Definitive Owners Thread - Page 114

My sub is a Klipsch RW-10D.

ok, i just downloaded your manual and this confirms my advice and it also shows you how to turn off or "defeat" your subs crossover

here's the cut/paste from your manual:


Lowpass - This screen is used to adjust the subwoofer's
upper frequency limit to achieve a proper blend with your
system's main speakers. A higher frequency (Hz) is typically used
with smaller, bass limited main speakers and a lower frequency
setting is customarily used with larger floorstanding models. This
filter can be adjusted from 40Hz to 120Hz, as required, or
defeated if the low pass filter function is being performed by your
system's electronics. Use the Left/Right cursor keys to adjust the
lowpass filter. To defeat this filter press and hold the Right cursor
key until Lowpass OFF LFE Mode is displayed. Refer to your
surround processor's owner's manual for more Bass
Management information.

Hey gang. New to the AVS Forums and somewhat of a beginner. Setting up a new system with a 52" Sharp or Samsung, different decision. Will also be upgrading receiver to one of the newer, upper-tier Yamaha or Onkyo models (would prefer Yamaha for the music end, but they seem to be lagging in the HDMI end). Anyway, I've listened to Def Techs and really, really like the sound on the range of material I've heard them handle. Now, it's a matter of choosing the right combination for my room. 20x 16 room. TV placement will be on wall above the mantle, wife hates towers, so looking at Mythos on wall up front. Also, no good spot for two extra surrounds, so going 5.1. I'm thinking Eights for FL and FR with a Three or Seven for center. Mythos Gem XL for rear surround. SuperCube I for sub. Off base, good choices...other recommends? Hope my questions are not too entry level. Thanks in advance to all who offer opinions.

Thanks.

That sounds like a good choice for the room. I am using an svs sub with my definitive setup, that would be an option. I just replaced my yamaha with one of the new onkyos. I like the onkyo better then the yamaha for music as well as movies. Of course, my yamaha is 7 years old so maybe the new ones sound better.

Excellent news!!!!
I wonder how the Mythos 10 would work as surround speakers with the STs and a Mythos 10 up front?

dc

Thanks much, Bartman on the input, both confirmation of the speaker combo as well as the receiver!

I think it all sounds good, but I would go with 3, Mythos 8s all the way across the front. Especially if you will be watching TV or movies a lot. I forget the exact figure, but I think it's 60%-70% of the sound comes through the center channel. It should be one of your best speakers, IMHO.

I have a SC1, mainly because I picked it up for the price of the SVS SB12 Plus. I would look at that as a sub, it comes in the piano gloss black like the Def Tech. You may be getting a really good package deal, but at least it offers you an option. Don't skimp on the center though and maybe look at the Gem XLs too.

I'm still loving my new 350s (for fronts), but I am disappointed with the PC1000 for my center. The salesman sold me the 1000 to use until my 2000 came in and I could return the 1000.
I know it is common for people to turn up the center volume, but will swapping out for the 2000 help with this issue? The dialog is often hard to hear over the other speakers (front and surrounds).

I have the 350's for fronts and the 1000 as my center. While the sound timbre would be better with the 2000, I have no issues with volume or volume/balance between my fronts & center, or any of the 7.1 channels for that matter (my surrounds are PM1000's).

My dialog is crisp and clean, and matched very well with the other speakers. I notice the timbre difference, but it's not that great, and in no way do I think I have any level balance issues with the 1000. If I had room to use the 2000, I would. But, I am not disappointed with the performance of the 1000.

Could your set up be off a touch?

It could be. I've run Audyssey (sp?). It was just 1 or 2 BluRays. I know that one of them was Shooter - dialogue was muffled. Again, it may just be the source.

Steve -

I'm considering this exact setup - SM 350s with the 1000 as the center. I'll add surround later if I want.

Most of my speaker use will be TV stereo sound (I'm getting the Pioneer plasma) and my CDs/digital music. Can you comment on your setup? I'm just about to make the purchase and want to make sure I'm getting something worthwhile.

Thanks.

*edit*

LOL

Thanks, Lowell. I was considering all Eights across the front. Think that's the way I'll probably go. Will also look into your sub recommend.

3 identical vertical speakers across the front is the best possible set-up you can do for your front sound stage

Can the Mythos 10 be mounted off wall? i.e. resting on a center console?

Thanks, otk. All seem to be in agreement on the fronts. Now I just need to explore sub (but still leaning toward the Cube I) and make a decision between Onkyo 905 and Yamaha 3800. Not to drag receivers into the mix too much, but pairing receiver to speaker is important and if I'm to be a Def Tech owner, want to make sure receiver does speaker justice. Any thoughts on the two?

Sure, not sure what to tell you. I love the 350's as fronts, both for HT and music. I have the ProSub1000, and that makes a HUGE difference in the overall experience. I'd highly recommend a Sub. The SuperCubes are great, as are the SVS's.

The 350's will sound very nice in stereo mode for music. Adding a Sub, rally makes them shine, however. They roll off around 57Hz, and having the Sub take over from there is a big improvement. But, even alone, the 350's sound full and rich.

For HT, you will really want surrounds. It completes the sound stage, and gives the video much more life - as the artists/directors wanted. You don't really need a 7.1 configuration. But, at minimum you do need 5.1. I found that the ProMon1000's work extremely well for this application, along with the 350's.

