Quiet center channel (CSI A6)

rancid

Hi,

I have a question regarding the sound level for the center channel. My understanding is that it is mainly used to give vocals are better presence. Not finding it so though.

My setup:

Pioneer VSX-9040TXH
Fronts RTI A7
Center CSI A6

I went into my amp's configurations and tried to bump up a couple of db to see if it would make a difference and didn't seem like it. Checked all the wiring and they are in their respective spots (as far as positive and negatives are concerened). All connections are secure and nothing is loose.

Prior to the installation of the center channel, I was running just the A7s for two channel audio listening and still do. Great sound even with movies on just the A7's with good bass response. I added the the CSI A6 to give the dialogue more life but found that things were a bit softer and clearer but the presence of the center channel wasn't as big as I thought it would be. I had to turn it out a bit more volume wise but the boominess of the bass wasn't there anymore...which was a good thing but not really what I wanted to happen. Was I just expecting a little too much out of it?

And thoughts and suggestions aside from what I've already done? Or if someone has a similiar setup, they could chime in and I could try the setup?

Thanks

tonyb

Did you go into the menu for setting up speakers in your avr and dvd player and tell it you have a center ? Bump the volume on the center and tone down the volume on the front left and right ? Make sure no plastic sheathing from the speaker cable is caught in the binding posts of the center.

tugzy

Did you read the receiver's manual and run the Auto MACCAC?? I dont think you have the receiver/speakers calibrated right

Murray1

Think you need at least 5 speakers to do an auto speaker calibration. Check out your avr manual and probably do it manually.

rancid

thanks for the responses guys. Not sure if the MACCAC will help out on that but will try it anyways. I didn't run it initially as I only had the 2 speakers. There are options on there that lets you pick what sort of speakers you have setup and I have them set appropriately according to what I have. I did read the manual on it and did do the setup but aborted it when I got the two speakers...so in short no, did not run it.

Will try the MACCAC setup on the weekend and see what happens.

As for the plastic sheath...it's all good connection to the wire. Nothing in the way there.

I was just a little suprised since at the store, they had it hooked up to a lower rated yamaha and it sounded they way it should. Maybe it was just the change in environment. One thing that I did forget to mention is that I have this propped up on the ground with the sound directed towards me so that could be part of the issue was well. But, it still sounds a bit quite when I go up close to it. So will give the auto calibration a shot and see what it does. I'll post back with the results when I do.

Thanks for the suggestions!

ben62670

Check the tweeter, and welcome to club Polk.
Ben

Reimer

I dream of getting a CSiA6 one day. Hope this is just a hook up problem and not a compatibility problem as I have a similar receiver.

BlueFox

rancid wrote: »

I have a question regarding the sound level for the center channel. My understanding is that it is mainly used to give vocals are better presence. Not finding it so though.

For a HT, the CC is usually the most important speaker. By and large, most movies concentrate on the CC, and use the front L/R to fill-in the sound, and, along with the rears, for sound effects.

Once I realized this, I upgraded my LSiC to a PSB Synchrony One Center, and the overall sound improvement was easily apparent. I cannot even imagine trying to equal this with only the front L/R speakers.

Amherst

The CSiA6 is a very powerful speaker. With the A7's and A6 you have I would bet is overwhelming the Pio's amp. You may want to consider some outside push.
Adding an amp to my set-up opened up a whole new world, especially the A6.

tugzy

rancid wrote: »

thanks for the responses guys. Not sure if the MACCAC will help out on that but will try it anyways. I didn't run it initially as I only had the 2 speakers. There are options on there that lets you pick what sort of speakers you have setup and I have them set appropriately according to what I have. I did read the manual on it and did do the setup but aborted it when I got the two speakers...so in short no, did not run it.

Will try the MACCAC setup on the weekend and see what happens.

As for the plastic sheath...it's all good connection to the wire. Nothing in the way there.

I was just a little suprised since at the store, they had it hooked up to a lower rated yamaha and it sounded they way it should. Maybe it was just the change in environment. One thing that I did forget to mention is that I have this propped up on the ground with the sound directed towards me so that could be part of the issue was well. But, it still sounds a bit quite when I go up close to it. So will give the auto calibration a shot and see what it does. I'll post back with the results when I do.

Thanks for the suggestions!

If you didnt run the Auto MACCAC after connecting all your speakers then thats the problem. Always run the Auto MACCAC after you make any speaker changes/additions/deletions or even when you change the speaker positions. Check the manual for the procedure. The reason your center is quiet is because your receiver doesn't know its there.

bklynNupe

tugzy wrote: »

If you didnt run the Auto MACCAC after connecting all your speakers then thats the problem. Always run the Auto MACCAC after you make any speaker changes/additions/deletions or even when you change the speaker positions. Check the manual for the procedure. The reason your center is quiet is because your receiver doesn't know its there.

+1
The auto calibration is an excellent starting point. I turn off my towers when watching something like the news.
I will then have to double check that my towers are not on because the sound is so immense. Or, I’ll watch a movie and realize 20 minutes in that I don’t have my towers on. I’m glad I took a chance an purchased the a6 solely on customer reviews, it’s certainly one of my best audio purchases ever.

tonyb

tugzy wrote: »

If you didnt run the Auto MACCAC after connecting all your speakers then thats the problem. Always run the Auto MACCAC after you make any speaker changes/additions/deletions or even when you change the speaker positions. Check the manual for the procedure. The reason your center is quiet is because your receiver doesn't know its there.

Thats the point I was trying to make, you did a better job of it.:)

Don't stop half way into the set up process,see it all the way 'till the end so the avr knows what to do with the signals it receives.

rancid

I went into the advanced options in the amp to select the speaker configs. So it asks for front speakers...selected that, center channel...selected that...rear speakers and subs...no selection as I didn't put them in yet. I would think that the amp would know the speakers are there since they are hooked up but in any case will do as suggested and see if it makes a difference.

rancid

Amherst wrote: »

The CSiA6 is a very powerful speaker. With the A7's and A6 you have I would bet is overwhelming the Pio's amp. You may want to consider some outside push.
Adding an amp to my set-up opened up a whole new world, especially the A6.

an external amp is on my list of things to acquire. Just spotting some NAD amps right now. Will likely pull the trigger when funds allow.

rancid

sound was bothering me too much so I just bit the bullet and did the setup. I live in a townhouse so noise is a bit of a factor for me. Luckily my neighbors were either away or had just gotten home so it wasn't too bad...didn't get a complaint or anything so that was good.

Anyways, set up the mic and went through the process. The sound is definitely better. It's not as quite as previous. Much improved but will continue to tweak a tiny bit. I may end up bumping up the center level by one. Overall, pretty happy with it for the time being.

Thanks eveyone for the suggestions.