[FinsUp574]

I am slowly upgrading my old "system" which was:

Denon x1300w receiver
Monoprice 10565 5.1 home theater in a box

I recently purchased Monitor Audio Silver 100 bookshelf speakers for my L/R and a Monitor Audio Silver C350 center speaker. I am continuing to use the subwoofer and two speakers from the Monoprice system to complete a 5.1 setup. I've never had a full home theater before so this is pretty new for me and I'm learning a ton.

One thing I noticed was that before I hooked the two old Monoprice speakers as my surrounds was that the bass from the Monitor Audio speakers were incredibly loud, sharp, and sounded frankly mindblowing (again, compared to what I had previously). I swear that since I hooked up those surrounds that the bass coming out of the L/R/C isn't as powerful. I also noticed that I have to turn the volume up higher to get the same 'loudness.' Granted the room isn't big, but I normally watch movies at '60' where it was at around 50 before (dial goes up to 98 per the manual).

I suppose I have a few questions:

1. Am I crazy or could connecting the Monoprice surrounds be drawing enough power to change the bass performance of the fronts (or could I be mis-remembering how it first sounded when I hooked up the system)?
2. If the bass performance could indeed be suffering a bit (I'm not sure how wattage/power works and based on the specs I have no idea how to interpret if the receiver supplies enough), would a better receiver or an amp be recommended? If a new receiver or an amp is required, any recommendations would be appreciated.
3. I have an older receiver - is there a way to hook up that so it supplies some power to the surrounds to help ensure proper power, if that's needed?
4. The subwoofer has some dials in the back for: volume level, lowpass filter (40 Hz to 150 Hz), phase (0 degrees or 180 degrees), and power mode (on, auto, off). Could these settings impact anything with the bass coming from the front speakers? What are these levels and what would you recommend they be set at?
5. The fronts can be bi-amped and since the receiver is capable of 7.1, would they benefit from doing this? If I did this, would the center speaker suffer?

I use my system almost exclusively for movies and TV if that helps as well.

Thanks for your help with these beginner questions.

 

[eriksells916]

@FinsUp574 throw everything else away those MA 100 are sweet!

Kidding, the 1300 will drive them just fine, but once you start adding more inefficient htib speakers to the mix, the receiver starts straining a little.

No the sound/bass is different because the dsp mode changed. Set it it to stereo or pure direct and let those MA 100 sing. No need to bi-amp, it does very little

If you want to expand to 7.1 then get a receiver with preouts and add some additional amplification. Ideas - denon x3400/x3500/x4400, yamaha tsr-7850, onkyo rz730/830 or Pioneer vsx-lx503

2 channel amp for front LR speakers - https://www.parts-express.com/dayto...-d-stereo-60-wpc-bluetooth-amplifier--300-593

 

[FinsUp574]

Thanks @eriksells916 - appreciate the response.

If the receiver is now straining due to the 2 surround speakers from the monoprice set I hooked up, would there be other speakers that you'd recommend I look at to replace them? Even with the old cheap 5.1 set up I had, watching a movie with the sound coming from the surrounds was so much more immersive. I just don't want the fronts to suffer as a result.

Would that 2 channel amp be recommended for my current set-up and do you have any link or resource that I could read to help me understand the benefits of adding the Dayton bluetooth amplifier and how I would even go about setting it up? $120 is a small price to pay for improving the sound, since I already made the investment in the L/R/C speakers.

Thanks

 

[eriksells916]

@FinsUp574 You added awesome speakers and a massive center so those alone would make an amazing system. But before we blame the x1300 let's first make sure everything is setup properly. A few things to look at.

1. did you run audyssey calibration after getting everything connected? Did you set the speakers to small or large?

2. What is the source material you are listening to right now to test (bluray, tv app, cd, phono)?

3. Is the sub powered? How low does it go? The MA 100 will hit 40hz which might be lower than your sub. So if audyssey xt allows it, then set the front 3 to large and eliminate the sub altogether.

4. What dsp mode are you in while watching tv (stereo, pure direct, dolby, etc). Try changing it slowly and see if that brings your sound back.

5. That bluetooth amp is just a 2 channel amp you would run from a new receiver (mentioned above) to power the MA100 LR speakers. That would be your last option if you cannot get the x1300 to make everything sound great again.