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Bad sound from Center on all DVDs
#213375 06/27/08 10:49 PM
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Hello all. I recently received the M60s and VP100 to replace my front speakers. I've been playing with all the settings and alot of people on this forum have given me great advice. I ran the Audyssey EQ yesterday morning and that seems to work pretty well.I guess I should get to my question. Music sounds great and most TV shows sound pretty good (depends on the channel). I can go from one channel where I have to have the volume at -15 and change to another and almost blow my head off, but I guess that's just my cable.

On all the DVDs I've played (only 3 or 4 so far) the center channel is so muted I can barely understand anything. If I manually push the center channel up about 8db more than my fronts I can hear fairly well but I've seen some posters say they like to run their centers about 2db more than their fronts. Oh yeah, I'm using a Denon 3808 but I don't have a high end DVD player and not a Blue-ray yet. I'm using a new Panasonic that is a recorder also, that costs around $230.

I see a lot of people using Oppos that are fairly expensive considering they don't play Blue-ray. Can the DVD player make that much diffence for the sound, particularly the center channel? All comments appreciated.

Thanks.


"Real Gun Control Is Hitting What You Aim At" - can't remember
Re: Bad sound from Center on all DVDs
edmondwolfman #213381 06/27/08 11:15 PM
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hmmm... interesting. something must be wrong... you shouldn't have to turn it up that high.

My vp150 comes in loud and clear at the same level as all other speakers. Occasionally on a quite movie I will bumb it up 3db at the most.

Are you sure that the tweeter and both midranges are working properly?

You might call axiom and see what they suggest.


-David
Re: Bad sound from Center on all DVDs
edmondwolfman #213445 06/28/08 05:03 AM
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Stupid question - how is the audio hooked up from the source to the receiver? Coaxial digital? Optical digital? Analog stereo?

Bren R.

Re: Bad sound from Center on all DVDs
BrenR #213465 06/28/08 09:09 AM
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 Originally Posted By: BrenR
Stupid question - how is the audio hooked up from the source to the receiver? Coaxial digital? Optical digital? Analog stereo?

Bren R.


HDMI


"Real Gun Control Is Hitting What You Aim At" - can't remember
Re: Bad sound from Center on all DVDs
edmondwolfman #213473 06/28/08 02:26 PM
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just give axiom a call.


-David
Re: Bad sound from Center on all DVDs
terzaghi #213479 06/28/08 02:53 PM
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Bistream or PCM? If it's PCM, perhaps your player has the center set too low. That could be totally screwing with your levels.


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: Bad sound from Center on all DVDs
Ken.C #213506 06/28/08 07:04 PM
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 Originally Posted By: kcarlile
Bistream or PCM? If it's PCM, perhaps your player has the center set too low. That could be totally screwing with your levels.


I have DVD set to Bitstream.


"Real Gun Control Is Hitting What You Aim At" - can't remember
Re: Bad sound from Center on all DVDs
edmondwolfman #213514 06/28/08 10:02 PM
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It sounds to me like the problem isn't related to the Axiom speakers, but to how you have your system set up.

Yes, there can be a big variance in channels, and this is your cable company's fault. I know that with my Dish Network, the HD channels' volume level is always about 5db quieter than the SD feeds. That has nothing to do with your Axioms, your TV, nor your receiver. It's out of your hands.

Anyway, back to your problem...

First make sure that the center is hooked up properly. Make sure you don't have a polarity problem.

Try turning that Audissey stuff off. Calibrate your speakers with an SPL meter using the instructions in the 3803's manual (I'm guessing that they'll be in there). It will involve something like setting the volume to 0db and matching the output of white noise levels of all of the speakers. This is to make sure that the Audissey EQ isn't messing something up, as I've heard of this happening around here.

Also be sure that you don't have some sort of source-specific level control interfering. I know that my receiver can store different channel levels depending on the source. With a few mis-matched settings, it's easy to get it messed up and really affect the sound quality. Don't ask how I know this. ;\)

There are probably adjustable channel levels on the DVD player too, but they should only be active if you're using the analog outs. Since you're using the digital HDMI connection and using your 3803 as the decoder (as you should be), I don't think you'd have a problem there. Do double check the settings in the DVD player to make sure it isn't doing some sort of dynamic range compression or other tricks to play with the sound.


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Re: Bad sound from Center on all DVDs
PeterChenoweth #213518 06/28/08 10:33 PM
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If the problem was due to polarity then audyssey would have picked that up on the auto set up. I doubt that is the problem.



-David
Re: Bad sound from Center on all DVDs
terzaghi #213520 06/28/08 10:40 PM
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 Originally Posted By: terzaghi
If the problem was due to polarity then audyssey would have picked that up on the auto set up. I doubt that is the problem.


You're right and I was careful to run + to + and - to -.


"Real Gun Control Is Hitting What You Aim At" - can't remember
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