Definitive Technology ProCinema Series 600/800/1000 (or 60/80/100) Thread - Page 206

HI Sach, you can always contact TJ, Adam and Chet for more tips: info@definitivetech.com, or 800-228-7148. Good luck with your project! Best, Joe

Thanks for the advise. I found a good deal and completely went a different way. Mot sur e if this will still belong in this thread now

I went with mythos one for the fronts, mythos three for the center, mythos gem xl for surrounds and a supercube4000. Wondering if the myos ten would be a worthwhile upgrade for the center.

Hi y'all. I'm hoping that someone can give me a hand here with an accurate measurement of the ProCenter 1000 height. I have a TV console that has a space with exactly 5 inches of height and I'm trying to determine if the ProCenter 1000 will just barely slide into this compartment. I've seen different sites list the height of the speaker at 5" (which likely would not fit) but others say 4 7/8 or 4.9. If anyone can give me an accurate measurement of the speaker they physically own, I'd be very appreciate as I'm curious to hear the results. I'm on the verge of making a new receiver purchase and need to upgrade from some 10 year old Onkyo HTIB speakers and I've started to obsess with these DTs. From everything I've read, the difference between this center channel and the one that comes with the ProCinema 600, which of course would fit easily, is night and day.
Thank you.

Very nice SM4. Yes, the 10 would make a good upgrade, if you can do that - best, Joe

Hi Dark, our price sheet lists 5", so we got a ruler out and measured it. Near as we can tell, it's 5". Sorry... but the good news is that the ProCinema 600 is a pretty good sounding center too Best, Joe

Thank you

Thanks for checking that out Joe. My concerns about the 600 are two-fold. The first is the unorthodox speaker wire configuration to and from the center channel. The other, which is also affected by my first concern, is that I was considering putting this system together over a a little bit of time rather than buying a canned package. For example, acquiring the center channel first, and then adding the satellites later, mostly for budgetary reasons but also for the possibility of getting a different sub (all apologies to DT).

I think I've looked over your product offerings pretty well, but perhaps there is something else I'm not considering. If there is anything else you can recommend, I'm all ears. It's too bad I don't have a bit more clearance on the shelf.

Thanks.

I'm afraid my Pro 60 sub is dead. It blew a fuse and now it's making a crackling noise. Joe, is there something I can do myself or do I need to send everything back to NewEgg for an exchange? So incredibly sad right now

Hey guys, first post in this thread for me.... just got the Denon 2113 + Definitive 5.1 PC600 package at BB a few weeks back and am finally having some time to mess around with it.

I haven't been able to run Audyssey yet as my family room is filled with holiday stuff, so I may be premature in having a concern but on my DirecTV DVR my sound is very "tinny" on several channels and even on some HBO 5.1 shows like Boardwalk Empire my center channel has a bit of scratchy undertone.

Has anyone else come across this issue? I am hoping once I run Audyssey and get everything dialed in it will improve....

I am using an older Monster HDMI cable to run DVR to the AVR that was top of the line 5 years ago and provides a great picture, but could an older wire cause sound distortion while providing a great picture?

I am a bit of a newbee as this is my first true surround sound system, learning as I go here... Thanks!!

-Jason

Hey dawg,

It's not the cable. Have you found that the sound is not "tinny" with movies from a dvr or Bluray player by comparison? Or is the DVR all you've watched so far?

I tested out a couple of Blu-rays including Batman The Dark Knight and 300.... The center channel is clear for those. Have a newer high speed HDMI running from 3d Samsung blu-ray player to AVR.

I have a new Home Media Center DVR from directv.... think it's just a poor signal on certain stations causing the "tinny" sound?

