speaker setup test

vscindia

I am setting Home Theater System..

I bought Onkyo TX-SR701
Polk Rti8 for front L/R
Csi3 for center
Rti4's for surround
and psw202 subwoofer

How do i setup this system for best performance?

any suggestions?

Vj

Frank Z

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new gear!

Before doing anything, get the manuals out and read them! You should also pick up a Sound Pressure Level (SPL) meter from Radio Shack and a decent calibration disc. Avia, Digital Video Essentials and Sound & Vision are all good. The S&V disc has some really good info about set up, connections, etc. that might help you a great deal depending on your level of expertise.

Don't get to worried about high end cable/wire at this point. The idea is to get familiar with your new stuff before moving on to upgrades that may or may not make any difference to your ears.

Airplay355

look at the system showcase and see how other people have their systems setup for ideas. everyones room is different so you will need to try different things and decide what sounds best to you

PolkThug

1. Use a subwoofer cable to connect the Onkyo to the sub (LFE).
-set subwoofer volume knob to 12 or 1 o'clock

2. On the Onkyo:
-set subwoofer to yes
-set crossover to 100hz
-set all speakers to small (sounds above 100hz will go to the Rti8's) this will give you the best midrange and treble out of them.

3. Set speaker levels
-I think I have all my fronts to plus 5-7, and the surrounds at plus 9-10

This will give you a good starting point.

Regards,
PolkThug

kberg

Originally posted by Frank Z

Before doing anything, get the manuals out and read them!

I think this is some of the best advice you can get. But I'd have to add one more thing after you read the manuals...

...read them AGAIN! Then after that, at least one more time!
Not that you should know everything in those manuals inside and out before you start setting everything up, but you should have a pretty good idea what your general set up will likely be before you do.

DLewis

I'm in a similar situation to vscindia, I've got new gear and am looking for the best wiring solution. Due to the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor), I had to settle for bookshelf fronts and in-wall surrounds (ceiling mounted). She semi-freaked when she saw the size of the center and bookshelf, she thought we were getting "the small ones they show in the furniture pictures"!! The bookshelf's are 3 times the size of the old ones we had (old Dynaco's)! Maybe one day we'll have a dedicated home theater room and I can get some better gear and place/mount it in the proper positions, but for now, livability in our family room dictates the setup (home theater doesn't!!!).

Here's the new stuff:

TV: Sony 40" WEGA XBR (KV-40XBR800)
Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR701
Center: Polk CSi5
Fronts: Polk RTi6
Surrounds: Polk RC65i
Sub: Polk PSW303

Old stuff:
DVD: JVC XV-SA75 (will be looking to replace as I don't think this older unit supports SACD, it supports DVD-A and Digital DTS though)

I've been reading through the forum, Polk's Home Theater Handbook and FAQ's to figure it out, but since I'm still waiting for some of the gear to arrive, I don't quite have a handle on some of the connections to the equipment. I like PolkThugs recommendation for the basic hook-ups and have the following questions/concerns:

1. If I wire to the sub using the receiver sub-out to LFE-in, will the sub work for both movies AND audio. I recall reading in the Home Theater Handbook that some receivers only direct signals to the sub in Theater mode, is that the case with the Onkyo? Also, is there a crossover in the Onkyo that will filter the signal sent to the sub; if so, at what frequency? Would I be better off using speaker wire to the sub and forget about using the LFE? Last, but not least, is the filtered RCA Line-In jacks a better solution (I'm assuming I use the "Front" pre-out for this connection and it takes the crossover in the sub out of the equation, could be wrong though). My older gear had the speaker wire going to the sub and the fronts hooked to the sub, but that was my only option.

2. What connectors on the speaker wire should I use on each end? I don't want to strip wire or take the binding posts off the speakers, I'm assuming I use spades on the speaker side (not sure bananas will work in those holes). I believe the Onkyo supports bananas, does it also work with the spades? I'll most likely be ordering cables from SignalCable, they've got good reviews here.

3. I'm replacing my current ceiling speakers and that is just bare wire into spring loaded connectors. The RC65i's also have spring loaded connectors - is there something I can put on the stripped speaker wire to make the connection better? I recall seeing some plugs on the Monster web site, are there better ones out there? Do I need a special tool to attach the plugs?

4. I did not know it at the time, but Polk was giving away a PSW202 subwoofer with a speaker purchase of some $$ amount, and I got one after ordering the PSW303. Is it adviseable to hook two different subs to the system? How would I connect it?

Any assistance is greatly appreciated....:)

Frank Z

Unless you plan on disconnecting your speakers frequently, leave the wires bare. Adding more connectors is nothing more than adding a possible loss of signal. Keep it simple, go with the bare wires.

Yes the sub will still work for both music and movies, but double check your manual for the outputs that are active if you have a "Direct " mode. Some receivers will only send a signal to the speakers and not the sub if this mode is used.

Using 2 subs is do-able but may present a few calibration problems and/or signal cancelation issues. Unless you have a huge room, or are just "Bass Happy," 1 properly sized and calibrated sub should be plenty.

vscindia

Thanx for the reply PolkThug .
I am happy that I am going to learn a lot about Home Theater on this forum ..I really appreciate your help...

I did following settings ..

On Onkyo I set the crossover Frequency to 100hz It was 80hz THX before.

I did following speaker Config


Rti8 L/R

---

small
Csi3

---

small
Rti4's

---

small
psw202

---

yes

I found following supporting documents from Onkyo Manual

When “Large” is set, the complete frequency range for that
speaker channel will be output. When “Small” is set, the
frequencies below 80 Hz for that speaker channel are output to
the subwoofer. If Subwoofer is set to “No” in the Speaker
Config menu, then they will be output to the left and right front
speakers. (Set all speakers for THX speaker systems to “small.”)

I still need to test system more to see real diffrence with this settings..

Vj

reeltrouble1

Welcome to the polk forum:D

It seems you are off to an excellent start. One thing you said you set the speakers to small and everything below 80 Hz goes to sub, I believe you meant to say 100 Hz. My onk has a fixed cross of 80 Hz on large and 100 hz on small. I doubt you will hear much diff in the bass but check it out.

I would highly recommend you follow the advice of using a spl meter to balance your test tones. You can do it by ear but I was way off using this method. Your listening room is unique so everyone settings are different for adjusting each individual speaker. Adjust from your listening position.

Again Welcome.

vscindia

I meant the 100Hz I just copied the info from Onkyo Manual where it says 80Hz. I am thinking of buying SPL .

Does this really help?

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=33-2055

Vj

reeltrouble1

Yes it helps at least it did me, my HT had a marked improvement in detail, you can buy the set up discs also, although you can use your onk's test tones to get started with.

Do a search here on speaker calibration loads of information.

I use the meter whenever I add or change a component and occasionally to just check the settings. Even adding a piece of furniture to the room might cause a change.

straightblues

NEWBIE Questions. I am confused on how to use the meter correctly. Do you just increase the volume on the stereo until it reaches 75 db and then set each individual speaker to it? Where do you start? Do you start with the main speakers and match everything to it? Or do you start somewhere elese? How do you turn off the speakers you are not testing while still in the Dolby 5.1 mode? Do you just unplug them temporarily? Even at low levels, I am still getting some bleed through.

Frank Z

Most receivers/preamps will allow you to cycle through each speaker manually after the test tones are started, check your manual for the proper method with your equipment. Your manual may also tell you what the "Reference Level" is. Assuming that it is 75 db, set your meter at 80bd. The manual for the Radio Shack meter lists the ranges for each setpoint on the meter. All of the speakers should be adjusted so that the output measures "0" on the meter.

Make sense?