RTi6 Jumper Problems

RutgersFTW

I lost my jumpers when I moved! I wasn't using them since the speakers were bi-wired in my last set-up, but a recent change in receiver (from Onkyo 605 to H/K AVR 247) means that's no longer an option.

In order to make things work I cut some old pieces of cheap 16 or 18 gauge speaker wire to fir in place, and it works, but I fear I'm not doing it right. I can't use any fatter wire as I have 12 gauge bare wire coming into the bottom terminal, and anything bigger just gets pushed out.

So: do I try to get replacement jumpers?

-or-

Make my own fancy jumpers with spade connectors from Parts Express?

ben62670

The 12ga wire is better than the jumpers;)

Ron Temple

Yeah, use the 12g to bridge the binding posts and use bananas for the speaker wire. I picked up a CS400i last year w/o the jumpers and did this. Works great.

RutgersFTW

I'm capping the 12g with plugs this afternoon. I'm also going to experiment with some inexpensive StraightWire Quartet bi-wire cable to see if it offers any improvement, though I'm skeptical of the 14g cable.

Kchill

Rutgers,

How is that 247 working out, it has alot of features but is it the solution?

Mine may have to go back because its acting funny.

zingo

Ditto on the speaker wire jumpers. I do mine with bananas, then sandwich the signal wire under the banana plug.

Ron Temple

Kchill wrote: »

Rutgers,

How is that 247 working out, it has alot of features but is it the solution?

Mine may have to go back because its acting funny.

What's it doing?

RutgersFTW

Kchill wrote: »

Rutgers,

How is that 247 working out, it has alot of features but is it the solution?

Mine may have to go back because its acting funny.

Compared to everything else I've paired with RTis in its price range (Panasonic XR57, Onkyo 605, Onkyo TX-8522) it's by far the most muscular-sounding. It's dynamic, well-built, and sexy. Plus, I can plug in another amp when I get more money/space/speakers. All in all, she's the one for me and my budget.

As for usability, however, it's far less intuitive than the Onkyo 605. Its video menus are convoluted and limited. I'm sure I can get it to do everything I want it to (pass-through ALL HDMI video signals without any upconversion, not just 1080i/1080p; the volume control should always go to the receiver regardless of what input I've selected, and many more) but I can't figure out how yet. The manual seems at first to be comprehensive, but in reality it's just not edited thoroughly enough and is too wordy. They spend 4-5 sentences explaining how to plug in the setup mic, for instance.

I've had some "funny stuff" from the H/K's video chip, too. My Oppo struggles with the video cadence of animated sources, so I try to pass it through at 480i to avoid that pitfall, but the H/K adds its Faroudja processing regardless so the cadence issues get even worse. Additionally, a line of snow appears across the screen for a few frames. Very not cool. When I keep the Oppo at 1080i and bypass the receiver, I have no such problems (other than tears/seams/jaggies from funky cadence that drive me crazy too). Input switching is slow, and the proprietary iPod dock is remarkably unfriendly to use.

Still, it sounds like a million bucks and doesn't break a sweat doing it, so I'll be sticking with her as long as she keeps working.

devani

good thing you switched to HK...i am also satisfied with my HK 445 and I don't use the switching AV because I don't have any source that needs switching...
currently use for connecting computer to 445 via USB and can't do any video switching here...
and also using built in HD tuner of TV(don't have cable/DirecTV) and no need for switching video...
only have DVD player that we can use for switching but since we have to switch source for computer and over-the-air HDTV, why bother with buying extra cables, it might be convenient...
you can get spare jumpers from here in polk for few bucks....

PS: the volume control is tricky with HK...you must use/setup punch-through in HK...

RutgersFTW

devani wrote: »

good thing you switched to HK...i am also satisfied with my HK 445 and I don't use the switching AV because I don't have any source that needs switching...
currently use for connecting computer to 445 via USB and can't do any video switching here...
and also using built in HD tuner of TV(don't have cable/DirecTV) and no need for switching video...
only have DVD player that we can use for switching but since we have to switch source for computer and over-the-air HDTV, why bother with buying extra cables, it might be convenient...
you can get spare jumpers from here in polk for few bucks....

PS: the volume control is tricky with HK...you must use/setup punch-through in HK...

I never used to use my receiver for video switching, but HDMI has changed that (for better or worse). I love one-cable SACD/DVD-A/DVD-V as well as from the DVR... but it's annoying to have another link in the chain to my TV.

I do love the H/K, though, and its menus aren't terrible. The Onkyo 605 was just easier to use. On the other hand, the 605 normally played nice with the RTis but there was occasionally some shrillness up top, as well as a little bit of weakness in the low-midrange. In the sub-$500 receiver category, though, they're all fairly good choices.

RutgersFTW

Oh yeah, I also bought the H/K in case the LSi series gets the rumored update soon and a set of LSi7s breaks $300/pr. At that price I can't not try them out, and the H/K should drive them no problem, impedance be damned.