Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[Vilya]

My subwoofer shows that it is "out for delivery" on this rainy Saturday morning. I sure hope that I can round up some help getting this heavy 100 pound beast inside; I am still restricted to lifting just 10 pounds.

I also learned that I have two ways that I can connect this to my AVR. I am unsure which method to use.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I also learned that I have two ways that I can connect this to my AVR. I am unsure which method to use.

?

I wonder what you mean. Do you have other amplified speakers ? An RCA marked Sub would be one way I can think of. Can you describe the other ?

Using a RCA output called Sub should be step 1 and pretty much done but I am curious about the "other" way and why you would consider it.



In this sample pic you see 2 black sub woofer outputs and no other mention of sub woofer I can find. (edit - I do now see a third port in the group of analog 7.1 inputs. That is an input though.)

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by bhampton

?

I wonder what you mean. Do you have other amplified speakers ? An RCA marked Sub would be one way I can think of. Can you describe the other ?

REL told me in an email that I can connect this to my AVR with a single RCA cable using the .1/LFE connection on the subwoofer to one of my subwoofer outs on the AVR (circled in yellow in attached image).

REL recommended that I use two RCA cables connected to the main front speaker left and right pre-outs on my AVR (circled in orange in below picture) to the left and right "low level" RCA inputs on the subwoofer. They said this would be a better choice if I also listen to music with my system, which of course I do.

As illustrated below (REL sent me this image):

Rear panel Marantz SR7013.jpg

[bhampton]

That's fascinating.

It's entirely possible that someone's stereo configuration is setup differently than the multichannel configuration.

It's also possible someone has a fully analog stereo setup and wants to bypass the on board processing of the AVR.

I don't want to say they are wrong but I would not hook up the sub to the LR outputs personally. I use the sub output and then use the processor or avr setup program.

I do like to chase the simple, direct, no processing options from time to time. However, I trust my processor's processing.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by bhampton

That's fascinating.

It's entirely possible that someone's stereo configuration is setup differently than the multichannel configuration.

It's also possible someone has a fully analog stereo setup and wants to bypass the on board processing of the AVR.

I don't want to say they are wrong but I would not hook up the sub to the LR outputs personally. I use the sub output and then use the processor or avr setup program.

REL told me the following:

"Run a pair of RCA cables from the "Front" L/R preouts (located to the left of the Subwoofer outputs) into both inputs on the HT1510. This will allow your sub to work with the same full signal as your front speakers. If you plan to do music listening as well on this system, you may prefer to use this connection instead of LFE."

They then gave me step by step set-up instructions that I do not exactly understand:

[Show spoiler]Adjust LEVEL control to 10 o’clock.

Adjust CROSSOVER control to 10 o’clock

Plug in AC cord.

Power on with switch next to AC input.

Set toggle below STATUS light to ON.

Fine tune LEVEL control to blend with powered speakers.

Fine tune CROSSOVER control to blend.

Note that CROSSOVER and LEVEL become inverse.

[bhampton]

You could try that if you want.

You could also limit music listening to night time when the grid is less saturated. You may also want to have your LP platter suspended by either pressure plates or magnetic fields. And suspend the speaker wires with special supports or if needed wine glasses to keep the signal off of the floor.

I would hook up the sub to the sub output because the AVR can send the correct signal that way. Your AVR has a setting for the sub to have LFE or LFE and Mains.

You could try the other way today or any given day .... I have never set my sub up that way.

Some people are very very very critical of how to setup stereo playback. Hopefully a few others will offer some opinions as well.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by bhampton

You could try that if you want.

I want whichever is better, but I am not sure which one that is at this point.

Sometimes having choices only makes deciding harder.

[Lord-Oakbeard]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

For a horror/dark western themed double bill, I recommend Brimstone.

I’m not aware of that one so I will have to check it out.

Purgatory is a very enjoyable dark/horror/ supernatural western. I thought it had a Blu-ray release but seemingly nothing I can find.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I want whichever is better, but I am not sure which one that is at this point.

Sometimes having choices only makes deciding harder.

Sub setup can be overwhelming.

I wish I was there to help. I admit and understand others know more and better.

I would say do it the easy way first. Follow Audyssey instructions of your AVR. for the initial setup.

You will be blown away and bask in that for a while. Music is going to sound better than ever.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Lord-Oakbeard

I’m not aware of that one so I will have to check it out.

Purgatory is a very enjoyable dark/horror/ supernatural western. I thought it had a Blu-ray release but seemingly nothing I can find.

[Show spoiler]

It is available in HD digitally:

https://athome.fandango.com/content/...urgatory/10250

Not as good as a blu-ray, but it is an interim option.

