Surroundbar... no surround for me...

SG ACE McKILTY

Sorry if this has already been posted. I searched and didn't find it.

I am not hearing the surround sound properly. I have everything hooked up correctly (as far as I know) but everything sounds like it's in front of me. I ran test tones on my speaker and each speaker produces a tone. I ran the THX Audio Optimizer from a Star Wars DVD and again, I hear each speaker, but I hear everything in front of me and not to my left or right.

• The surround bar is set right below my TV, 9 feet from my couch.
• The wires are wired properly to the SurroundBar
• They are wired to the tuner black to black, colored to red-- "A" Group.
• The tuner is Sony STR-DE925
• I do not have a subwoofer yet.
• Speakers were set to Large
• Subwoofer was set to Off
• Surround Sound Settings are set to Cinema B. I don't have a setting that allows me to set it to Dolby Digital or DTS, but I believe the Cinema B soundfield covers that. I wonder if maybe I should try the "Auto Format Decoding" instead.
• I set the speaker distance to 9 feet-- the distance from the couch to the SurroundBar.
• I set the front and center levels to 0 and the read speakers to +3. I later changed this to +6 hoping to get better results.

I don't get it. Everyone says it's so great, but I'm not hearing it so I must have something wrong.

Help!

Thanks,

Rick

SG ACE McKILTY

From the manual:

Multi Channel decoding Indicator - The indicator lights when the sound field is on and the unit is decoding signals recorded in a multi channel format. This light is lit. I am using optical cables for my connection from the Cable Box and the Xbox.

GENRE: CINEMA - The sound modes in this genre are designed for use when playing back movie software (DVD, LD, etc.) encoded with multi-channel surround sound or Dolby Pro Logic. In addition to decoding the surround sound, this genre also includes sound modes that provide the reflections and reverberation typically found in movie theaters. The sound modes in this genre have little effect on two-channel stereo sources (CD, MD, etc.).

SOUNDFIELD: CINEMA STUDIO B - Reproduces the sound characteristics of the Sony Pictures Entertainment "Kim Novak Theater" cinema production studio. The mode is ideal for watching science-fiction or action movies with lots of sound effects.

GENRE: AFD - This genre contains the "Auto Format Decoding" sound mode which presents the sound exactly as it was encoded, without any reverberation (etc.).

SOUNDFIELD: AFD - Automatically detects the type of audio signal being input (Dolby Digital, DTS, DOlby Pro Logic, or standard 2-channel stereo) and performs the proper decoding if necessary. This mode presents the sound as it was recorded/encoded without adding any effects. You can use this mode as a reference. Set the equalizer to OFF while using this mode to hear the sound exactly as it was recorded.

amulford

I would try the auto detect. I have a Sony STR-something also, with a Surroundbar. It seems to be working for me. I will check out the Cinema DSP's, maybe they are not allowing it to work.

I have a question. Is your couch right against a wall?

If it is, try to move it out. If you cannot do that, hang something on the wall behind the couch to absorb the sound.

The Surround bar uses interaural crosstalk cancellation. If you are getting unwanted reflections, they may be interfering with it working by canceling out the SDA signal.

SG ACE McKILTY

Yeah, the AFD is what I'll try first. My couch is in the middle of the room. The wall is probably 12 feet behind it.

amulford

How about side wall space? Height fron the floor?

Welcome to the Club, BTW...

SG ACE McKILTY

Thanks. The room is 13x23. The TV is centered on the 13 foot wall. the surround bar is directly in front of it, so there is plenty of room on each side. No obstructions. The height of the surroundbar is roughly 2 1/2 feet. It's on the same table as the TV, directly in front. It can't go any lower and to go higher it would need a TV mount that I haven't been able to find.

amulford

Do you have it in it's cradle? try angling it up a little to aim right at your head. Did you buy this new or used?

SG ACE McKILTY

It's in the cradle and brand new. I will try angling it a bit after the AFD test. I hope it works because I really don't want to send it back and I really can't setup proper surround speakers.

