Audio: Sony S550 vs Samsung BD-P1600

[tivoyahoo]

THANK YOU BIslander & RBBrittain for the great information in the latest posts. I've adjusted the audio settings of the S550 according to your posts and am enjoying what I'm hearing from the setup, although I need to adjust the sub still - see below. I abandoned the Samsung BD-P1600 and exchanged it for a Samsung BD-P2550 to get 7.1 analog out, but I haven't connected the 2550 yet to compare with the S550. If I could start the thread again, it should have been S550 vs. BD-P2550 since both have analog 7.1.

Originally Posted by BIslander

Your digital sources use the receiver's settings. Analog outputs use the player's settings. So, you will need to go through the player configurations for multichannel analog.

With analog, you also need to boost the subwoofer in your receiver or at the sub itself. The sub channel is output 10db low to prevent clipping.

That answers why I thought the sub sounded low when using the test tones of the player. First, should I leave the player set to 0 db for sub level? I'm confused on this point since aren't you saying that when using analog the player controlled the levels? If so, how does adjusting the sub level at the receiver help for the analog inputs if it only affects digital inputs? Again, confused on this.

My sub has a twist knob for level. Is it better to adjust at the receiver or sub? Or both receiver & sub? What is a typical db to boost the sub at the receiver to compensate for it being output too low as you wrote? boost it 10db?? The receiver lets me do this, but with the knob on the sub I don't know how much I'm actually adding except by listening. There are no markings.

I just got "Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics" on bluray to play with the audio settings. Is there a better disc (or additional disc) to get for this purpose? I didn't see any others in this category that were bluray format available from Netflix, e.g. aviaII is dvd. Also got Xmen: Wolverine to test out the sub as well since the review here said it had a good lfe track on bluray. Any other movie recommendations I should try for reference for getting my sub set up and tested out? also wondering, is there a list of 96Khz bluray movies? Is this an indication of better quality, or is this pointless? What sources would use the 96khz capability of the Pioneer AVR? SACD? DVD-Audio? Also is there a list of 7.1 movies?

Look forward to feedback on the sub and trying out the recommendations.

FILTER: SHARP?
Also, came across this option I wasn't sure about. With a disc loaded, if you select options from the remote and go to A/V Settings at the top you are presented with this option:
Audio Filter: Sharp or Slow (Looks like the default is Sharp)

SPEAKER CHOICES
Also, I should mention that I have 5 Klipsch HT-SK5 speakers seen here:
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Progre.../dp/B0000E2RZM

However I'm not currently using the Klisch subwoofer because it's a passive sub. Instead I have a powered sub - think it is 10" but it's not a Klipsch. The Pioneer AVR would allow me to power the passive matching Klipsch sub off the back channel connections (limiting me to 5.1). Should I use the matching Klipsch sub? Or stay with the powered sub.

Also, I have a pair of Cambridge SoundWorks Newton M80 bookshelf speakers:
http://gadgets.softpedia.com/gadgets...kers-4671.html

And I have a Cambridge Soundworks center channel. Should I run the 3 Cambridge speakers up front, with 4 of the Klipsch for my surround & back pairs, and then use the powered sub? Or use all 5 of the Klipsch: center, 2 surround, 2 back and not use the Cambridge center? In other words, use the Klipsch center over the Cambridge? This is the Cambridge center:
http://www.audioreview.com/mfr/cambr...2_2743crx.aspx