I currently have an Onkyo HTIB HT-S780. Problem is, voices seem to not come through very clear even in scenes without many external noises (action scenes and what not). I have calibrated my speakers using the Avia test disc and a SPL meter.

I have thought about upgrading my speakers and seeing if that makes a difference but before I do that, I was curious to see if anyone else had any suggestions. Below is the layout of my apartment with the locations of speakers, tv, and viewing position drawn in (sorry about the poor drawing, I only have paint).

Thanks in advance,

Jeff

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/4704/apartmentdq9.gif (http://imageshack.us)

Jeff,

Do you have a center channel speaker? If not, set it to "off" in your receiver.

- Steve O.

Yes, I do have a center channel. Somewhat hard to see from my poor drawing...supposed to be the black rectangle on "inside" the tv box

Is the center speaker flat on top of the TV, or angled down at the seating position? How far are you seated from the screen and how far apart are the front speakers from each other?

Until recently, the speaker was on top of the tv, angled slightly downward. Getting a new stand and placing the speaker under the tv, angled upward a bit, did help some but still not a huge improvement. The front 2 speakers are about 65" apart and the viewing position is 11' from the television.

Until recently, the speaker was on top of the tv, angled slightly downward. Getting a new stand and placing the speaker under the tv, angled upward a bit, did help some but still not a huge improvement. The front 2 speakers are about 65" apart and the viewing position is 11' from the television.

You might want to try moving your fronts further apart or your listening position closer to the screen. 65" is too close together for being 11' away.

http://www.dolby.com/images/consumer/home_entertainment/room_d1.gif

I could try that, however 1 speaker is already very close to the corner (the left front speaker in my drawing, once again a very poor drawing). I could move the right speaker further away but then both speakers would not be the same distance from the tv. Could I compensate for that by turing up the level on the left speaker or is that still not ok?

I could try that, however 1 speaker is already very close to the corner (the left front speaker in my drawing, once again a very poor drawing). I could move the right speaker further away but then both speakers would not be the same distance from the tv. Could I compensate for that by turing up the level on the left speaker or is that still not ok?


You want them to be the same distance. Is the left front too close to the corner or is it just that the sub is in the way? Your picture makes it look like you could swap the left front and the sub and then move the right front out to match the left.

Sorry, I had it backwards in my previous message. The right front speaker is very close to the end of the wall, so even moving it out it would only be a couple of more inches. I guess I should of made the picutre more to scale, sorry about that.

http://www.audiophilia.com/hardware/spl.htm
http://www.bswusa.com/proditem.asp?item=SLM100
Please read the link and get a meter to fix your problem.

http://www.audiophilia.com/hardware/spl.htm
http://www.bswusa.com/proditem.asp?item=SLM100
Please read the link and get a meter to fix your problem.

He has a meter.


Tendril,

Try running your center 1 or 2 dBs higher than the calibration gave you.

I actually tried that earlier today and it did seem to help a good amount. I really will not know for sure until I have more time to sit and watch a movie/ watch tv, but hopefully this will do the trick.

Thanks for all your help.

Had same problem/ same system. Had to have remote in hand at all times for volume control. Not saying this is the best idea but i went and bought a Paradigm CC-290 about $400 wich is almost the price of the whole system. But since the switch I've had trouble with only 2 movies Top Gun and 1 other. I havnt touched the volume for prolly 50 others so far. So it just makes me wonder how good/bad the speaker package is with that system. Unfortunatly we got what we paid for. I read ppl say the receiver is ok just need to do something with the speakers. Onkyo is NOT reguarded for it speakers :) GL to ya