Receiver, separates questions

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33coupe

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Topic # 240368 4-Sep-2018 14:10

Hi there, since owing my system I have always been wondering if I'm getting the best out of it.

I have
Onkyo tx515, diamonds 9.5 (9cs centre, 9.0 surrounds, sw150 sub), htpc, ps4, record player (and preamp) connected.

I'm guessing an external amp would be beneficial but I'm pretty sure my receiver doesn't have pre out to support it.

Current setup is on floor boards so am looking to get some granite or something to help reduce resonation (if that's right)

I think an amp would be beneficial but can't work out how to do it, and connect it all.

Any advice, suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

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Reply # 2083859 4-Sep-2018 15:03

Adding a power amp wouldn't get you much of an improvement in volume...

Basically, if you double your power you will only get 3 decibels of volume increase - a difference you can notice, but it most certainly won't blow your socks off.

The biggest improvement I could see would be:

Positioning of the speakers / subwoofer

Room EQ

Changing your speakers.

Everything after that, to my mind, would be tweaking.

Batman

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Reply # 2083868 4-Sep-2018 15:23

a better centre, and 2 better subs will have you a nice home theatre

sen8or

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Reply # 2083873 4-Sep-2018 15:35

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Do you have your speakers isolated from the floorboards (on spikes or rubber feet)?

How about speaker placement, are your speakers close to the wall behind them, too close and this can produce unwanted resonance effects.

Have you played about with where to place your sub. Bass loading in the corner can increase volume, but can lead to boomy effects rather than deep tight bass.

Whats your room treatment like? Curtaining, book cases and other furniture etc to prevent sound bouncing off the walls (if you clap your hands loudly where you sit, can you hear it bouncing back from the walls?)

So many little things can be done without spending a dime (well, if you don't have the speakers adequately isolated from the floorboards, maybe a few dimes to get spikes / feet) and these little tweaks will add up to a whole new increase in performance.

33coupe

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Reply # 2083942 4-Sep-2018 16:23

Thanks for the replies.

It's not necessarily more power I'm after, just hopefully a bit more clarity (if possible)

It could be room issues as suggested. I have speakers on spikes but sub on cabinet due to space.

I will send some pics tonight so that you can get a better idea of my setup.
Thanks

sen8or

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Reply # 2084000 4-Sep-2018 19:59

and then ofcourse, theres just the plain silly

33coupe

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Reply # 2084058 4-Sep-2018 20:54

https://cdn.geekzone.co.nz/imagessubs/c73dcd662349c875c7e26c7b8ca3e216.jpg[/img]

jarledb

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Reply # 2084102 4-Sep-2018 22:30

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Is your subwoofer on top of the unit? Thats a bad place to put it. You want it up against a wall, maybe in the right corner, behind the right speaker.

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Goosey

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Reply # 2084131 5-Sep-2018 06:44

Remind us what you want to achieve again? Apart from the sub in the wrong place, it looks decent to me?

Perhaps invest somtime reading the recievers manual and really get to know what it can do / configuration.

Batman

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Reply # 2084133 5-Sep-2018 06:50

OP says need more clarity. I hope it doesn't mean he's playing 64kbps mp3 at full blast, or 700mb movies aka YouTube at full blast?

If the source is pure then I'd recommend a new receiver as well as moving the sub.

jonathan18

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Reply # 2084191 5-Sep-2018 09:44

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jarledb:

Is your subwoofer on top of the unit? Thats a bad place to put it. You want it up against a wall, maybe in the right corner, behind the right speaker.

OP's after clarity, so I'd be careful around sticking the sub in a corner of the room, given that while it will strengthen the bass there's also a good chance that may come at the expense of quality and clarity. That said, totally agree that current placement isn't ideal (even if it's just as it's likely to add unwanted vibration to the turntable and TV, let alone for sound reasons), but I'm not sure there's even room in the corner - perhaps try along one of the side walls. The sub in our main HT setup sits parallel with our main seating and there's no issue of locating the source. In another stereo we have the sub sitting underneath a table; that may be an option for you, noting the coffee table there, if alternative locations are few.

The centre speaker looks like it's slightly recessed within the cavity - is there a chance you could bring it further forward so that it sits in front of the lip? May not be as pretty or practical, but in my experience recessing the centre like that can have a significant impact on sound quality. Similarly, the LRs could potentially come forward a little bit (right speaker in particular seems further recessed than the left, and further than ideal?).

Photos don't show placement of the rears, but are these in the optimal place, taking into account any practical considerations?

Personally, I'd try to provide a bit more 'breathing room' around the speakers (and potentially space for the sub on the floor) by using a less wide cabinet; that would cost money, though, and lead to a lack of space for the turntable.

In terms of floor isolation for your LRs - I've used large concrete tiles for this in the past - a cheap if not terribly aesthetically pleasing option!

Batman

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Reply # 2084205 5-Sep-2018 10:19

That sub in that room ain't gonna add or subtract from clarity! For sub clarity OP needs acoustic treatment to room with some renovations not to mention a sub upgrade or two. Stick it in the corner.

1101

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Reply # 2084217 5-Sep-2018 10:30

I would move the fronts away from the corner a bit. a lot .

The room itself plays a huge part in sound quality . Sometimes the room is simply too small for 5.1
In my lounge, I found the rears just muddied up the sound so I disconnected them
Your room looks VERY narrow . Fronts may be too big , high quality standmounts may have been a better choice

Also, can get subs muddying up the sound in some rooms ,sounding boomy . Just the shape of some room plays havok on low freq reproduction

What does a normal music CD,record (or lossless mp3) sound like in 'pure' stereo mode ? Start there
Another thing to consider is some source material really isnt very clean or undistorted to start with. Ive bough new CD's that sounded
horrid due to distortion inherint in the 'pressing' , same song on a 'greatest hits sounding good.

Try removing the sub (yes), removing the rears , walls are far too clean & reflective from whats shown in the photo.

WyleECoyoteNZ

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Reply # 2084223 5-Sep-2018 10:35

I very much doubt that your current receiver will have the pre outs.

I've myself got a TX-NR609, and that doesn't have the pre outs either.

The mid range Onkyo receivers are lacking the power to drive the big floor standing speakers.

My TX-NR609 is driving a pair of Mission M35's at the front, a M3C1 centre and a pair of M30's at the back. There is also a MS8 sub off to the side.

I've used the Onkyo Audyssey setup mic a few times, and even that hasn't got the best out of the setup.

As my receiver is used for both music and TV, what ever I do next has to be able to both.

Thinking long term, I want to get rid of the Onkyo, and replace it with a Yamaha Aventage receiver. Most of these have the pre outs, which in future can have a stereo power amp added. Doing so would allow be to drive the fronts off my power amp, and the surrounds off the Yamaha.

33coupe

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Reply # 2084225 5-Sep-2018 10:37

Thanks for the replies some good info there.

I will check but don't think the centre can come forward anymore as the middle shelf is recessed.

I will move the sub, there is potentially room and enough cable for it to go behind me (good idea?)

I might move entire system to the left to give more distance for the speaker, although TV might be a bit off centre from myseating position.

I'm keen to try a granite or stone plinth as well.

1101

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Reply # 2084228 5-Sep-2018 10:40

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dont believe the BS about lacking power.
As noted above, doubling the power only gives 3db. Thats bugger all.
And then speakers will loose efficeincy at higher power anyway, so thats even less gain from higher power.
More power never means better quality.

Even a good 10W amp is more than enough for that room.
Hell, a 50W amp is loud enough for playing live gigs in a rock band. My old 25W guitar amp was loud enough to hurt your ears.

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