Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater New system, new member

Hi everyone I am new here and to 5.1 theater systems. My new 5.1 system consists of the new Oppo blu ray player (in about 3 weeks)Axiom recommended the oppo player THANKS. Axiom M22s, axiom 100 center and the Qs8s for surround and a EP175 sub. I am driving the system with the Sherwood newcastle R 772 and my TV is a new Sony Bravia 46" this is all going in my bedroom. Everything is ordered but I havent got all the components yet because I ordered the surrounds and the center through the bargain center here (slight out side damage)And because Im not sure where this system will stay I also got stands for all the speakers. So this being my first system will SACD music sound pretty good also? I am hoping so because I have ordered some classic SACD recordings.

Also is there any changes that I should do please let me know now before I get all the components but I allready have the AV receiver the EP175 and the M22s the rest is on the way. I hope I have no regrets. Comments welcomed. Thanks everyone.

Welcome Guy,

How big is your room? The speakers you ordered are all great. You most likely will have no damage, the Factory Outlook speakers often look as if they have no defects. You already have the EP175, if not, that might be something I would upgrade to at least the EP350 as it will give you better performance.

You should really like your setup...

Welcome th3at3rguy to the Axiom forum.

Congrats on all your new gear, that should make for a killer bedroom setup. The Oppo is a superb device and any good quality recording for that matter be it a cd, blu-ray,DVD-A, SACD will sound excellent through your axiom speakers.

One thing I might recommend is getting a beer fridge installed in your bedroom. You will probably be spending a lot of time there in the future .

Cheers!

Guy, welcome. You'll certainly be able to enjoy good music on your new setup, regardless of whether it's on SACD or not. SACD doesn't have any special magic that doesn't depend on the quality of the entire recording process that's taken place.

I've been enjoying classical music on my M22s for over seven years now and continue to be delighted.

The only possible point is that a more powerful sub than the 175 might be useful for some music with extreme low frequency content(e.g., pipe organ), but for most uses in a bedroom size location it'll be fine.

What should I set the crossover of the EP175 sub at to go with the M22s? It goes from 60hz to 120Hz. I listen to alot of classic rock aka Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, Niel Young. And my next question is what is the best way to hook my cable box to the AV reciever? Optical or HDMI or some other way. And I have a set of Monster 5.1 audio cables should I use those for the audio on the oppo to the AV receiver? I am just trying to get it all figured out before I have everything in about 3 weeks and its all new to me. That Sherwood newcastle unit looks frustrating to get all set up right after reading the instructions JEEEEZ.

I would set the crossover to 80 on your receiver. I just use a single optical cable from the cable box to receiver. For the OPPO you should use HDMI if possible (for video and sound).

What type of cables are the Monster 5.1 (analog, optical, coax)?

On my receiver I cant set the sub crossover but I can set all the speakers crossover levels so should I set all the speakers at 80Hz or did you just mean the sub which I would have to do on the sub itself. Then what should I set the speakers crossover at on my reciever? Its the Monster cable SACD/DVD/BD -audio interconnect for AV receivers with 6 channel audio direct inputs (which mine has and the new Oppo has the 6 channel direct audio outputs.) So I guess its analog right its RCA connection. So what would be the differance between these and the HDMI I have both but the HDMI would be less mess. These are just for the audio so if I used these what would I use for the video HDMI? Looking at the back of the Oppo I see 6 channel direct audio output which is where these go but then what are the video choices is it just for component video that I would use these audio cables? Or do I use both HDMI and these for 6 channel audio or just HDMI (would I lose any sound quality with just HDMI?) Sorry I have never owned a A/V reciever before and there are just sooo many options for every thing one hooks up for this I just want to make sure I Use the best connection possible.

Since you'll be using your 772 to set the crossovers, which apply to both the speakers and the sub(probably 80Hz would be best), you turn the control on the 175 all the way up to the 120Hz max to get it as far away as possible from the 80Hz crossover that the 772 is doing, so it doesn't interfere.

All HT receivers are a bit complicated, but relax and take your time; it'll work out. If you have any specific questions in the future, ask of course.

