Getting more sound out of the surround speakers?

[Dsella]

How do you accomplish this? I have two Fisher tower speakers a buddy of mine gave me, and then a Sony center channel, and two Sony surrounds. The receiver I have is an STR-DG820. During certain scenes, the surrounds will make some decent noise, but not that great.

Any advice is thanked.

[Steve]

Are your surrounds properly placed? As in to the sides of the listening position and 2' above ear level? Have you run the auto setup feature of your receiver or calibrated using an SPL meter to ensure the same volume level from all speakers?

[Dsella]

Originally Posted by Steve

Are your surrounds properly placed? As in to the sides of the listening position and 2' above ear level? Have you run the auto setup feature of your receiver or calibrated using an SPL meter to ensure the same volume level from all speakers?

I recall doing something like AUTO CAL from my receiver, but I do not know anything of an SPL meter.

Just did AUTOCAL again and it said E - F: 33

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Dsella

I recall doing something like AUTO CAL from my receiver, but I do not know anything of an SPL meter.

Just did AUTOCAL again and it said E - F: 33

I don't know what that message means. Have you consulted your owner's manual about it?

[Dsella]

Originally Posted by Steve

I don't know what that message means. Have you consulted your owner's manual about it?

Just plugged in the Calibration microphone and got it set, thanks. But I am still waiting on my speaker brackets to come for the rear two and I am most likely rearranging my room again.

But at least I know, thanks.

And what exactly does the mic do? Tell how loud it is from each speaker and adjust so it is more equal?

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Dsella

Just plugged in the Calibration microphone and got it set, thanks. But I am still waiting on my speaker brackets to come for the rear two and I am most likely rearranging my room again.

But at least I know, thanks.

And what exactly does the mic do? Tell how loud it is from each speaker and adjust so it is more equal?

Glad to hear you got it set up. Any time you move your speakers or replace or add anything you'll need to run it again.

The mic measures the distance of all the speakers from your listening position. It also sets the individual speaker levels so that the volume from every speaker sounds the same at your listening position. It adjusts the equalizer settings in your receiver and it determines whether to set your speakers as small or large and sets the crossover. The last area is where the auto setup is pretty weak. Most of the time you'll want to go in and change all your speakers to small and set a crossover. You can set the crossover based on your individual speakers' frequency ranges or you can just go with a generic setting of about 80 Hz.

[progers13]

Originally Posted by Dsella

I recall doing something like AUTO CAL from my receiver, but I do not know anything of an SPL meter.

Just did AUTOCAL again and it said E - F: 33

Originally Posted by Steve

I don't know what that message means. Have you consulted your owner's manual about it?

Originally Posted by Dsella

Just plugged in the Calibration microphone and got it set, thanks. But I am still waiting on my speaker brackets to come for the rear two and I am most likely rearranging my room again.

But at least I know, thanks.

And what exactly does the mic do? Tell how loud it is from each speaker and adjust so it is more equal?

I was just about to say, that error message (on Sony receivers) means that no mic is attached.

An SPL meter is a device you use to measure sound output. You would place the meter at your listening position and test the discreet volume level for each speaker, and adjust them each accordingly until they are all at the same level (auto-cal can also do this for you, but I personally find it to be more problematic than not).

Read THIS sticky by Big Daddy to understand the how and why you should calibrate with an SPL meter.

[kurtis21]

On your receiver...you should also be able to add decibles to each individual speaker. My rear speakers are +2.0 dbl.'s each.

[Dsella]

Originally Posted by kurtis21

On your receiver...you should also be able to add decibles to each individual speaker. My rear speakers are +2.0 dbl.'s each.

Yea I have that all as well. I may upgrade my surrounds anyway but for the time being wanted to get it set.

Thanks all.

[dewd]

Originally Posted by Dsella

Yea I have that all as well. I may upgrade my surrounds anyway but for the time being wanted to get it set.

Thanks all.

IMO, upgrade the front 3 first. Most of your sound comes from the center, then the left/right. Surrounds are mainly for effects. Getting 3 timbre matched speakers (look up this term) will have more impact on your sound (as will replacing the Fisher and Sony speakers).

Again, IF you plan to spend any money on this, I suggest starting up front.

[Dsella]

Originally Posted by dewd

IMO, upgrade the front 3 first. Most of your sound comes from the center, then the left/right. Surrounds are mainly for effects. Getting 3 timbre matched speakers (look up this term) will have more impact on your sound (as will replacing the Fisher and Sony speakers).

Again, IF you plan to spend any money on this, I suggest starting up front.

Yeah, I know all the voices and main parts comes from the center, and I was planning on upgrading all of them to be honest. Was just saying eventually surrounds..

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Dsella

Yeah, I know all the voices and main parts comes from the center, and I was planning on upgrading all of them to be honest. Was just saying eventually surrounds..

Are you looking at any particular speakers yet for your upgrade?