SRS 2s w/ Little / No Center Stage Imaging . . .

GlennDog

I just purchased these great looking speakers, but there's no commanding center stage?? I do not think my pre-amp Integra AV Controller DHC-40.1 is at fault (but who knows, at this point) . .
yes, I triple-checked the polarity of the speaker wiring at the SRSs and at the Adcom 555-II . . . And made sure the polarity was right at the AV pre-amp. I checked the resistance at the inter-connect cable and compared it with another that was custom made. All ICs values read 0.3-0.4 ohms. If something came loose during transport, what should I look out for?

This AV controller has no balance setting for far right/left channel, so I can not perform that listening test.

Is anyone familiar with the Integra line? (Onkyo's high line??) I have it set to the "Direct" listening mode to minimize processing (to deliver as clean a signal as possible)

Thanks in advance!! . . . .

stubby

I presume when you auditioned them, they sounded fine with a solid center image? Try disconnecting the interconnecting cable and see if they give you a good center image with just the stereo drivers. If you have no center image, insure the stereo driver wires are connected securely. If after reconnecting the IC the image goes away or smears, check the dimensional drivers for proper connection.
Its somewhere to start.

stubby

GlennDog

there's no center image after the IC is disconnected

You said "insure the stereo driver wires are connected securely" . . . by pulling a driver and checking the wiring inside the cabinet?

stubby

GlennDog wrote: »

there's no center image after the IC is disconnected

You said "insure the stereo driver wires are connected securely" . . . by pulling a driver and checking the wiring inside the cabinet?

Yes, make sure none of the push on female spades have come off during transport.

stubby

Do the speakers sound different when you have the IC installed? ie, do they have an SDA image with sound outside the cabinets?

Phasewolf

This is a long shot but have you checked to make sure there wired correctly? My 2.3's were not and they sounded like what your describing. I took the speaker wire off my amp and touched a 1.5 volt aa battery too it and watched the drivers moved. One driver in each speaker moved the wrong way and when I opened it up and swapped the wires around they sounded just fine.

EndersShadow

GlennDog wrote: »

Is anyone familiar with the Integra line? (Onkyo's high line??) I have it set to the "Direct" listening mode to minimize processing (to deliver as clean a signal as possible)

You have it set right in the Integra. Thats what I use (or stereo so it adds my sub) with my Integra DTR 5.9 and my LSi 15's.

Tour2ma

First, I'd swap speaker wire leads on one speaker and listen. I know you've traced the phasing out and all, but it's simplest thing you can do.

Next thing I'd try, if you have a spare laying around, is another receiver/ amp. If nothing else you may add balance control to the mix which is helpful in troubleshooting.

Here's the link to the troubleshooting guide found at the bottom of the last sticky in the Vintage section. Note that balance control and "interstation noise" are at the heart of much of the external testing.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=47379&d=1268334955

quadzilla

Phasewolf wrote: »

This is a long shot but have you checked to make sure there wired correctly? My 2.3's were not and they sounded like what your describing. I took the speaker wire off my amp and touched a 1.5 volt aa battery too it and watched the drivers moved. One driver in each speaker moved the wrong way and when I opened it up and swapped the wires around they sounded just fine.

This is the best test for phase. Like he said, use a 1.5 v battery. All the drivers should move together. Make sure they move the same way on each speaker too, so hot to hot, ground to ground on each side.

GlennDog

PhaseWolf, I'd like to hear more about your Integra settings and what works best for you, and weather you have it bi-amped, as I am seriously thinking of going in that direction (there's even a setting on the AV controller for that!) Also, I never really got that UUFF when listening to HT. How's it working out for you?

GlennDog

I must be moving in the right direction . . . I performed the battery test and all speakers moved outward in sync w/ each other.