[Lord-Oakbeard]

Originally Posted by Vilya

It is available in HD digitally:

https://athome.fandango.com/content/...urgatory/10250

Not as good as a blu-ray, but it is an interim option.

Thanks for the info. Not available in my region (foggy olde England) I waited for Posse to be released on Blu-ray, still waiting for Tom Horn - 45th anniversary this year, Day of the Evil Gun and others so still hopeful for Purgatory.

[bhampton]

In terms of the confusing directions.

The sub "level" control is it's volume. The crossover is well ... the frequency below which the sub becomes active.

Using the sub or LFE output from the AVR neither of these controls matter after setup. A volume of the sub is correlated to the volume control in the AVR and the crossover is bypassed by selecting the highest frequency because bass "management" is done in the AVR.

Mention of 10 o clock is just like it sounds... where 10 would be on a clock face. (Sorry ... I don't think this was the confusing part.)

Audyssey will tell you to set the crossover at maximum and the volume at half but it will tell you if you need to adjust the volume because it doesn't have enough range with the internal controls to correct it.

Low frequencies can not be localized so stereo becomes a non issue. (Debatable esoteric audiophile zone.) The reason for multiple sub woofers is not for stereo but rather management of standing waves. The long wavelengths of low Fq can result in peaks and valleys of volume within the room. This is the reasoning behind the sub crawl mentioned earlier. Sitting where you listen and having someone crawl around the room with the sub.

I confess I have never had someone help me do the sub crawl. I have put the sub in my listening position and crawled around the room myself.

I have a lot to learn about audio and it's fun. .... Sometimes life just gets in the way of some of the funner stuff we could do eventually. I have often said I want to get a calibrated USB microphone and learn to use REW. I will get to it. One thing I have done recently is repositioned my speakers better for ATMOS and I'm addicted to ATMOS.

"This thing reads like stereo instructions."

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I want whichever is better, but I am not sure which one that is at this point.

Sometimes having choices only makes deciding harder.

better depends on what you are looking for. If you want that boom, boom boom effect and it is all about the bass when listening to music then L/R is better, if it is all about getting that proper movie feeling when watching a film LFE is better.

[bhampton]

There are in fact audio setup philosophies and styles.

I trust the processing of my processor. Movies tend to have .... music.

I think doing the setup REL suggested gives you the option to balance the bass as you like it.

I like using the tools and trusting the source.

Different philosophy and styles.

One aspect of note about RELs suggestion is you get no low freq signal of anything but the LR channels.

[Vilya]

Thank you guys for your comments. I did not mean to turn this thread into the subwoofer forum, but there is hardly ever anyone active over there.

[bhampton]

It's fun to try to help.


(Kind of thrilling to write something and then see what others have to say about it also.)

[Maddox121]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Here are my latest additions:


I heard that the old MGM blu-ray was pretty bad even for an early blu-ray, so hopefully this upgrade fixes that problem.




My 28 year-old flipper disc DVD just barely plays and shows some real funky degradations, so this was an overdue replacement.

x 2
I bought an extra copy to give as a gift to my medical chauffeur; I got him the first four seasons, so I had to finish what I started.

On the digital side I added The Beekeeper 4K for $5 and Heretic 2024 4K for $9.99.

I do not know how to show clickable thumbnails for digital titles, so too bad. Just go buy the discs; I will also if I like these after watching them.

Seems Paramount is moving a lot of animated content they originally intended for Paramount+ to physical media.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I want whichever is better, but I am not sure which one that is at this point.

Brian is right, use the sub(s) output of your AVR and use the AVR sub settings for any EQ, final level and and bandpass control. Make sure the bandpass on the sub is much wider than on the AVR or set to bypass if it has that option.

There are some that believe the processing in an AVR is bad so AVR and AVP manufactures have a feature were you can bypass a lot of the signal chain and use your AVR or AVP as a volume control. Doing so means no sub-woofer output. Your AVR appears to have sub outputs that let the sub do all processing.

Some believe the audio they are listening to is gospel, if only they could see what transpires between them from the microphone to the CD, LP, Tidal, etc. they would realize that little bit of AVR or AVP processing inconsequential.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Movies tend to have .... music.

to be clear by music I was talking about CD, records... aka stereo sound not a musical or background in a film which would be properly going through LFE.

When you go to a club or a good Heavy metal concert and you feel the music, feel those good vibrations coming out of the sub, that is what the guy was talking about.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Lots of disc release info from The Bits post here. If the new Atmos track on the Dark City title is really good then I may have to triple dip on that one.