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QS8 Surround setup for Movies & DVD-A
#106645 08/02/05 12:32 AM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 67
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Posts: 67
As a new member to the board, I thought I’d contribute my experiences in partial repayment for all the great information I’ve received while anonymously prowling the board. The quality of the Axiom speaker sound inspires me to spread it around some more.

Ok, so, I’m feeling pleased with myself even if this is probably a well known tip. I just haven’t seen it clearly mentioned anywhere. Last night I optimized my movie 7.1 surround system for DVD-Audio by using the surround BACK speakers as my left and right surrounds when playing in DVD-Audio mode instead of the side mounted surround speakers. This now happens automatically when I switch modes and made a big sonic improvement. It should be possible for anyone who uses a digital cable connection for their movie signals and the analog connection to their 7.1 amp for multi channel audio. Read on for the details in my case.


7.1 MOVIE SETUP:
Typically my Denon 2910 DVD player is connected to my Denon 3805 receiver with the digital optical link. I optimized my 7.1 speaker placement for movie playback using this connection setup. Two of my QS8 surrounds are located to the sides of the listening area and the other two surround BACK channel speakers are mounted to the back wall with the same spacing as the left and right main speakers.

OPTIMIZED DVD-AUDIO SETUP:
For DVD-Audio, the 2910 only sends the signals out through the 5.1 channel analog connection. I used this fact and the separate speaker settings and bass management on the 2910 to make the 3805 surround BACK channels function as the left and right surrounds when playing DVD-Audio. All I did was plug the surround channel cables from the 2910 into the surround BACK channel inputs on the 3805. This gave me the “box” layout that is preferred for DVD-Audio. The speaker change between movie mode (digital connection) and DVD-Audio mode (5.1 analog connection) happens automatically now when I select the 3805 “external in” for the analog multi-channel input. This change made a big difference in sound quality over using the movie surround speakers located to the side of my listening area. Using the surround BACK speakers, the sound merged into a single sound field and the noticeable presence of the surround speakers mostly disappeared. Now I know why people like multi-channel audio. Wow! Maybe I’ll purchase more then the single “Seal” disk I now own.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
I’m forced to sit near the back wall of my room so that may be part of why this works so well for me, but I realized there are quite a few options using this method if you had more room in the back for full range direct speakers and could optimize the bass management on the DVD player, you might be able to have virtually the best of both worlds with only a 7.1 speaker setup.

A final word to those new to the 2910 and using the HDMI connection to the TV like I do, you’re going to be pushing a lot of buttons to get the system set for DVD-Audio. A programmable remote macro really helps to both enter and exit this mode. The DVD-Audio video signals don’t go out the HDMI cable so you have to change your video selection (and add cables) as well as turn off the HDMI output (4 pushes of the same button), and then of course select the 7.1 external analog input on the 3805.


Re: QS8 Surround setup for Movies & DVD-A
#106646 08/02/05 01:15 AM
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,379
Likes: 7
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Aug 2004
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Thanks for posting that... and welcome to the board !

Every time I saw a post recommending using the surround back speakers instead of the surrounds for music I had a nagging moment of "but how are they actually going to DO that" doubt. I was visualizing some kind of speaker switching box and wondering why nobody made such a best...

... but now it all makes sense. I had forgotten that we use different inputs for music vs. HT, so the signal flipping can be done with the 5.1 analog connections. Now I have to go out and get that 5.1 cable I have been putting off for a few months, hate spending that much $$ on a stinkin' cable

Last edited by bridgman; 08/02/05 01:18 AM.

M60ti, VP180, QS8, M2ti, EP500, PC-Plus 20-39
M5HP, M40ti, Sierra-1
LFR1100 active, ADA1500-4 and -8
Re: QS8 Surround setup for Movies & DVD-A
#106647 08/02/05 03:47 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
Then get 3 2 channel cables... or 2 composite video/stereo cables... Cost ya less, don't make a difference! OK, fine, the ends are colored differently.


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: QS8 Surround setup for Movies & DVD-A
#106648 08/04/05 03:13 AM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 66
old hand
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Posts: 66
Welcome to the board. Great to hear that this worked for you. I ended doing something very similar - took yet another step and bridged the left surround and left back together (and then did the equivalent manipulation to the right back and right side). This only affects the analog inputs on the reciever and makes the excessive directionality that was so noticable when sitting close to the speakers disappear.
I used a simple Y cable (2 male RCA to 1 female RCA x2) for the bridges.

M60 x 2
QS8 x 4
VP150
HSU STF2
Panasonic LT500U
Marantz 7400
Panasonic DVD-F87 (used for CD / Stereo)
Pioneer DV-578 (DVD-A / SACD)
Axiom Setup

Re: QS8 Surround setup for Movies & DVD-A
#106649 08/05/05 02:26 AM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 67
old hand
OP Offline
old hand
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 67
Interesting idea, I hadn't thought of bridging the surrounds for each side together. I'll have to give that a try. It might just muddy the 3D sound field in my particular case since I'm not really having a localized sound problem, but it's worth trying to see what happens.


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