First time home theater owner (please help).

[Steelmaker]

I have a question. I'm running an Onkyo 606 with Polk Audio RM 6880 speakers in a 5.1 setup. Everything sounds good except that the rear speakers are not as "robust" as I had thought they would be. I've tried all kinds of blu rays with different audio standards and yet I come to the same conclusion everytime. The overall enveloping sound is good. It has great clarity and booming bass. However I really thought I would be able to hear more distincitve sound effects coming from the rear speakers. Sadly this doesn't seem to be the case in most movies. Infact I'm a bit surprised at the lack of rear speaker use in just about every movie I've tried. Even the lossless audio tracks. I thought I would be constantly hearing effects coming at me from the rear speakers. This is my first surround sound system so maybe my expectations were a little high. However there's a setting somewhere that I cannot help but think I am overlooking. Can anyone provide me with any suggestions on how to improve rear speaker performance?

All the settings seem to be correct. I did the auto calibration with the microphone and I have all of the correct PS3 settings based on the suggestions here in the forum. The receiver is set to "multi-channel" and I always make sure my PS3 is playing in "Linear PCM."

Before anyone makes any suggestions, let me first describe my equipment and setup.

Player: PS3 60 gb
TV: Sony SXRD KDS60a2000
Receiver: Onkyo 606
Speakers/Subwoofer: Polk Audio RM6880
Theater Room: Rectangular at 9' x 16' with the TV and speakers
against the wall, centered and running parallel with the length of
the room.
Connection: HDMI from receiver to TV and from PS3 to reciever.
16 gauge speaker wire.
Viewing Distance: 8' 3" with the rear speakers mounted in the rear
corners approximately 2 feet higher than the listener and facing slightly
outward from the listener.

Also, I noticed that under the audio settings I can adjust the decibel level of the front and center speakers and the sub woofer. However there doesn't seem to be a decibel setting for the rear speakers. Can someone tell me if there is such a way to adjust the decibel level of the rear speakers? This may be my problem even though it's at the settings that "Audissey" put it at.

[tntkain]

sounds to me like you need to move your rear speakers to ear level behind your seating area and make sure they are pointed at your seating area as well

[VinnAY]

If you did in fact use the Audyssey microphone, you'd know for sure if something was wrong because it'd tell you. The surrounds are really only an ambience effect but I'm concerned when you say that it's less than that. Have you run the test tone around the room to each speaker? Do they all "sound" at the same volume? If so, then it's fine.
The volume that you experience form the surrounds isn't going to be anything like the Center or L/R across the front soundstage.

[VinnAY]

Originally Posted by tntkain

sounds to me like you need to move your rear speakers to ear level behind your seating area and make sure they are pointed at your seating area as well

Actually, the surrounds should be about 6' high facing each other and slighty behind the seating position. I'm not getting on you, it was also a question I had when he said they're pointed "outward". Your way would be OK, too.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by tntkain

sounds to me like you need to move your rear speakers to ear level behind your seating area and make sure they are pointed at your seating area as well

Well, my couch is against the wall so I cannot place the speakers behind me. I have my surrounds mounted in the position that was suggested according to the way my tv room is set up. The speakers are approximately 2feet higher than my head at the sitting position and they point slightly outward at a 90 degree angle (this was suggested over having them point directly at me from both sides.)

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by VinnAY

If you did in fact use the Audyssey microphone, you'd know for sure if something was wrong because it'd tell you. The surrounds are really only an ambience effect but I'm concerned when you say that it's less than that. Have you run the test tone around the room to each speaker? Do they all "sound" at the same volume? If so, then it's fine.
The volume that you experience form the surrounds isn't going to be anything like the Center or L/R across the front soundstage.

Yes I have run the test tone and all of the speakers sound fine, equal in clairty and loudness.

Like I said, this is my first home theater and after reading so much for so long, I guess my expectations were a little too high. Don't get me wrong, it sounds great and infinitely better than my tv speaker. It's just that for some reason I was expecting more from the rear speakers. Out of all the blu rays I have tested so far, the best sounding ones have been King Kong and Wall.E. I was very disappointed in the Dark Knight. That's one where the overall sound is good but I rarely hear anything distinctive coming from the rear speakers.