KSIGDAWG...I went for the same deal at BB. The 600 system sounds great in my living room 14x16. I wired the front speakers directly to the receiver and ran the sub the traditional way with the sub cable. Turned the sub crossover all the way up, 150 and the sub volume about 1/3 up. Ran Audyssey and after playing around, the levels of each speaker are within 3dB of one another. My speakers are all on stands and the sub is parked in the corner of the room. There is something to the speaker "break-in" stage. Give it some play time and rerun Audyssey. It also helps to learn a little about the Audyssey program it will help improve the end result.

The system sounds great! Is not a shake the house movie experience, but its got great sound and the misses is happy with the speaker size. The AVR does a great job handling the bass and midrange without the extra wire hassle. If you have a good AVR with bass management like the Denon 2113 there is no reason to use that extra speaker cable option Def Tech suggests. I dont have a tinny sound, it could be just a matter of adjusting the sub crossover up a little more, or even moving the sub around to a different location. Might make a big difference!

If you're questioning the HDMI cable, buy a new one with the latest audio return channel. If you watch you'll find a good price on cables with the holidays here.

I was initially skeptical about the 600 system, but after having it a few weeks, I think its a great system.

Just my 2 cents....

Thanks for the feedback! I am sure I'll be happy with it too, just I have the tendency to be a bit crazy with my new toys until they are 100% dialed in. I did the same thing with my Samsung 64D8000 when I got it last year. I ran my wires the traditional route as well, from what I was told, it sounded like Audyssey would be less capable using the recommended method. Not sure if there is any truth to that? And I am on the same page with the wife, small speakers + just under $1,000 price point for whole system were good selling points! Haha

Hello Dark, yes, you're cabinet restrictions do introduce some issues with what you can use. Sorry about that. I can tell you that the ProCinema 600 is the single best selling system we have in the US. The sub is actually very, very good for that price range. I hope this helps! Best, Joe

Hello Dave, I am sorry that I have been off the site for a while with the holidays. You can always call our customer service guys at 800-228-7148, or e mail them at info@definitivetech.com. Chet, Adam and TJ will know if you can tackle this yourself or not. Try not to be too sad... you will be up and running again soon! Best, Joe

Hi Dawg, since you have a good sound quality on the Blu-Ray player, my guess is that you are on the right track that it has something to do with the source. If the speaker were bad, it would sound tinny on everything. I hope this helps - best, Joe

Adam has sent the main amp board for me to replace. I've already had a look inside for when the part arrives.

EDIT: Scratch that, Adam suggested just sending it back to your experts to take care of it.

I've got a question Joe. Def Tech suggest a few different connection methods depending on the sub. Why is it for low powered subs like this Pro 60, Def Tech recommends connecting the LFE and speaker wires? It made a tremendous difference, btw. But for higher powered subs like the Pro 800/1000, it is recommended to use either the LFE or speaker connection, not both though? Also, I don't see anything in the online manual for the 800/1000 related to ohms, as there is for the Pro 60.

In the case of the more powerful subs, which is the better way to go with a SM450, PC60, & Yamaha RX-A710 setup? LFE or speaker wire? Doesn't the speaker wire method negate the .1 in a 7.1 or 5.1 system? Is it suggested to set bass & treble controls to bypass (or zero) before running the YPAO setup program?

Thanks for your help.
Edited by davethestalker - 12/27/12 at 6:52pm

Dave,
Got a question for you on your set up. Looks like you're running a 7.1 set up using the SM450s as L/R, ProMonitor 60s as Side/Rear surrounds, and the ProCenter 60 as the center? So, you ran the SM450s through the sub and connected the LFE cable? You said it made a tremendous difference - how so? Did you have the SM450s run through just your receiver first?

Reason I ask is b/c I picked up the ProCin 60 for Christmas and only had time for a quick set up. I hooked up the sub via the LFE only and the L/R directly to the receiver. If wiring the L/R through the sub makes a noticeable difference I'll probably do it once I can find some free time… not the easiest thing to do with a two week old baby girl and 3 yr old son at home.

