnected and low quality... I think I will be upgrading that very soon.

Yea that is why guys say to get the best center chanel you can in the line of speakers your running.

Different surround sound modes also rely on the center channel differently. When listned to music in ProLogic II most of the vocals are all center channel. I dont like the way it sounds. I prefer DTS Neo6 Music for music (most of the time just Stereo). It makes a much more ballanced front sound stage for listening to music.

bansheesho

Ok, I think I will get the cs20 and the 660wi unless anyone else has different suggestions.

Now to convince my wife that we need this stuff.

wutadumsn23

Yeah, those calibration programs are nice, but I just use them as a starting point, and fine tune them from there. You will not be dissapointed by either of the centers, I only suggested the CS2, because you already have the Monitor 60's and there are some minor cosmetic differences betwenn the two, most obvious being the piano gloss finish on the top of the speaker cabinet. The only suggestion I have is if you are gonna dronp $600 on a subwoofer, I think that money would be better invested in upgrading your AVR, it is after all, the workhorse of your system, not the sub. While I def. agree you need to upgrade your sub, I think that getting a new AVR would help to solve a lot more of your problems, and give you more options in the future. It is not a must that you get a better Reciever, just would help to future proof your system more than a sub would, IMO. I know that sub is a beast, and I would imagine would be fairly future proof itself, sorry to throw a wrench in your plans, maybe some one else can chime in and see if I am steering you down the wrong road.

-Jeff

bansheesho

Well my thoughts on the 660wi was that newegg has them for $350 every other week. I agree that $600 for a sub would be overdoing it at this point. I think the 505 is somewhere in the $250 range anyway....

From a sound quality standpoint would the cs2 or the cs20 be better?

I will be upgrading the reciever at some point, but that can come a little bit later... And after much research

wutadumsn23

Well, in that case I can see your point on the 660. As for the CS2 or CS20, I can only give my opinion on the CS2, which is the center channel I have in my HT. It is a great speaker, and does a very good job in my setup. On paper, there aren't many differences between the CS2 and CS20, but I have never heard a CS20 to be able to make a direct comparison. I do have Monitor 70's and TSi 500's, which, on paper, are pretty much the same speaker. I prefer the 70's myself, but the 500's are a bit more musical. I think they are a close enough match that the only "real" difference would be the finish of the cabinet. Just my two pennies though.

-Jeff

bansheesho

I am so excited.. Just placed the order for the the 660wi sub ($350 shipped from newegg if anyone was looking for a good price) and I decided to go with the cs2 center channel. I can't wait. Since the resetup I have really been enjoying the speakers I have much more, and now I was thinking I need to have a listening party. I was thinking "Misunderstood Songs" as a theme (Everyone brings a couple of songs and an explanation).

djperez81

Looks like you got a good deal on the 660. You should be happy with that cs2 i used to own one, it should sound good with your 60's. Enjoy

Subdusted

bansheesho wrote: »

Ok, I think I will get the cs20 and the 660wi unless anyone else has different suggestions.

Now to convince my wife that we need this stuff.

You can get a CS2 for 109.. It's on sale every other week on newegg... Also, it will blend with your towers perfectly as they are all from the same Monitor series.

Mon40CSMM10

When listned to music in ProLogic II most of the vocals are all center channel.

This would be expected when listening to music in legacy Dolby Pro Logic mode.

If that's also the case for Dolby Pro Logic II Music mode (and verify it is in Dolby Pro Logic II Music mode and not Dolby Pro Logic II Movie mode), then check the value of the Center Width parameter.

On my Pioneer receiver, Center Width 0 is everything in the center channel only and Center Width 7 is no center channel presence. Values 1 through 6 increase the Left and Right speaker presence while also reducing the Center channel presence. On my Pioneer receiver, the default is Center Width 5. I changed it to Center Width 6, the least center channel presence and also the most Left/Right presence.

So if your receiver is similar with the Center Width parameter, try using a Center Width value of 5 or 6, if vocals should be in the center channel but not only in the center.