I have a small ranch and the man cave is approx 12 x 19 and not perfectly rectangular. My mistake! as I figured huge speaks need more space between one another vs. my SDA-2s (bigger space is not better in the dinky room). I moved some furniture around and in reading the manual (for the 4th time) "they" say 4 feet from a corner is preferrable than 3 ft. Also, "placement closer to corners will result in fuller base response but will interfere with proper 3-dimensional sonic imaging."

Both SRSs are not near corners, but the far LH side of the LH speak was was close to being parallel with the side wall ( < 2 ft.). Obviously, canceling the imaging I was missing. Moving the entire wall of electronics down another foot and-a-half should cure the issue.

The sound stage has been improved about 50%

Thanks again for you help!!

evhudsons

SDA is very sensitive to change. With slight tweaking the sound can become quite profound.

Phasewolf

With these speakers placement is really critical. My room is 11x20 and there is nothing I can do about it. I have not bothered too bi-amp them. Mine sounded best with them 3 inches too the back wall there about 4 feet apart maybe 5 but there just too close too the side walls. Wile they skunk OK they will sound better once I build a proper room in the basement.

helipilotdoug

My SRS 2's are in a room that has a side wall 16 in. from the right speaker, and the left is on a wall with a fireplace on a 45 degree angle. The wall behind the speakers is 10'8" between the solid wall and the 45 degree fireplace. Both speakers are 13" from the back of the speaker to the wall, and are 5'6" apart. My sitting position is 13'6" away from the center of my setup. Quite honestly, I've been very pleased with the imaging I'm getting. The soundstage is very wide, and seems to be close to 90 degrees on each side. The fantom center is just as it should be, although it depends on the original recording. Some are better than others. Hopefully you will find the best placement, and enjoy yours as much as I do mine. :biggrin:

evhudsons

Probably not the issue but worth checking to make sure is that each interconnect is working right. I'm saying this because I noticed my left speaker getting most of the sound with the vocals artificially to the left. With the sda cable, sound comes out both speakers. I found that my right input phono rca is not working. So I'm getting mono fed to my sda's which really screwed up the imaging, of course.

Now I'm looking at replacing the phono rca cable. But cables do go bad. Especially the dang hdmi cables.

Phasewolf

You may want too check that the wires going too the sda jack is connected to the crossover my friend had his wire break and it sounded like crap. Make sure you look in both speakers and give the wires a gentle pull just to make sure they are not hanging by a thread.

drumminman

Phasewolf wrote: »

You may want too check that the wires going too the sda jack is connected to the crossover my friend had his wire break and it sounded like crap. Make sure you look in both speakers and give the wires a gentle pull just to make sure they are not hanging by a thread.

Yep, this happened to me. A previous owner had gone in, replaced the binding posts and been a little lackadaisical about reconnecting everything on the inside. One of the connections was by 1 strand of wire, others that were supposed to be bolted tight were floppy loose.

One of my tweaks was to make solid connections to the binding posts on the interior - it helped!

audio_alan

This might be a silly question (and no offense intended!), but are you sure you have the Left speaker on the left side and the Right speaker on the right side? It's easy to misplace them if you have the orientation backwards in your head...

Phasewolf

Not a silly question I have seen a few people do that and god only knows think it sounds great....... :eek:

Loud &amp; Clear

This pair of speakers certainly never exhibited any lack of phantom center, or lacked in any other aspect, in my experience with them. I would estimate that this phenomenon has something to do with placement and/or room interaction. Of course it is always possible that with transport something could come loose internally. If I was certain that I had them placed properly but still had an issue, I would probably start pulling drivers and making sure everything was properly connected. It would be a pain but it would have to be done.

SCompRacer

I wouldn't be surprised if something came off, cause vibes can do that over time. I would be shocked if something were connected wrong or done half-arse. Mainly cause I don't do half-arse work.

I'm with Aaron, I never had that problem with these speakers. Keep at it until you find out why. Wish I was closer, I'd pop over there.

Loud &amp; Clear

Rich,

Those are an exemplary pair. Masterful work in every respect. Glenn will get it figured out soon if he hasn't already.