Speaker Volume Concerns

mufsoman

Hey all you Polkies, this is my first post and judging by the great feedback in this site, I'm confident someone will be able to enlighten me on this issue. So here it goes.....My system is as follows:
Front - Rti8
Center - LsiC
Surround - Fxi3
Backs - Tci8
AVR - Pioneer 94TKX
BlueRay - PS3

I need to turn the volume up to -7 or higher to get a decent volume level and its still not even close to hurting my ears. Why is this happening? The Pioneer is rated for 140w per channel. My old Denon 1804 at 90w/ch and Mirage Omnisat system was deafening at anything under -10. I have read that Polks are power hungry speakers. Do I need to add an amp? Thanks

leroyjr1

I would look over everything a couple times to make its set up properly.
I have RTI a5's and they can get very loud.

Another thing if your looking for very loud speakers you should look into something a little different and be very careful running at high volumes with just a receiver. Get yourself a external amp. Then you can crank that Mother!!!!!!!!

CoolJazz

Gain of an amplifier is unrelated to it's rated power output in watts!

So even if the number of -7 is the same between them, driven by the same source equipment, it's gain could be different or even the same while being different wattage rating.

The question should be more along the lines of does it get loud enough before you run out of gain.

Hope it's all ok though....sounds like a nice setup!

Toolfan66

it sounds to me that the db's are set very low on your receiver. check your speaker settings.

+ 1 with what Leroy says.

Conradicles

Why would you want to hurt your ears mufsoman?

Hillbilly61

How loud is the amp with the volume at the 2:00 position? That is typically the max you would want to consider cranking the amp up to and reasonably avoid clipping.

That position should be really loud. If not, you may have a problem somewhere else.

As an additional thought, check your speaker impedance. If there are 4 ohm speakers in the mix, they will require more current to drive ... causing the amp to work harder (not a bad thing if it can do it). There's a lot of discussions around this forum re. listed watts and what are actually delivered. Do a search here. It's enlightening reading. Your amp may not functionally deliver what the rating says.

mufsoman

Thanks for all the feedback. I have double checked all connections and wiring. I have the fronts and center biwired with 12ga, everything is good. As per HILLBILLY1 and TOOLFORLIFEFAN, the speaker db setting fromn the Pioneer's MCACC (audio self set up). Most were low, well below the 0 level. I set them all at +1 and it definatyely made a difference. I'm going to leave at that for awhile and see how I like the sound. The MCACC did compensate for the room design well, so I will probably still do some tweaking.

All speakers are 8 ohms except the LciC. Its 4. Is this stealing away power? I originally bought the LciC thinking I might as well get the best, but maybe I should rethink and consider a CSi A6 to match better??? Anyone have some thoughts on this?

Also, Conradicles, isn't HT like wieghtlifting, no pain, no gain? Just kidding. I do like full impactfull sound though. I may have an opportunity to replace my Rti8's for Rti10's. The 8's seem to have a pretty loyal following. Anyone have any thoughts on this too? Unfortunately I do not have much of a sub yet, waiting for maybe a perfect SVS deal, so the 10's couldget me more bass for now. And bigger sound overall? See ya all......

nooshinjohn

I would reconsider the center as at 4ohm, it will sound a bit louder than it should if the mains are 8 ohm speakers... you could also compensate a bit by backing the volume down for the centers...

leroyjr1

Toss that LSI C and get yourself the correct center for your setup.

nooshinjohn

I am willing to buy the LSI from you if it helps you out as my system needs somathing batter than a CS1

seafire

mufsoman wrote: »

Hey all you Polkies, this is my first post and judging by the great feedback in this site, I'm confident someone will be able to enlighten me on this issue. So here it goes.....My system is as follows:
Front - Rti8
Center - LsiC
Surround - Fxi3
Backs - Tci8
AVR - Pioneer 94TKX
BlueRay - PS3

I need to turn the volume up to -7 or higher to get a decent volume level and its still not even close to hurting my ears. Why is this happening? The Pioneer is rated for 140w per channel. My old Denon 1804 at 90w/ch and Mirage Omnisat system was deafening at anything under -10. I have read that Polks are power hungry speakers. Do I need to add an amp? Thanks

Hi
Set your main volume all the way down/
Go in to your main menu where you can allocate output DB'S per channel.It's
usually a range from -12db to + 12db with default being at 00db.
Set your db's to about +10 ON MAIN L&R AND ABOUT +8 ON center with about +4 on surround back l&r.Use this as a starting point.
Now you should have more volume gain on your main control.Hope this helps

Toolfan66

I have my front L&R set to +7.5db and the center set to +6.5db this works for me.

