Considering upgrading (please help)

[jdrhjr]

This is the HTiB I currently have
http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?cl...ems&m=HT-S5300

and, well, I have never been happy with its performance. I turn the volume up to about 45 (the max is 79) and I get clipping distortion in most of my blu ray movies. I'm thinking it just has a weak amp (even though it's rated as giving 130 watts per channel) and it doesn't support external amplification.

Now, I want to possibly upgrade to this receiver
http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=...s=Receiver&p=i
What I want to know is if I would see a significant upgrade in sound quality from this or do I need to shop around more? I want to play my movies pretty loudly.

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: a bit more info:

I have the receiver set to 100hz, all channels set to 0db (except for the sub, I have that at +2) and I'm not running any post-processing (Cinema Filter, Dynamic Volume, etc)

[HAMP]

It sounds like you have not ran audyessy calibration program that is built inside of the receiver.

Run that first and tell how it sounds, but make sure to run it right, and without noise in the background.

Since you are in the market to upgrade, the speakers and sub would be the first for me to upgrade, then a better AVR.

[jdrhjr]

The HTS5300 is a budget htib receiver and as far as I know it doesn't support that auto calibration feature you mention. I have tried using Audyssey dynamic eq and dynamic volume and they made little difference.

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by jdrhjr

The HTS5300 is a budget htib receiver and as far as I know it doesn't support that auto calibration feature you mention. I have tried using Audyssey dynamic eq and dynamic volume and they made little difference.

it has an calibration program in it, if you have not ran the program, I'm pretty sure 'Dynamic eq' will not work.

Audyssey EQ™ for System Equalization
Removes much of the distortion caused by speaker enclosures and the typical room environment; Produces far superior sound than on comparable products that lack correction capabilities.

Audyssey Dynamic EQ™ for Loudness Correction

[HAMP]

My apologies, I skimmed thru the manual, and I seen where it said ‘Audyssey EQ’, I even read apart that said “A home theater system automatically calibrated by Audyssey EQ will play at reference…..”

But,

As I go thru the manual more, I do not see where the auto calibration is located or if it is even there. I’m a little confused by it.

[jdrhjr]

Ok yes. I've used that before, but I thought you were referring to a program that calibrates your receiver with the use of a microphone. I've read about it and am almost certain my model doesn't support it. I've fiddled around with just about every audio option on this receiver and just can't get the sound I want from my preferred volume levels, hence my interest in possibly upgrading.

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by jdrhjr

Ok yes. I've used that before, but I thought you were referring to a program that calibrates your receiver with the use of a microphone. I've read about it and am almost certain my model doesn't support it. I've fiddled around with just about every audio option on this receiver and just can't get the sound I want from my preferred volume levels, hence my interest in possibly upgrading.

Ahh!! I feel your pain, and from my other post, I was wrong about it.

The Onkyo 818 is a very nice AVR, I have recommended that one to plenty of people.

[Remo]

Originally Posted by jdrhjr

This is the HTiB I currently have
http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?cl...ems&m=HT-S5300

and, well, I have never been happy with its performance. I turn the volume up to about 45 (the max is 79) and I get clipping distortion in most of my blu ray movies. I'm thinking it just has a weak amp (even though it's rated as giving 130 watts per channel) and it doesn't support external amplification.

Now, I want to possibly upgrade to this receiver
http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=...s=Receiver&p=i
What I want to know is if I would see a significant upgrade in sound quality from this or do I need to shop around more? I want to play my movies pretty loudly.

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: a bit more info:

I have the receiver set to 100hz, all channels set to 0db (except for the sub, I have that at +2) and I'm not running any post-processing (Cinema Filter, Dynamic Volume, etc)

Get an SPL meter and do a manual calibration, you'll be surprised on how much better things sound after being properly calibrated.

[Ryan0503]

Originally Posted by jdrhjr

I went ahead and bought an SPL meter, calibrated the sound and I still don't like what I'm hearing. I think I just want to play my movies louder than my receiver is capable of outputting. It doesn't seem like I'm asking that much (like I said I run the master volume at around 59% of max and only during movies. I dial the volume knob back 10db for normal tv viewing and video games) unless I'm seriously overestimating what this receiver should be capable of delivering.

It may be a conflict between your reciever and bluray player on which is handling the decoding

[jdrhjr]

Originally Posted by Remo

You adjusted each speaker level to where each speaker plays the test tone at 75db at your main seat? This may mean that each speaker level could be different. Example my Front main Left and right are at -10 but the surrounds are -8.5 for left the and -8 for the right.