Does anyone know if you can infact adjust the decibel level on the rear speakers on the Onkyo 606? Also, what are some other blu ray suggestions that really push the rear speaker performance?

[VinnAY]

I have the Onkyo 605 and I can adjust my surrounds in volume just like the Center, Left, Right, Sub. Are you not seeing this menu at all or on the menu are the surrounds greyed out (not adjustable)?

[DavidAg02]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Does anyone know if you can infact adjust the decibel level on the rear speakers on the Onkyo 606? Also, what are some other blu ray suggestions that really push the rear speaker performance?

I do think you are expecting a bit much from your surround speakers. Typically 90% of a movies soundtrack comes from the front 3 speakers and subwoofer. Some rare movies like Master & Commander and Kung Fu Panda tend to make use of the surround effects a bit more. Going with a 7.1 setup is a waste of money right now because very few movies utilize a full 7.1 system, and even the ones that do make very little use of the back surrounds.

You can adjust the speaker volume levels on your own in the Onkyo menu. Up the levels by 2 or 3 points for each speaker and see if you like the results. I have never been completely happy with the way Audessy calibrates the speaker levels. It's usually a good baseline, but requires some tweaking to get it right.

[Aerodude73]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Well, my couch is against the wall so I cannot place the speakers behind me. I have my surrounds mounted in the position that was suggested according to the way my tv room is set up. The speakers are approximately 2 feet higher than my head at the sitting position and they point slightly outward at a 90 degree angle (this was suggested over having them point directly at me from both sides.)

Same thing here. Couch against backwall, & can't move it forward either. I Just rec'd my Monitor 30's last nite and set them up, and can Definitely hear all the Surround effects I heard before---just more so (more clarity, cleaner, hard to explain but Better overall)---and to test them, I threw in the latest DIE HARD, then tried a few scenes in TRANSFORMERS as well. I'd def. follow your instints and the note above about boosting up the signals for the Surrounds a couple notches. I too ran the Audyssey when my 706 came in, and the Surrounds were TOO loud, Center was lower, fronts were lower, etc. So to ME, that is/was just a Guide. As for the above post, I don't know if I'd agree with "90%" is front/center/sub. That's just me. Maybe I watch different movies/shows, etc., but I hear more than just 10% thru the surrounds (sub excluded obviously for this discussion).

Your speaker height sounds fine as well. The RM6750's I was using was at the same approx. height you mention, as are the Mon. 30's now. I've always read 2-3' above your "Listening Position". I have mine about 14-16" higher than my ears currently, but plan to move them up a bit more when I find stands, or order some Wall Mounts (leaning this way actually).

If you're interested, here's the link; only $66 total per pair.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...RFKQS&v=glance

Good Luck!

[twill812]

Originally Posted by DavidAg02

You can adjust the speaker volume levels on your own in the Onkyo menu. Up the levels by 2 or 3 points for each speaker and see if you like the results. I have never been completely happy with the way Audessy calibrates the speaker levels. It's usually a good baseline, but requires some tweaking to get it right.

+1 The ability to adust the surround speakers from the Onkyo menu should help. I'm sure your model has the capability.

[prankster]

Originally Posted by DavidAg02

I do think you are expecting a bit much from your surround speakers. Typically 90% of a movies soundtrack comes from the front 3 speakers and subwoofer. Some rare movies like Master & Commander and Kung Fu Panda tend to make use of the surround effects a bit more. Going with a 7.1 setup is a waste of money right now because very few movies utilize a full 7.1 system, and even the ones that do make very little use of the back surrounds.

i agree. i also think you were expecting too much from your surround speakers. you have to remember that audio is not constantly coming out of the surround speakers like the l/r/c channels. surround channels are used to give the audio a more three-dimensional effect.

[prankster]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Yes I have run the test tone and all of the speakers sound fine, equal in clairty and loudness.