I'm also curious as to why it’s supposed to sound better running through the sub. With today's bass management systems (I have a Denon 1613 w/ MultEQ) I would have figured it wouldn't make a difference. Does anyone know why, in layman’s terms, wiring the L/R through the sub improves the sound quality? I’m a novice when it comes to HT but enjoy learning about it.

I have the SM450 set as the mains and the 5 sats in the ProCinema 60 for surrounds. Hooking the speakers wires and LFE make about a 300% difference! I had the volume at about 3 o'clock. After switching from Small to Larger on the AVR, it sends a flood of bass to the sub. Once you're setup and run the AVR setup, Adam at Def Tech suggested unplugging the LFE from the sub to set the crossovers and then plug it back in. I even tried this dual method with my old low powered Yamaha sub, it brought it to life! So much so that I told my son to not hook it up using both connections in his apartment.

Yes, at first I did have the mains coming straight from the AVR. I suggest you find the perfect spot for your sub before you get ready to add the new connection. I did a rough measurement and cut 8' of new speaker cable for each R & L. I wish I would've just gone with 10 feet, because I'm limited now with sub placement using the dual method. I did not want to cut my existing speaker wires to add the connection. As it says in the manual, set both volume & frequency to 12 o'clock and run whatever software your AVR uses (YPAO for my Yamaha).

I'm quite happy with this entry level Def Tech setup. I wanted the ProCinema 600, but $600 was out of my range. Plus I still would have to buy 2 more (matching speakers) speakers. So, just over $500 for a full Def Tech system is a pretty good deal. Especially when the setup I had before was a complete mixture of speakers except for the Design Acoustics PS10a for mains.

The SM450's offer a bit of flexibility for sound tuning. You can set the radiator to be on the left or right, lay the speaker on its side so the tweeter and woofer are in line, the tweeters could be inside or outside, or the speaker could be flipped upside down if you have high stands to place the tweeters right at ear level, and then the option of radiator inside or out comes into play. It's nice to have options!

I have this for the center channel to sit on. There is a height adjustable leg on the back of the center speaker to aim it down. This works out nicely! The mount comes with a grippy rupper cover. I have the speaker right on the edge and the mount is adjustable, i have it down toward the listing area.

Check this out on AMZN: CSB1210 Center Stage Bracket CSB-1210 Mounting Bracket for Speaker/... http://amzn.com/B00504G0U0
Edited by davethestalker - 12/31/12 at 2:28pm

Hello All,

I got a price offer for the below items. What you guys think about the price ? Is it good to go ? Which one will be better choise ?

Option1:
Definitive SM55 x 2 Nos
Promonitor 1000 x 2 Nos
Procenter 2000 x 1
Super Cube 4000 x 1
Denon 2113 x 1
14 Guage monster wires
Total Price : USD 2450

Option 2:
Definitive Procinema 1000
Denon 2113
Total Price : USD 1630

Thanks in advance:)
Edited by Saju - 1/1/13 at 7:35am

The first one is obviously the better system, and the larger your room the more preferable it will be. Those prices lead me to suspect you're not working with an authorized dealer, so good luck with getting warranty support.

Thanks rdclark

My room size is 22ft (len) x 11ft (wid) x 10ft (ht).

Is it worth to invest USD 820 extra for the better option. Will I get that much noticeable difference?
Edited by Saju - 1/1/13 at 9:27am

That's a fairly large room. I'd be concerned about having enough power, and about the fact that the Denon doesn't have pre-outs which would allow you to replace its power-amp section with an external amplifier.

DefTechs are reasonably sensitive and stable, so they will get the most from what amplifier you have. But, especially if the room is carpeted and full of upholstered furniture, tou'll probably need to be careful not to let the amps clip during loud passages in movies, or when playing party music.

