sunfire hook up suggestions

BAD ASP

hey all, I am a newbie to club polk. I have posted a couple of things but you all have influenced me enough to purchase a used sunfire signature 5.1 with the 425 wpc rating. My system starts with the polk 1.2 tl up front. I will be using my Denon 5700 for the pre. This creates my first question. .....
I also have an onkyo which has pre's. My perception is that the denon has better musicality then does the onk. Does using the av as a pre influence the sound reproduction? In other words is it unecessary to use the denon, as the av provides no influence on the sound as the amp is doing that?
Are there any suggestions as to the hook ups? I use the system 65/35 HT over music.
My amp will be going in an entertainment center and will be less than 3 feet from the pre. Is there anything wrong with using monster cable rca patch cords.
Any sunfire users out there who can give me their impressions over their previous av gear. I am hoping for a quantum leap in sound performance, will I be disappointed?
Right now I am using a mid-value Klipsch center. Is there enough of noticeable difference in the sound quality,since it seems to be monaural anyway, between different center channel speakers from quality builders? Would replacing it with the polk LSiC provide a noticeable differnce?

sorry about asking for so much info but I have a lot of catching up to do.

mike

Tour2ma

Man, you ask a lot of questions...

BAD ASP wrote:

... purchase a used sunfire signature 5.1 with the 425 wpc rating. My system starts with the polk 1.2 tl up front.

Congrats on both counts... Slight correction though, your Sunfire is a 5 ch... not 5.1. The ".1" refers to a sub-woofer channel of a Pre-Pro or AVR. It's decoder lingo, not amp terminology...

BAD ASP wrote:

I will be using my Denon 5700 for the pre. This creates my first question. .....
I also have an onkyo which has pre's. My perception is that the denon has better musicality then does the onk. Does using the av as a pre influence the sound reproduction? In other words is it unecessary to use the denon, as the av provides no influence on the sound as the amp is doing that?

Most would agree with your impression, I know I do. But your impression is all that matters. Try both... pick the one you like better... sell the other or use it in a 2nd rig.

BAD ASP wrote:

Are there any suggestions as to the hook ups? I use the system 65/35 HT over music.

I'd bi-amp your 1.2's using the L and R channels and the 2 surround channels. Pre-outs of AVR go to the L/R ch's, jumper the "spare" RCA for each of these ch's on the Sunfire to a surround channel. Wire the L/R "current" outputs to the tl's upper (tweeter) posts and the Surround ch's "voltage" output (only choice in the surrounds is voltage) to the tl's lower/ bass posts.

BE SURE to REMOVE THE JUMPERS from the tl's, if you bi-amp per the above.

As for the center, I bi-wire off of a center ch with the current output to tweeters and voltage to MW's. Again, remove the jumpers on the speaker, if any.

Let the Denon (or Onk) AVR handle the surround ch's, if any. Surround demands are not that great, especially if you run them set to "small".

I would suggest using banana posts, single or dual, for the Sunfire speaker connection. Space is kinda tight back there, and you don't want any rogue wire strands bridging ch's.

BAD ASP wrote:

My amp will be going in an entertainment center and will be less than 3 feet from the pre. Is there anything wrong with using monster cable rca patch cords.

Nah... there are better IC's out there than MC's, but they're a start. I use Signal Cable's Balanced IC's, but my Pre-Pro accepts them and your AVR choices may not.

Do be sure that your ent center is adequately vented. Sunfires run "cool" compared to most amps, but that does not mean that they do not generate heat... they do, especially when you get frisky (and you will), and they are ill equipped to dissapate it.

BAD ASP wrote:

Any sunfire users out there who can give me their impressions over their previous av gear. I am hoping for a quantum leap in sound performance, will I be disappointed?

Disappointed? No... Furthermore, as a precaution, you may want to grab a pack of Depends next trip to the store...

BAD ASP wrote:

Right now I am using a mid-value Klipsch center. Is there enough of noticeable difference in the sound quality,since it seems to be monaural anyway, between different center channel speakers from quality builders? Would replacing it with the polk LSiC provide a noticeable differnce?

I cannot see the Klipsch being a good tonal/ timbre match for the 3000's in your tl's. Bi-wiring the Klipsch will give it it's best chance of blending as the current output of the Sunfire is noticeably smoother.

Play some music and swap from 2 to 3 ch and back. If the sound changes (other than volume-wise), the match can be improved. If you note a change, try swapping the Sunfire's L/R output to the tl's tweeters from current to voltage, and repeat the test. Making the input to the tl's 3000's a little "edgier" may help the blending of your frontstage, but may make the tl's less listenable in 2 ch duty. You'll have to A-B the tl's as well swapping the amp output to the tweeters.

