new set up little bit of a concern and question

wood4sheep2

Thanks for all the thoughts. Was away this weekend so didnt get much chance to problems solve.
I did for giggles... pick up a higher end HDMI and different brand bannana plugs to try ruling out cable issues.

I also tried holding the center speaker up in various positions to see if it changed any "reflections".
Interestingly the speaker felt very "vibrationy" at the same moments that I heard the unpleasant edge sounds. It really seems to come from the speaker itself.

Will go on with other tries suggested over the next few days and keep breaking in speakers.

As to "rat shack" I am a very thick skinned newbie so I am completely in agreement that that was the wrong term to use for their products. I used to love radio shack when it really was an elecrtronics parts store when I was a kid. It is just not the same for a very long time now. However since I live in a 1.5 horse town all I got is radio shack and walmart for hands on.

Okay... so since I live in a rural area with no likely outlet close by to buy good cables and speaker wire could I get a newbie tip for a good brand of connectors, HDMI and speaker wire while I work on this thing. I think I might just upgrade such things anyway in this process.

Thanks and also two questions. Any idea what the last post was about? and what the heck is the sales rating number that everyone has. Until I hear what it means I guess I can proudly be a zero! :-)

Thanks,

Wood4sheep2

zane77

Wood, I am running very similar speakers as you are, the main difference is I use external amplifiers since I am using a pre/pro without any amplifiers. When I was using my Onkyo 709 I also used an external amp. I really like the Emotiva amps although you will find some here that have differing opinions. You could order an Emotiva XPA-3 for running all of your front speakers (200 watts per channel) the A9's really enjoy the power. With Emotiva you can try the amp out for 30 days and if you don't like it you can return it just for the cost of return shipping.

Serendipity

wood4sheep2 wrote: »

Okay... so since I live in a rural area with no likely outlet close by to buy good cables and speaker wire could I get a newbie tip for a good brand of connectors, HDMI and speaker wire while I work on this thing. I think I might just upgrade such things anyway in this process.

I would suggest looking at the Parts Express catalog. Lots of options for binding posts, connectors, plugs, wire, etc.

wood4sheep2

I have considered source...but ruled that out by trying different.
Latest update:
Still breaking in. (hard to let it run all day when we have had a few snow days...the younguns complain)
Upgrading speaker cable to be sure.
replaced HDMI with high grade
bought an amp emotiva xpa-5 that should be here next week.
bought blue jean cables to use for that and the sub.
Lets see what that all does. I will test each part on implementation as I am really curious what is cause.
Thanks again to all input in this ongoing endevour.

Serendipity

Good luck with your endeavor. Let us know!

bikezappa

Did you ever try a different center speaker?

wood4sheep2

bikezappa wrote: »

Did you ever try a different center speaker?

I did try that. I will summerize a list of tried so far:cheesygrin:;