With the PM1000s, I would still upgrade the center to the PC2000, which uses the same drivers as the PM1000 and is noticeably more robust sounding. The SuperCube 4000 is a better sub than the ProSub, but neither one will give you much in that octave between 20 and 30Hz, or anything useful below 20Hz. If you care about that really, really low, tactile bass in movies, you need something bigger. If not, I'd still go with the 4000 over the 1000 for its greater power, which will be needed to load bass into a room that size.

You should listen to the PM1000 and the SM55 side by side before choosing, IMO. Their electrical performance is similar but they don't sound the same. I don't know how well the new SM speakers timbre-match the PC2000, but unlike the PM1000 they don't use exactly the same drivers, although DT does seem to try to voice all their speakers similarly.

So, personally, given the size of the room and the specified AVR, I would at least recommend upgrading the center and the sub from the basic PC1000 system. It also seems like a room that would benefit from 7.1, for which PM800s as the back-surrounds would do the trick.

Just opinions, of course.

Thanks rdclark for your valuable comments.

Regarding the points you mentioned on the Subwoofer, I initially considered SVS and HSU. But both are not available in my region. Could you please recommend any other sub in the near price range of supercube 4000. What about klipsch subwoofer?

I would refer you to the subwoofer forum. Many, many existing threads there with SW recommendations for all sorts of situations.

I searched through the subwoofer forum and found Paradigm DSP-3200 which is available in my place. I would like to hear your opinion

I'm not personally familiar with it. Based on reviews and people's comments, I probably wouldn't buy one myself. If I were replacing my little Emotiva sub I'd actually be looking at the SC4000 or something similar because I have a small listening room. Oddly, my personal experience is basically with my HT room at home, and with a 400-seat auditorium that I manage (which is running an array of subs driven by 3000 watts of amplification), and not much in between.

What I do know is that if you want that ultra-low bass that you feel through your feet and in your chest in a 2500-cubic foot room, it won't come cheap. If you're willing to give that up and accept response that's only useful down to 30Hz or so, then a sealed high-power sub like the SC4000 might be sufficient.

Good comments RD. Saju, RD is correct in pointing out that large rooms and deep bass at high volume are a tough combination to get at modest money. One reviewer referred to the SC 4000 as "an amazing bargain" specifically because it a) has lots of output for such a small box, b) has useful features that help you blend it properly with your speakers, and c) looks really good too - all for not huge money. It has been selling well for us. I hope this helps - best, Joe

Hello there,

According to DefTech website, the recommended receiver crossover setting for Promonitor 800 is 100 Hz. Would you guys agree this is the right setting?

I realize this may be somewhat subjective. I don't have any reliable frequency analysis tools to see what results in the smoothest frequency curve. I tried playing around by lowering and increasing the crossover point a bit, but didn't notice much difference, so I put it back at 100 Hz.

Pete, are you using an AVR that does room correction with a system like Audyssey? If so, give a lot of weight to the crossover chosen when you run it. And also, never discount the verdict of your own ears!

But yes, in the absence of indications to the contrary, 100Hz seems appropriate for the 800. The somewhat larger PM1000, which has more bass extension, crosses over nicely at 80Hz in my system.

If you hear differences, they will be subtle. Sometimes the higher crossover will make certain low sounds more "locatable" at the subwoofer position. Sometimes it can help clear up a certain muddiness that could occur in some systems in some rooms with some subwoofer locations.

There is a lot of interaction between room shape and furnishings, room size, subwoofer placement (more than almost anything!) and speaker placement. Small changes can make big differences. Crossover frequency is only one factor, one that also interacts with all the others.

Experiment, listen, experiment some more, is my advice.

Thanks. The AVR is Yamaha V371 so it does not have Audyssey. I don't want the sub to draw too much attention to itself, hence I decided not to push the crossover above 100 Hz. But the PM800 just sounds rather shallow, as in I feel like there are some bass frequencies missing somewhere. I guess my sub is not blending too well with them or it's just my room acoustics. I think I'll have to generate a frequency sweep and play it while monitoring the levels with my RatShack SPL meter and take it from there.