Avr Faq - Page 13

I know this has been asked before but I just want to make sure:
Is there any difference in sound if I use a Y adapter to connect 2 subs to my 7.1 AVR vs. 2 subs in a discrete 7.2 AVR?

Depends on the room correction of the receiver and sub placement. But I think most with dual sub outputs will at least set individual distances and blend the summed output if they're not co-located. I know YPAO, will offer the choice of front/back L/R etc and Audyssey depending on the level can do up to three subs in a L/R+LFE or summed format.

If I had a unit with dual sub outputs I'd use those before trying a Y connector in most cases.

Placing and blending dual subs into a system properly can have a very appreciable impact on sound quality.

Certain higher-end HK AVRs have utilized multiple subwoofer outputs for a couple of generations, and the software is also used in their high end JBL Synthesis lineup. The software runs on a TI DSP platform and depending upon version can handle up to (4) subwoofers, it was written in-house by their advanced R&D team. Their approach has been published in various White papers both from the AES and Harman.

Essentially the DSP calibrates each subwoofer LF energy including level, phase, and frequency contribution so that the listening sweet spot has equal balance even if the listener moves left-to-right.

Just my $0.02..

I can't speak of higher end units, but the yamaha 667 does nothing but add an extra preout for sub. It does not allow different distance or level settings for the second sub. One must level match or gain match thru the subs gain control and then play with distance setting in the AVR to achieve the best response for the setup.

I currently have a Pioneer Elite VSX36TX AVR. One thing that it is lacking is HDMI Switching & I am starting to think of replacing it.

In my current setup, I am using left & right analog outs to feed a remote receiver in the living room & my computer speakers in my bedroom. One thing that my Pioneer will not do is send any digital audio input (either Optical or Coax) to the analog outputs, so any signal that is coming into the Pioneer is not heard in the remote locations.

Do any of the current AVR's offer the capability of sending a digital audio input (either via HDMI, Optical, or Coax) to line analog audio outputs?
If so, what is this feature called, so that I know what to look for in my next AVR.

Thanks

Mark

Can someone explain AVR "brightness"? I had a sales rep tell me that my Yamaha RX-A2000 was a "bad match" for my Paradigm Studio speakers because Japanese AVR's tend to play "bright" and I should have gone with a US or UK AVR.

Michael, just wanted to say thank you for this FAQ!

I am trying to hook up a home theatre system in my living room (5.1) and I also want to use the same receiver to control 6 speakers in my kitchen, dining room and den (2 per room - these six speakers will be a seperate zone) and an additional 2 speakers outside (I would like this to be a third zone or I will combine into the second zone with the 6 speakers). I realize I will need a speaker selector switch because of the number of sleakers in my system. I want to be able to play different sources in different zones ( TV in living room and music in the other two zones). Everything I have read and all the people I have spoken to have said that there are no receivers that can send DIGITAL sources to the second or third zone. I am considering the Denon 3312 or Pioneer Elite SC57 (I really want AirPlay). I want to be able to watch TV in living room (zone 1) and use iPhone or iPad to play music using AirPlay in zone 2 at the same time. Does anyone know of any way this can be accomplished? Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Also if anyone knows any stores where the staff are knowledgeable and can help me out with something like this I would appreciate your recommendation also. I am in Toronto, Canada. Thanks

I noticed that the FAQ mentions speakers as a consideration in maximizing the value of a receiver, but was wondering if a top of the line tv necessarily calls for a high end receiver (or vice versa)?

Sorry if my question was unclear- I'm not trying to figure out if I should get a receiver (actually I have one that I'm looking to replace), but I'm wondering if it could be said 'why are you pairing up that $5,000 tv with a $200 receiver' the way it seems you might say 'why are you pairing up those $5,000 speakers with a $200 receiver?' Besides the fact that a $2,000 receiver is often better than a $200 one, does the tv itself play a factor in what you get out of the receiver?

Hi Just want to ask about the true function of an AVR...if you connect the video output from cable to tv directly, what "V" aspect is being used in the AVR? Isn't an AVR a glorified audio receiver with the "V" thrown in as redundancy?

In that scenario the video portion of an AVR is indeed redundant.
But where the video portion of an AVR can be very useful is numerous, if needed or desired.
- video processing (upscaling, deinterlacing, noise reduction) to better suit the video device (particularly front projectors)
- acting as a hub/switch for multiple video sources with multiple different video input types, then one single cable out to the TV
- utilizing the benefits of HDMI (audio, video, hi-res multi-ch lossless audio) all over a single cable
- video out for use with the AVR's menu navigation, setup, EQ/PEQ, advanced features, networking, online services
- On Screen Menu, TV displays current "state" of the AVR (volume level, input source, decoder/DSP currently in use, etc..)
- etc...

Just wanted to thank you for writing up this FAQ! Most of the basics I already knew but the different methods of DECODING and CODING was great.


Not sure if this was a typo but don't you mean to say white (for the left channel)?

Michael was probably just influenced by the words of the song As We Stumble Along [from The Drowsy Chaperone] . . . which contains the lines:

"Then we stumble away through dawn's blinding sun beams.
Barely knowing right from right nor left from wrong."

and


When I first read this, I thought you meant that the HKs were under powered in comparison to other receivers in their budget range. Then I looked at this this review of the Harman Kardon AVR 147 and compared it to others at hometheater.com, where the HK clearly exceeds it's all channel rating, whereas many (most) others don't. Does that mean above you are saying that the HK receiver "per channel power specs are lower than comparably priced receivers?" Not that they necessarily have less power, just the rating is such that they appear to.

If that's so, I think those two paragraphs might be confusing to people as stated. And if not, then I'm still confused

Thanks! That's what I thought after reading the review of that HK.

I have a Marantz 6004 with stand-floor speakers Canton LE 109. On the back of the speaker is mentioned 4-8 ohms. Do you think the receiver will struggle with these speakers at high volume?

Thanks

Ok Michael, sorry about that. Thanks!

I am still setting up my Home system and learning a little bit here and there. Your OP is quite concise,informative and simple enough that even I can sort of understand. I will bookmark here for easy and constant referral.
As we say in Hawaiian
Mahalo Mike,
Doug

Outstanding FAQ.
Thank you Michael.

Hello,

Sorry I am new to this forum so if this post is way in the wrong place I apologize.

I just purchased a Denon 1912. When I went to set it up today I followed the on screen guide however when I got to speaker setup with the test tones and the mic, the speakers just made this nearly inaudible whistling noise and did not play the test tones. I tried skipping this part of the setup but I could not even get the tuner to play any sound through the speakers.

I am upgrading from an older Denon receiver so I know that the speakers and wiring and all that is in order as that worked just fine.

I have already tried the microprocessor reset which did not change anything. Anyone have any ideas?

If you need more information please let me know.