Like I said, this is my first home theater and after reading so much for so long, I guess my expectations were a little too high. Don't get me wrong, it sounds great and infinitely better than my tv speaker. It's just that for some reason I was expecting more from the rear speakers. Out of all the blu rays I have tested so far, the best sounding ones have been King Kong and Wall.E. I was very disappointed in the Dark Knight. That's one where the overall sound is good but I rarely hear anything distinctive coming from the rear speakers.

Does anyone know if you can infact adjust the decibel level on the rear speakers on the Onkyo 606? Also, what are some other blu ray suggestions that really push the rear speaker performance?

i would suggest that you do not raise to db's for the surround channels unless their levels are lower than the l/r/c channels. adjusting them too loud may cause unbalanced sound.

[Steelmaker]

Update: Okay I did figure out how to set the decibel level on my surround speakers. Under the Audissey setting they were at -8 db. I changed it to -6 and it made a huge difference! I also upped the center speaker by one tick from -5 to -4 and the L and R front speakers are at -5. I am now happy with the overall balance.

So far, DTS-HD MA seems to be the best audio format. The blu rays that I have with this format are King Kong, I' Robot, and Wall.E. These soundtracks are far more robust and "alive" than any of my other blu rays.

One question regarding the subwoofer. Audissey has it set at -12, which seems ok to me. However I'm not sure what the dial on the back of the subwoofer should be set at. Right now it's set at twelve o'clock but I'm not sure if I should muck with it or not.

What are some other blu rays that really shine as far as audio goes?

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

The receiver is set to "multi-channel" and I always make sure my PS3 is playing in "Linear PCM."

also make sure in the PS3: Dynamic Range Control = Off. (if you haven't already)

[SDBlu]

Other blu's with good audio tracks are Master and Commander, Transformers, House of Flying Daggers, Hell Boy II and Pearl Harbor. Surrounds utilized very well on these

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

also make sure in the PS3: Dynamic Range Control = Off. (if you haven't already)

Yeah I did that already. Thanks!

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by MarcosG

Other blu's with good audio tracks are Master and Commander, Transformers, House of Flying Daggers, Hell Boy II and Pearl Harbor. Surrounds utilized very well on these

I have Transformers but I just haven't had a chance to try it out yet. I'll try and do that tonight. I would love to own HOFD but the original blu ray release was not that great in terms of PQ so I'm waiting/hoping for a re-release sometime in the future. I'll check out Master and Commander. I really liked that movie. How is the PQ on that one?

[SDBlu]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

I have Transformers but I just haven't had a chance to try it out yet. I'll try and do that tonight. I would love to own HOFD but the original blu ray release was not that great in terms of PQ so I'm waiting/hoping for a re-release sometime in the future. I'll check out Master and Commander. I really liked that movie. How is the PQ on that one?

It's ok, but the main reason for my getting that one was the AQ not PQ...that and I like the movie

[SlmShdy1]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Everything sounds good except that the rear speakers are not as "robust" as I had thought they would be. I've tried all kinds of blu rays with different audio standards and yet I come to the same conclusion everytime. The overall enveloping sound is good. It has great clarity and booming bass. However I really thought I would be able to hear more distincitve sound effects coming from the rear speakers.

I was reading a good article a few months ago (I don't have a link) that was describing the use of surround speakers. A proper setup is supposed to, like you said, envelop you with sound. What you are looking for (distinctive sounds from the surrounds) is not the ideal setup. When you are watching a movie, you don't want to think about the sound. You just want it to bring you into the movie. If, when watching a movie, your surrounds were making distinct sound effects that you can clearly make out, then that can usually be thought of as a distraction. If you ever have somebody come over to your house to watch a movie and they whip their head around when they hear a surround channel, then you need to better calibrate your setup. Ideally, you want your setup to envelop you, not distract you. It sounds like your Audyssey is set up correctly.

[repete66211]

From what I can see I think it's nothing more than high expectations. The rears carry very little weight in a 5.1 sound mix. The center, fronts and sub carry the most audio by far. The rears don't come into play that often and only then with subtle (but noticeable) audio--ambient noise, sound effects, etc. If you've run the Audyssey and all speakers yield the same tone level then I think your system is just fine.

Sounds like upgraditis may be setting in. Be careful.