RM6800 Subwoofer / Onkyp TX603 Setup

MLZ

I recently purchased an Onkyo TX SR603X and Polk RM6800 speakers. The salesman told me I would need a subwoofer cable, so I purchased that.
FYI: The Onkyo auto setup sets number of speakers and their size, speaker distance, crossover, speaker level calibration, and equalizer settings.
My initial setup was to use the receiver’s subwoofer output jack and cable to the left RCA input on the subwoofer and ran auto-setup to setup my speaker’s levels which set subwoofer to on, and the front and backs to small.
Then I read the manual and two white papers on this site on bass management and so ran more speaker wire and followed the “strongly” “Recommended Setup A” (both front speaker line outputs to the subwoofer inputs, and subwoofer outputs to the speakers) and again ran the receivers auto-setup which set subwoofer to off, fronts to large, backs to small, etc. When I listen to action DVD’s with this setup I get little bass compared to the “rumble” I get using the sub-woofer output and cable.
Did I do something wrong? Does it matter that I set the volume control on the subwoofer to its “mid” setting. Is this something with the Onkyo’s setup program that I should override?

MLZ

I e-mailed Polk's support and my reply was:

What is the crossover frequency in the receiver set to? To obtain the
best performance possible from these speakers I would recommend
connecting the subwoofer to the receiver by using the subwoofer line
level cable. Connect it to the left channel input on the subwoofer. Set
the volume control to the 1 o'clock position and set the power switch to
the auto on mode.
Using the receiver's set up menu functions, set all of the speakers to
small and select the 120 Hertz crossover frequency. You will have to
adjust the volume for all the channels independently.

Thanks,
Kim

peekobi

MLZ, I just bought the same receiver (TX SR603X ) last week. I'm using a PSW 350 but don't have a clue as to how to hook it up correctly. Please let me know if/when you get it figured out. I'm currently just using one digital coax cable. I've read a few of the white papers posted on here as well but am still a little fuzzy.

MLZ

I used the subout to my subwoofer, ran the SR603's autosetup, it set the speakers to Small, Subwoofer to On, Crossover at 120, and I am happy with the results. Now all I need to do is shorten my "Fronts" speaker wires I extended to go to the subwoffer.

MLZ

I would try both connection methods (Subout to subwoofer & Front R&L to subwoofer to Front L&R) running autosetup each time and see which you prefer. I liked listening to music CDs with the Front->Sub->Front setup, but didn't hear the bass rumble on action DVDs.

EddieC

I have the same receiver (603x) and speakers (rm6800). If you're connecting the sub via the receiver's L/R output (as recommended by polk) the trick is to turn the subwoofer off during the onkyo auto setup. Using the polk recommened hookup you're in essense telling the receiver there is no sub connected. If you leave it on, it distorts the signals sent to the setup mic by the front speakers and will give you a bad setup. I left the sub volume up the first time and my speakers were setup all wrong (incorrect distances, etc.). I retried the setup w/ the sub off and it worked fine. It will automatically set the fronts to large, and surrounds to small. You'll get plenty of bass this way. I actually have to turn the volume on my sub down cause it's too much.

Now if I can only figure out the best eq settings for music.