Distances are set properly?

Subwoofer location for best sound?

Check, check and check. I think it may just be a matter of me having champagne taste with a kool-aid budget.

Originally Posted by Ryan0503

It may be a conflict between your reciever and bluray player on which is handling the decoding

Hmmm..is there anything I could do about that, aside from buying a new blu ray player or receiver?

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by Ryan0503

It may be a conflict between your reciever and bluray player on which is handling the decoding

No. Decoding is not a factor here. How could it be?

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[Remo]

Originally Posted by BIslander

No. Decoding is not a factor here. How could it be?

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Volume differences between components is why receivers have input level gain adjustments. The difference was very noticeable between my bluray decoding and my AVR decoding, until I level matched all my components.

Not that it is the case here, but it does and can happen.

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by BIslander

No. Decoding is not a factor here. What kind of conflict do you mean?

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Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

[Jim Hawkins]

So I forgot to ask. What size room is this in? Can you get some pics? My guess is that you need better speakers but without a good idea on what your working with some of this advice is not going to be maximized.

Thanks!

[jdrhjr]

Originally Posted by Jim Hawkins

So I forgot to ask. What size room is this in? Can you get some pics? My guess is that you need better speakers but without a good idea on what your working with some of this advice is not going to be maximized.

Thanks!

It's a small bedroom. 11x13.5 with an 8 foot ceiling.

[Jim Hawkins]

SO I am blindly saying you need speakers. If you had like 10 to 20 actual watts going into each speaker in a room like that with even decent speakers it should be pretty close to blowing you out of the room.

I have a Yamaha power amp with watt meters and in my living room, which is basically connected to every other room in my house, and 5 actual watts is pretty loud.

What is the crossover set to for your sub? Is it at, at least 80 hz? I might go higher to see if you notice a difference. Like 100 or 120 Hz. Just to see if that makes any difference.

Do you have the speakers set to small in the speaker size? Small would be best.

Is your sub corner loaded? You might want to try that if you are not feeling a lot of impact. Not specifically the most musical way but usually a quick way to add boom.

Bottom line even if 130 watts is an exaggerated number it should still be enough in a room like that. Although "enough" is a relative thing.

[jdrhjr]

Originally Posted by Jim Hawkins

SO I am blindly saying you need speakers. If you had like 10 to 20 actual watts going into each speaker in a room like that with even decent speakers it should be pretty close to blowing you out of the room.

I have a Yamaha power amp with watt meters and in my living room, which is basically connected to every other room in my house, and 5 actual watts is pretty loud.

What is the crossover set to for your sub? Is it at, at least 80 hz? I might go higher to see if you notice a difference. Like 100 or 120 Hz. Just to see if that makes any difference.

Do you have the speakers set to small in the speaker size? Small would be best.

Is your sub corner loaded? You might want to try that if you are not feeling a lot of impact. Not specifically the most musical way but usually a quick way to add boom.

Bottom line even if 130 watts is an exaggerated number it should still be enough in a room like that. Although "enough" is a relative thing.

Oh I'm getting plenty of impact from my sub. I don't have a problem there. My issue is with clarity. I don't want more volume per se, but I just want a more clean signal at my preferred listening level. And yes all of my speakers are set to small and my crossover for all channels (I can't set them individually) is 100hz. I've tried 120 but that sounds a little too thin to me.

Another update: I wound up picking up a SC 1222-K from Newegg for $550. It doesn't work properly (some kind of HDMI handshaking issue I think). lol So I'm back at square one now.

[Ryan0503]

Originally Posted by BIslander

No. Decoding is not a factor here. How could it be?

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I had a similar issue ... turns out my bluray player was doing the decoding instead of my reciever ... once I changed the settings I didn't have to turn it up so loud

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by Ryan0503

I had a similar issue ... turns out my bluray player was doing the decoding instead of my reciever ... once I changed the settings I didn't have to turn it up so loud

Yes, a player may output PCM a few dB lower than the same track bitstreamed to a receiver or decoding. The word "conflict" between player and receiver decoding threw me.

While a more powerful receiver may help since it can produce the same loudness without distorting, it us my understanding that speaker sensitivity may be a more important factor. Your speakers could require considerably more power to produce the loudness level you want. With higher sensitivity speakers, your current receiver may have plenty of power.

[BIslander]

The handshake issue aside, did the new AVR give you the volume you want without distortion?

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