Background: A couple months back I started getting more serious about my home theater setup. I bought a pair of Cinema10s and built them myself, as well as a pair of B52 18" subwoofers and built them into 25hz tuned end-tables. Pictures below. The 18s are being powered by an NX3000D. I purchased a Denon S390 AVR from accessories4less. I also bought a Dayton Audio center channel to hold me over until I build a center channel.
Equipment: (2) Cinema10s for Left and Right
(2) 18" B52 1804 pro woofers
NX3000D
Denon S390 AVR
Dayton Audio Center Channel Mk442
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-mk442-dual-4-2-way-center-channel-speaker--300-456
65" Sharp TV w/built in Roku
HDMI cables between my TV and AVR using the ARC plug
Viewing habits: 90% of the time I'm watching Netflix through the integrated Roku on my TV. The rest of the time I'm watching Blu-rays through my Playstation.
Issues: 1. I use my Roku TV remote to turn my TV on, which also turns the AVR on. I manually turn the NX3000D on. The default volume is 40 (0-98 scale) when I turn them on. When watching Netflix or a DVD, I have to turn the volume up to ~60 before I can start to hear it. I usually have to adjust the volume to between 72-82 to hear well. And no, I don't have hearing issues, nor do listen to stuff loud. At ~76 it's a comfortable volume. However, if I feel like really cranking it up, even at 98-max volume, it's not as loud as I thought it would be.
2. I have the AVR setup for Left and Right speakers, a center channel, and subwoofer. I don't have any issues with subwoofers. They always get a signal. However, I'll be watching something on Netflix and sometimes the right channel will cut out. When it cuts out, the center channel usually cuts out too. If the content on Netflix gets louder, the audio will come back on with the right and center channel. And sometimes it won't come back on. If I start turning the volume up to 80-90, the sound will come back on between all 3 front speakers. But then at that point I have to turn it back down because it's overall too loud. And it's not just isolated to the right channel cutting out... sometimes its the left. I've tried swapping my Cinema10s from left to right and it doesn't make a difference. When all 3 speakers are playing and I'm watching something on Netflix or a DVD, it sounds great. It sounds as if most of the voices are coming through the center channel, with everything else going between the Cinema10s depending on sound location. It's just very annoying to have the sound constantly cutting out from left to right channel, and sometimes taking the center channel with it. Then just as quickly as it goes out, it'll come back.
I contacted accessories4less and since its more than 3 months old, they won't do anything other than give me list of authorized Denon repair locations. The tech from accessories4less told me my speakers are mismatched for my AVR. He said the Denon S390 isn't powerful enough to power the Cinema10s - is that true? Would that explain why I have to turn it up to almost full volume to hear things? Would that explain why the signal cuts out intermittently?
Curveball: If I connect my iPhone with Airplay to the Denon AVR to listen to music, at the default volume of 40, the music is very loud. Like at 42 volume, I can hear my music throughout my house and can hear the bass outside of my house. However, it'll still sometimes cut out between the L and R speaker.
Closing thoughts: Am I doing something wrong? I have all of the speaker distance levels set to default. Or is this an issue with the AVR? Could it be an issue with my Roku/Smart TV talking to the AVR?
Custom designed Cinema10 Towers that are placed beside my TV. The bottom section of the tower is empty, and separated from the baffle area. So same volume as Cinema10.
AVR
Custom end-table subwoofer cabinets.
My bulldog, Diesel, who sadly passed away recently.
Bottom view of the end-tables.
Thanks for taking a look.