1. cables- I felt that after reading on this site it was good to upgrade my cables anyway!
HDMI bought one high end for the DVR which was the one I was testing the most. No effect!
Speaker wires- I read up on speaker wire and went to my local Electric supply store. These guys are awesome
and knowledgeable. I brought some articles on speaker wire and they chose some high quality low voltage 10 gauge fine stranded wire that is paired and looks a bit like extension cord wire in the jacketing. Its for low voltage lighting and was not cheap. 1.50 a ft. I replaced the L/R and Center with that and methodically put on the gold plated bannana plugs and tested each one on my meter. NO effect!
plugs- I picked up one pair of different style high quality bannana plugs and switched them out temporarily on the center. No effect!
2. Speakers-
switching the L or Right Channel with the center. I found I liked the sound better with the A9's but got the same effect but less harsh
replace tried my old center replacing and it was the same
Moving tried positioning it different and even having someone hold it in different positions. No change.
3. Room
blankets tried blankets on windows covering the blinds and panes. I did notice a better sound in general. Clearer and more defined and full but the effect was still there. So... some heavy curtins would be nice for sound and I have wanted them for insulation in the winter anyway.
Surface the center is on tried laying a blanket on the surface the center is on to no effect.
listening position see if I hear the effect in different positions which I did.
Silly obssessed effort put blanket above and around me like an alcove while I sat in front of the center and scooped the sound toward me in hopes of bypassing any reflective concerns in the room. No change. but it was hilarious to try and my kids thought I was acting bizarre!!! 14 year old daughter quote, " Dad, what the heck are you doing!!"
4. Source
different inputs the effect is more pronounced on voice heavy media for sure on DVR Satelite input but is there with voice on Blu-ray, Apple TV, and DirecTV
Same content on different tried listening to the same show for instance on DirecTV and then purchasing the same show to watch on Apple TV. while some different ambiences presented the effect was there with both.
stereo vs Dolby if I switch the audio mode from dolby to stereo which sends the signal to the L/R and drops the center then the same effect happens through the left right.
5. Break in of speakers -- dont think I have 200 hrs in yet. I got sloppy cause of some snow days and other issues and havnt been constantly leaving it on. Hard to do on weekends and snow days cause well it annoys everyone for good reason. I would say I could keep doing more so.... In Proccess!
5. Add Amp. I felt I needed one anyway and after input from this site I bought a used Emotiva XPA-5 that fit my budget and expect it shortly so that will be good for the sound and hopefully remedy or lesson the issue. Bought Blue Jean Cables that are coming to remove any concern about preout to amp connectivity to the reciever. TO BE DETERMINED
6. Reciever well this is the $64,000 dollar question. I am hoping that in addtion to the amp dealing with wattage issues and quality of the power recieved in general that if there is a flaw in my reciever center sound (which I doubt based on experiments) that the portion of the flaw lies in the amplification portion of the receiver. but if all else fails to clear this then I am left with that and have to figure out how to test.

So... I think that covers it so far. I am excited to put the amp into play anyway and am salivating over firing it up with some cool Blu-ray movie and some hot cd's next weekend regardless I know it will be much better and will help with breakin. Thanks so much for all the input. I am learning some patience as I work on this which is always good LOL!!

wood4sheep2

Well... thanks to so much help and input I have a vastly improved audio system and have rid myself of the problem.
I put the Emotiva xpa-5 and blue jeans cables into service yesterday and through some paces last night. The harsh edge is gone and well ... a big change in the sound stage in general. Not only do the front speakers sound better but the surrounds sound so much better on the xpa-5. so much detail so much going on.....

I plan to put it though some paces and music and a movie or two this weekend. will give more complete report then.

but that dealt with it. Very interesing!!!

Serendipity

Congrats! Glad to hear you got the problem solved.

specd_out

Glad its fixed. this thread is a great read for anyone trouble shooting their equipment

Serendipity

Everything makes a difference, IMO. Great thread for those who may be in the same situation.

wood4sheep2

What a great weekend of listening and fiddling with my set up.

I am going to post my full impressions of adding an amp to my thread, " another Newbie needing Amp advice" in the electronics section since I feel that it fits more under my seperate seach for the right amp that was a subset of this process.

I want to say how nice it all sounds...
I listened to samplers of Jazz, Rock, Blues, POP and etc and loved the sounds I heard.
I think my favorite was laying back on the couch and listening to Led Zepplin, "Babe I am going to leave you"!
Wow I heard so much I had never heard.

Listened to smatterings of top aural moments in various movies. Good times. Good times.
So fun to watch the new Star Trek movie. Sounds like your on the bridge!

My search to fix my problem led to a much better system in total.

newrival

you got some good info here, wood4sheep, and I'm glad you got everything worked out! I just wanted to add in something that i noticed in one of your points. As you are going to be doing work to get you r room right, I noticed you said you're expanding the room to 24'x24'. If you can, make the room rectangular in some way. a square is terrible for standing waves. Perhaps you could make a partition with a small reading room or storage or something? Just thought I'd give you the heads up before it was too late.

erniejade

newrival wrote: »

you got some good info here, wood4sheep, and I'm glad you got everything worked out! I just wanted to add in something that i noticed in one of your points. As you are going to be doing work to get you r room right, I noticed you said you're expanding the room to 24'x24'. If you can, make the room rectangular in some way. a square is terrible for standing waves. Perhaps you could make a partition with a small reading room or storage or something? Just thought I'd give you the heads up before it was too late.

agree 10000000000000% that was one issue i had in my basement when i had my rig down there. it was too square. ( till it got re-done)

wood4sheep2

Thanks for the tip. I was being rough with the dimensions. It will not be a square and it is good to know fo