If you decide to ditch the Klipsch, an LSiC may be a good choice, as good as there is available. Buy one where you can can try it, but return it if it is not the answer.

Have fun...

BAD ASP

Hey tour2ma, I've been away on business for a few days so I just read your reply to my epistle. Thanks very much for taking the time to deal with my questions. I will be working on the system this weekend and I will work with all of your suggestions. I have been on the look out for the LSiC center channel to replace the Klipsch. Again thanks for taking the time to answer all my newbie questions.:D

TN_Polk_Lover

Mike,

Welcome to the Polk family!

dorokusai

I think there was a GI Joe action figure named BAD ASP.....wait, where am I?

BAD ASP

hey Doro,


When i was a kid there weren't any GI joe figures to play with. As a matter of fact, when I was a kid, if you were a boy and played with dolls that was an open invitation to a good **** kicking LOL. Just kidding Doro.
I took the name bad asp because I have a couple of muscle cars made by ford and they're cobras. And since I believe them to be bad **** I tried a play on words to get through the Illinois DMV. The plate on my 66' shelby cobra replica is bad asp.:D
Thanks for the welcome guys!

mike

dorokusai

LOL....dolls! Their ACTION FIGURES!

Sorry for the derail.....you should post some pics of that Cobra sometime.

BAD ASP

Hey Doro,

a couple of pics of the cobra and engine. The specs are:
2450 lbs
408 w cu.in.
93mm intercooled turbo
tremec viper 6 spd
on board fire suppression
etc etc.
My son's and I built it over a 4 year period.

dorokusai

That's absolutely beautiful.

ben62670

BAD ASP wrote:

Hey Doro,

a couple of pics of the cobra and engine. The specs are:
2450 lbs
408 w cu.in.
93mm intercooled turbo
tremec viper 6 spd
on board fire suppression
etc etc.
My son's and I built it over a 4 year period.

That is definitely my dream car. Poked and stroked 351w?
Is it wrong to get a woody when looking at a car like that?
Oh yeah get rid of the Klipsch center. It is definitely way off with timbre match.

Welcome to Club Polk
Ben

My 2nd choice for any car would be 68-70 Mercury cougar

BAD ASP

thanks, this car has been on my wish list since I first saw one in 1966.
She is poked and stroked as well as timed and tuned specifically to this turbo. It's idle is not as lumpy with the turbo but you get over that pretty quick when you pass through 3500 rpm. The car is a pleasure to drive if you enjoy the smells, sounds, momentary loss of hearing and loading your shorts every once in awhile.

I look forward to finishing my set up with the sunfire.

mike

tonyb

Hey dude,if that Cobra makes it's way to the FM,I have dibbs.
That is one of my dream cars,SWEEEET !!!!!

+1 on the center

BAD ASP

what's FM?
I am currently looking for an LSC1c in the auctions. I will definitely swap out the center, thanks.

tonyb

Flee market....for sale...Anytime you want to sell that puppy,give me a yell.

BAD ASP

tonyb, I don't know if I could ever sell that car. Lot's of fun memories with the boys putting it together etc. Plus it really is a lot of fun to drive. I see you live in the chicago area, if you want we can hook up this spring and I promise not to scare ya.;)

ben62670

BAD ASP wrote:

tonyb, I don't know if I could ever sell that car. Lot's of fun memories with the boys putting it together etc. Plus it really is a lot of fun to drive. I see you live in the chicago area, if you want we can hook up this spring and I promise not to scare ya.;)

Does this go for me too. I would be very tempted to fly out there just for a ride in that car. I have great body function control to:D

tonyb

BAD ASP wrote:

tonyb, I don't know if I could ever sell that car. Lot's of fun memories with the boys putting it together etc. Plus it really is a lot of fun to drive. I see you live in the chicago area, if you want we can hook up this spring and I promise not to scare ya.;)

OH Man...That would be awesome!!!!How far from the Algonquin area are ya?
You just made my day friend......beer and lunch on me.And I am not telling the wife as she will want to sit on my lap for that ride.:D

tonyb

Hey Ben,saw some hot cars down by you,includeing a nice red
Ferrari spyder.......driven by a punk looking 18 yr old who looked like
his daddy would buy him another if he scratched it.

Fly out man,you can stay with me,will get BAD ASP to cruise over
go for a ride,listen to some tunes,Eat drink and be merry ya know.

dudeinaroom

I just want the ninja cat in the pic

BAD ASP

tonyb,

I live in park ridge, right by the airport. Thats about 8 minutes by cobra or f-18. I work in Schaumburg and I drive the car to the office when the weather is cooperating. This little beast doesn't like wet tracks too much. :eek:

Sherardp

welcome to the club mike and as everyone has said, wicked car. And have fun with the system buddy.