PolkThug

Use AFD. Play a test tone to the surround L or R. Move your head a foot or two forward and back (while dodging the couch of course), and try to find where the sweet spot for the reflecting point is.

SG ACE McKILTY

I changed to AFD and tried a few different DVD's. Nothing was obviously in surround. The SurroundBar is tilted at my head, so that's good.

I moved up a little and I thought maybe it was more surround... but maybe it was just because I was closer to the SurroundBar. I changed the speaker distance on the tuner to 10 from 9 feet (actual distance). I'm going to try further distances tonight to see if it helps.

I kinda think I want a friend to come over and listen to see what they think.

fireshoes

When you are closer, try the test tone option on the receiver, you should clearly hear the surround channels to the rear or at least side. What I've found is that the SB has a good 180 degree soundfield in an open room and closer to a true surround when there are walls nearby. The SB doesn't depend entirely on reflection like Bose or Yamaha's offerings, but it does seem to help.

AFD is the correct mode for Dolby Digital or DTS. Since the multichannel indicator is lit up, you are getting the right signal. It might just be a room anomaly.

SG ACE McKILTY

Yeah, I sat like three feet away and then I can hear it on the sides. That sucks. I guess I have to return it and figure out something better.

Here's a pic of the room:



TV = 62 inch Toshiba (62MX195)

Sherardp

nice setup you have there, depending on budget it looks like you have room for a pair of rti6s, fxi3, rti4s and a sub. Those items would definitely compliment that nice screen you have.

SG ACE McKILTY

I have a Velodyne Acoustics MiniVee. There's plenty of room for left, right, and center speakers, but not room for the side surround speakers. I don't want to put anything in the walls. The SurroundBar was a perfectly solution if only it worked.

amulford

I'd have to agree. If the Surroundbar isn't doing it for you, maybe a true surround speaker set is what you want.

You don't have to put anything on the walls. Is the room carpeted? you can run the rear speaker wires under the carpet and put them on stands.

Right now there is a very nice small speaker set for sale in the Flea Market. It would probably be less than what you paid for the Surroundbar, even with shipping,

Here's a link: RM 7600 with the sub

SG ACE McKILTY

There's an area rug, but it doesn't reach the sides. There's just no room to properly place the side surround speakers. I'd have to hang them up high and I'm not willing to compromise the look of the room.

amulford

Ok. How about behind the crown moulding?

SG ACE McKILTY

Definitely not enough room back there unless the speakers are smaller than golf balls.

Midnite Mick

What is behind your couch area. You can't put small satellites there? Can have them match the decor with a little creativity. Drill little holes in the floor and run the wire under the floor (if it is your house)

The speakers don't have to be at the side of the couch....they can be behind you.

Mike

amulford

No, I mean the wiring. Have you thought about in ceiling speakers?

SG ACE McKILTY

It's hard wood floors and I'd rather not drill holes in the middle of the floors.

Ceiling speakers would be messy. My walls and ceiling are both plaster.

I'm going to get some speakers and mount them up high and try to put the wires behind the crown molding like you said. It might be difficult, but...

Wait... I was going to have someone come and install recessed lighting... as long as I'm in the ceiling, I might as well have the speakers done. Duh!

Ok... I want the best speaker placement. Am I going to get better surround sound from recessed ceiling speakers or wall mounted speakers?

PS - The SurroundBar saga is over. Fedex will be picking it up today.

amulford

There you go. Since you are going to be in the ceiling, I'd stick with that. Do you have access to the space above to run wires? If you have someone doing the lights, I'd get 'em to do the speakers, too...

maingey

Well, even tho it's over (soundbar saga), this may still help with the new setup.... Maybe the dvd player wasn't set to DD out, DTS out, so it was just sending a basic signal out, he never said that his Sony Rec. multichannel decode light lit up (blue?). I haven't worked with sony stuff in yrs, but I do remember that being a big issue with proper setup. Make sure the electrician actually knows how to run the lines properly, you don't want to introduce a hum into the system (potentially).