When i watch NASCAR or F1 racing i drop the db on the center a little to avoid the commentary being so loud, it gives me more of the on track experience.

mufsoman

Looks like I could be bumping the db up a little more. I'll give it a try. There's a couple of comments about the center being louder at 4 ohms. Actually the center is not loud at all. In fact I need to set the db slightly higher to get the vocals louder. I'm confused about that based on some of the feedback.

How about the comparision of Rti8 versus Rti10's? Will the 10's provide a fuller sound with tweeter, mids and woofers instead of just tweeter and combo mids/woofers which the 8's have? Again, it seems the Rti8's have a very loyal following for sound quality, so long as you have a good sub to provide the majority of the bass. They do sound very good, but.....always looking to tweak and improve. Thoughts???

treitz3

The feedback was incorrect. At 4 ohms, the center will be at a lower volume. Does your AVR have pre-outs?

mufsoman

Yes, the Pioneer has pre outs. Watcha thinking?

McLoki

treitz3 wrote: »

The feedback was incorrect. At 4 ohms, the center will be at a lower volume. Does your AVR have pre-outs?

A speaker being 4 or 8 ohms has little to do with efficiency. 2 speakers with the same efficiency (one 4 ohms and the other 8) both running the same input power and source - will be the same volume.

Since in his case - he is running one 4 ohm speaker with a bunch of 8 ohm speakers with different efficiencies - he will have to adjust the center to a different volume to match it with the rest of the speakers. Also the fact that the RTi's are birghter than the LSi's - he may need to turn the LSi up to a percieved louder volume (louder than what an SPL meter would indicate) to better match the rest of his speakers.

Michael

treitz3

With the RTi8's and an external amplifier? You will be able to achieve whatever volume and HT sound you are looking for. I had the RTi10's hooked up to a Carver M1.5t and that combo would pop nails out of the wall, not to mention make your ears bleed at ridiculous volume levels. You really didn't need a sub with this combo using the Pioneer as a pre/pro and a good external amp.

treitz3

Oh, McLoki you get so technical.....:D

FYI, if you are interested in the RTi10's... http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81759

wizzy

How about this:

1. Let MCACC do your setup

2. Find the speaker (fl/fr/cen/rr/lr/etc) that has been set the highest level

3. Go to setup menu

4. Up the setting on the speaker found in step (2) to the highest setting, tracking how many clicks up needed to get there

5. For the remainder of the speakers, apply the same number of clicks up you found in step 4

mufsoman

Hey thanks for all the feedback. I have drastically increased the db level and it has made a huge difference. I still have to play with it more to balance with the room accoustics, buts its a big diiference.

SO, still one more question, being the engineer that I am, I need to understand what that db level adjustment is. Is it just a secondary volume control per speaker or is it a power (wattage) distribution adjustment? Both? Other? As I turn up the db level, will I loose sound quality because of the compounding over amplificiation with the main volume control?

cfrizz

Welcome to Club Polk.

Your Pioneer might give you 140wpc if only driving 2 speakers but it certainly isn't by trying to drive 7. The LSIC will be sapping that Pioneer for everything it has.

Do yourself a favor & get a 5-7 channel amp of at least 200wpc, switch out that LSI for a matching CSI, recalibrate & enjoy.

Until then keep an eye on your receivers heat level. It might go into protect mode, in which case turn the volume down before do damage to your speakers.

mufsoman

Ok so I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to amps, please enlighten me......Why 5 - 7 channel amp? There alot of 2 channel amps for sale, but just amp'ing the fronts doesn't make sense either without the center. Is there such a thing as a 3 channel amp? Do I need to amp the surrounds and backs? Especially since their only rated for 120w (based on my memory). The Rti8's and LsiC are rated for 200w.

Desert Gal

This is also my first time on this site. I need help with my speakers. I have had these for my computer for about 12 years. All of a sudden there is no sound when I try to listen to video or play back my phone messages. Also no sound when playng a CD. When I turn them on or off there is a sound for only a second then silence. All lights are on. I checked down by the clock and the volume icon is turned all the way up. All connections seem tight. Any ideas?

F1nut

Desert Gal wrote: »

This is also my first time on this site. I need help with my speakers. I have had these for my computer for about 12 years. All of a sudden there is no sound when I try to listen to video or play back my phone messages. Also no sound when playng a CD. When I turn them on or off there is a sound for only a second then silence. All lights are on. I checked down by the clock and the volume icon is turned all the way up. All connections seem tight. Any ideas?

More than likely, you have a bad sound card.

Desert Gal

F1nut wrote: »

More than likely, you have a bad sound card.

Is there any way I can test it to see if this is the problem?

F1nut

Sorry DG, I have no idea. What I would suggest is starting a new thread with your question as that will probably get the attention of the folks here that could tell you how to test it.