If you can afford the PC2000, I'd suggest that is a worthy upgrade to the 1000 for your center. I cannot fit one in my configuration space, so I am using the 1000, and am not the least bit disappointed in how it sounds.

Hope that helps!

I have a system similar to ours and my PC2000 is so much stronger than the 350's. i often check to see if the 350's are on, where is the center located and how far do you sit away from the center? My center sounded a bit flat until i adjusted (leveled it) I used the adjustable foot on the back of my center to tilt the face more towards me since i sit back ~12'. This did help the vocals sound less indirect and more in my face.

hope this helps, but know you will love the PC2000 upgrade.

I'm looking at buying left and right front bookshelf speakers and placing them in my entertainment center. I have a clr-2300 and I'm trying to choose between the Gem XL and the PM500 (PowerMonitor).

Due to the space in the cabinet, I need to turn the speakers on their side.

Can the Gem XL's be placed on their side?

Also, the speakers will be pretty high in the cabinet (about 75"), so I need to aim them down. It's a corner, so the room is far from optimal anyway.

I'm leaning toward the PM500's, because they look very similar to the CLR2300, anyone have any advice?

Nobody near me stocks either speaker, so getting a demo has been a non-starter.

Any comments on the two speakers in question?

you should never run your main speakers horizontal

it's bad enough some people are forced to run their center horizontal

another no-no is keeping your front speakers up so high

all your front tweeters should be as close to ear level as possible and if at all possible, on the same plane

another thing to check, do you have your levels set with an SPL meter?

your center speaker is closer to your listening position than your main left/right speakers. also, the PC2000 has dual mids flanking the tweeter, the 350s only have a single mid

i highly recommend getting the cheap $50 radio shack SPL meter to set the levels of your speakers

i've always used denon with my def techs

my first denon was the avr-3200 that i bought in 1997

then i upgraded to the avr-3802 on 2001 so i could get the new dts-es dolby digital ex 6.1 formats

looks like it's time to upgrade again with all the new 7.1 formats that are out and i've been looking at the denon 3808

i wish they would make the new receivers with 15.1 inputs so in the future, you can just add a decoder, LOL

as far as yamaha and onkyo, i used to sell both. yamaha makes a great receiver. the onkyo's back in the 90s were junk. you would touch them and they would shut down and need to be reset. (this wasn't just one, this was every one we had in the store) hopefully they got rid of that feature by now. a lot of people seem to like the onkyo but i really have no experience with the newer models

best thing to do is do a lot of reading in the amp forum and see what owners have to say

You saw otk's comment on placing your main speakers. I do believe you can place the the PM500s on their side, but I remember looking at the picture of your cabinet. You just don't have enough separation between your LCR to even really get a good transition effect, IMHO. I think it would be less than 6 feet for all 3, correct. Your cabinet is really restricting your options. Have you though about mounting the XLs in the corners of your room or placing your mains in the corners and not in the cabinet?

you can run them horizontal but you're not going to get as even a horizontal dispersion as you would if running them vertical

not as bad as running a "mid-tweeter-mid" array horizontal but the problem is still there to a lesser degree because of the frequency over-lap at the crossover point

just found a nice center channel on ebay item# 260157154894

it's a CLR-1000 which is pretty much a CLR-3000 without the sub and the piano/sock finish (just a plane black wooden box with one of those "pop off" screen grills)

starting bid $25 and it's "new in the box"

i'm guessing this is a dealer who found this in the back of his store-room

dual 6 1/2" mid/bass drivers flanking a tweeter

this is the older CLR-1000 which uses the first gen soft dome tweeter (the CLR-1000b uses the new aluminum tweeter)

i have never heard the old tweeter so can't really tell how much different it sounds from the aluminum tweeter

i own a CLR-1000b and it sounds almost identical to the CLR-2000 which uses the same drivers but has the piano/sock finish and i think the cabinet is a bit larger on the 2000 which gives it a slight bump in bass response but like i said, i own both the CLR-1000b and the CLR-2000 and they are almost identical. i actually used them as a stereo pair in my den for a while when i got my new CLR-3000

oh yeah, the CLR-2000 can be bi-wired , the 1000 can not

That volume difference is probably caused by uneven channel level trim.

If your AVR has an auto calibration routine, it's probably worth running it again, with the calibration mic placed at your seating location (or, if you have an Audyssey-like system - in all the locations). Regardless of speaker type, you should be able to match the trim across all speakers.

I am currently using bp2x as rear and an older pair if dipole cambridge soundworks as side surrounds. I will be replacing the cambridge with a pair of bpvx. I listen to as much multi channel music (plIIx and sacd/dvd-audio) as movie soundtracks. I am planing on putting the 2x's on the sides and the vx's for the rear. The vx's are much larger and go lower the the 2x's. Any thoughts or experience with this setup? Shoud I use the vx's for side instead?

I am about to order my speakers but I am concerned about my surrounds. Do to my room's configuration, I have to mount the surrounds around 8.5 to 9 feet high. I know this is not ideal for a bipolar speaker (BPX) so I was curious if this would sound fine or should I be looking at the Monitors for surround speakers since I can angle them? Thanks in advance.

- Bill

Bill, I have a C/L/R 2000 Center, BP7000sc fronts, BPVX side surrounds and BPX rears (surrounds & rears mounted @ about 10' high because of necessity). Room is 24' X 22'...it all sounds awsome! The angled monitors may sound better........I dunno'...but my setup sounds good enough for me.