Where is the surround ???

R1tt83
R1tt83 Posts: 10
edited September 2005 in Speakers
Im currently running R15s for my surrounds but they are hardly noticeable. I measured everything with a sound level meter and everything is pretty much even but still have a difficult time getting any sound from them. Would it be because of my receiver not producing enough amps to the back ??? Could it be the position of my rears ??? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Center - CS1
L+R - Monitor 50
Surround - R15
Sub - HSU STF-1
Receiver - Onkyo SR503B
Post edited by R1tt83 on
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  • BrentMcGhee
    BrentMcGhee Posts: 548
    edited September 2005
    Well first off what are listning to when you are notice the lack of suround sound. (i.e. DVD, CD, Cable etc)
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  • jet2001
    jet2001 Posts: 180
    edited September 2005
    I'm also using R15's as my surrounds. Which mode are you listening in as well? In the old Pro Logic, I noticed little sound as well mostly background noise....but now that I've upgraded to Pro Logic II or when I'm using any Dolby Digital or DTS track I get excellent sound from them.

    I bought wall mounts so I could point them down towards the 'sweet spot' of my living room and that made a big difference as well.
    RTi4-fronts
    CSi3-center
    R15-surrounds
    Cerwin Vega LW15-Sub
    Denon AVR 885
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited September 2005
    I recently calibrated my system using R15s as surrounds, but my ears told me to bump the trim +1. Try it, you can always go back. :rolleyes:

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • BIZILL
    BIZILL Posts: 5,432
    edited September 2005
    yes, calibration is nice, but i constantly find myself tailoring output levels to my ears' liking. different movies have louder surround effects than others.

    POLK SDA-SRS 1.2TL -- ADCOM GFA-5802
    PANASONIC PT-AE4000U -- DIY WILSONART DW 135" 2.35:1 SCREEN
     ONKYO TX-SR805
    CENTER: CSI5
    MAINS: RTI8'S
    SURROUNDS: RTI8'S
    7.1 SURROUNDS: RTI6'S
    SUB: SVS PB12-PLUS/2 (12.3 series)
    XBOX 360    WiiPS3/blu-rayTOSHIBA HD-A35 hd dvd

    http://polkarmy.com/forums/index.php
    bobman1235 wrote:
    I have no facts to back that up, but I never let facts get in the way of my arguments.
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  • R1tt83
    R1tt83 Posts: 10
    edited September 2005
    Sometimes its just everything : movies , music , etc. Running pro logic 2 or dts I can hear them but I have to crank the volume up pretty high. My fronts are +11 and my rears are +12 and thats with calibration. I feel that I should just adjust it to my liking but I feel confident on my calibration and wanted to trust my speakers. Appreciate your help.
    Center - CS1
    L+R - Monitor 50
    Surround - R15
    Sub - HSU STF-1
    Receiver - Onkyo SR503B
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  • Holydoc
    Holydoc Posts: 1,048
    edited September 2005
    Wow....your fronts are at +11 and your rears at +12? Currently my fronts are at 0 and my rears are at +2. Strange how much difference room size, receiver, amp, placement, etc makes.
    Holydoc (Home Theatre Lover)
    __________________________________________
    Panasonic -50PX600U 50" Plasma
    Onkyo -TX-NR901 Receiver
    Oppo -Oppo 980HD Universal DVD Player
    Outlaw -770 (7x200watt) Amplifier
    PolkAudio - RTi12 (Left and Right)
    PolkAudio - CSi5 (Center)
    PolkAudio - FXi3 (Back and Surround)
    SVS - PB-12/Plus (Subwoofer)
    Bluejean Cables - Interconnects
    Logitech Harmony 880 - Remote
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  • Toxis
    Toxis Posts: 5,116
    edited September 2005
    Holydoc wrote:
    Wow....your fronts are at +11 and your rears at +12? Currently my fronts are at 0 and my rears are at +2. Strange how much difference room size, receiver, amp, placement, etc makes.
    I honestly doubt this has to do with those, I think they have to do with the novice user not understanding what those volume adjustments are for. But that's just me. I have a hundred customers tell me "It sounds better with them cranked though." Noooooo it makes them sound louder and more distorted.
    Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.

    Home Setup: Sony VPL-VW85 Projo, 92" Stewart Firehawk, Pioneer Elite SC-65, PS3, RTi12 fronts, CSi5, FXi6 rears, RTi6 surround backs, RTi4 height, MFW-15 Subwoofer.

    Car Setup: OEM Radio, RF 360.2v2, Polk SR6500 quad amped off 4 Xtant 1.1 100w mono amps, Xtant 6.1 to run an eD 13av.2, all Stinger wiring and Raammat deadener.
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  • millerman 3732
    millerman 3732 Posts: 1,488
    edited September 2005
    Holydoc wrote:
    Wow....your fronts are at +11 and your rears at +12? Currently my fronts are at 0 and my rears are at +2. Strange how much difference room size, receiver, amp, placement, etc makes.

    but your using a avr with nearly twice the watts as a 503
    Casey
    H/T: Epson 6500ub
    Sony UBP-X800
    Toshiba HD-XA2 (HD-DVD, CD)
    Onkyo 805 (pre-amp)
    Outlaw 7125
    Polk RTi 10 (bi-amped)
    Polk CSi5 (bi-amped)
    Polk RTi6
    SVS PB 12 plus/2
    Velodyne SMS-1

    TV Rig: Samsung 50'' 4k display
    Polk Signa-1 Surround bar
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited September 2005
    Really shouldn't make any difference. The 503 delivers less than a 901, sure, but it has plenty of juice to drive Rs. Running it that hot is sure to distort and probably clip at high volume. Re-calibrate at -5, then turn up the volume knob to get loud.

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,776
    edited September 2005
    Start your mains at -5db (left), then set your right main to that same volume...

    Bump your center 1 db higher than your mains, surrounds + 2 db.

    You want your sub to be about the same volume as your mains, but I like mine a bit (alot) louder. ;)
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited September 2005
    Sid's the one who instructed me :)

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • BrentMcGhee
    BrentMcGhee Posts: 548
    edited September 2005
    Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:
    Start your mains at -5db (left), then set your right main to that same volume...

    Bump your center 1 db higher than your mains, surrounds + 2 db.

    You want your sub to be about the same volume as your mains, but I like mine a bit (alot) louder. ;)

    granted that technically it takes an increase of 3db for a human ear to be able to detect a difference in volume but why do you run your center hot. I can understand the surounds and the sub being run hotter that the rest but i just cant see the point of the +1 on your center
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,776
    edited September 2005
    Try it. It works.

    You don't want your center louder than your mains, ever. However sometimes you need it to be. So - slightly, ever so slightly bumping it a db or so allows it that extra edge it needs when it is playing that whisper - so you can hear it... it works, I dont know why it works - but I've always done it, and asked people to listen for a difference and most times it is heard (and they dont even know I've changed it the majority of the time)...

    The 2db surround bump is the same way... you can hear it. Even though it isnt 3db. Just try it.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • R1tt83
    R1tt83 Posts: 10
    edited September 2005
    Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:
    Start your mains at -5db (left), then set your right main to that same volume...

    Bump your center 1 db higher than your mains, surrounds + 2 db.

    You want your sub to be about the same volume as your mains, but I like mine a bit (alot) louder. ;)


    So I should start off with a whole new calibration at -5 db ?

    I will give it a try. Thanks.
    Center - CS1
    L+R - Monitor 50
    Surround - R15
    Sub - HSU STF-1
    Receiver - Onkyo SR503B
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