Seeing your last post, if you have an HDMI cable, you can use it for both audio and video output from the Oppo.

But what if I want to use those 6 channel direct input audio cables what would be the options for video? Just in case I want to use the HDMIs for something else. I also have a PS3 and an xbox 360 that I have to hook in to this and I have been thinking of hooking up my new digital storm gaming PC up to the TV as well and I have to do all this from my wheelchair ( I had a bad snowmobile accident a few years back) Looks like I will be calling my nephew to help me out with this one.

If you want to run 5.1 analog audio (the 6 cables) you can run the video any way you want. I run both my HD DVD player and Blu-Ray players with 6 channel analog and HDMI for video. HDMI is your first choice, use that for the Oppo and PS3. Depending on the output of your PC and how many HDMI inputs the receiver has you may need something like a DVI to HDMI cable for the PC. If you have the 360 Elite and another HDMI port, hook that up with HDMI also, otherwise just use component video.

Welcome to the Axiom family! You have selected a very nice bedroom system. I have had my M22s for 6 years now and they still sound and look great.

Turn your crossover knob on the sub clockwise to the highest setting, or bypass if that is an option. Your receiver takes care of the bass management, so frequencies for those speakers below the crossover point for speakers set to small will be routed to the sub.

Congratulations on your new system, Guy, and welcome. Don't worry about the FO speakers, many of us have used the FO and haven't found anything noteworthy as far as blemishes go.

I think you will need to use the RCA type plug 5.1 hookup to your receiver to get SACD from the OPPO. The HDMI connection will carry all the Blue Ray audio modes but I don't think the SACD mode will be carried by HDMI. At least that's my understanding. The 5.1 cables will also carry the Blue Ray audio modes since the Oppo has decoders for everything. We need someone who is familiar with the Oppo to jump in here.
Bill

Lots of great answers already so just another welcome from me. Sounds like a great setup.

I stand corrected on the SACD over HDMI. i found this quote in the Oppo thread but don't know how to link to it.


"Since I am only using it as a bitstream transport for SACD, DVD-A and BD audio, I cannot comment on its analog sections.

Only current issue I have is with SACD/DSD processing, and I think it may be an HDMI handshaking issue. If I set the BDP-83 to bitstream DSD, the Denon sees DSD, but jumps into stereo (or in my case, Dolby PLII) mode. The BDP-83 clearly shows the 5.0 layer selected. Fiddle around long enough, switching modes, switching inputs, etc., and the Denon eventually switches into multi-channel mode. Turn on the next day, try again, and I'm back to stereo.

For now, have changed the BDP-83 setting to convert DSD to mch PCM before bitstreaming, and all works well. Sounds great with excellent bass management. May even sound a little better than having the Denon do the DSD-to-PCM conversion (which I would have done anyway, since the Denon needs PCM to apply Audyssey processing)."

SACD passes through HDMI decoded as LPCM. You need the analogue if you do not have a HDMI 1.1 receiver or if you want to take advantage of the direct DSD-to-analogue of the BDP-83. The new Oppo player no longer offers DSD-over-HDMI (HDMI 1.2).

My receiver has just about everything I need I hope (sherwood newcastle R-772) Cool I didnt waste my money on the monster SACD 5.1 direct input audio cables. So let me get this straight I hook the oppo with both HDMI and the 5.1 RCAs into my receiver? Next my comcast cable box has HDMI output and optical and component so would I also connect the cable HDMI into my AV reciever? I had someone say use the optical on the cable box so optical or HDMI?

I hope those are not brand name Monster cables, if they are I think you did waste some money, paid just for the name alone, but I digress.

I would use the HDMI out of the cable box.

Connect your Oppo ONLY with HDMI.
For cable, component + optical will give you 100% of your audio and video. You can also use the HDMI connection, but it is not mandatory for HDTV (1080i max and DD5.1 at 384Kbps).

So I will get SACD through the HDMI in 5.1 like its suppose to be? Another member said I had to use the 5.1 6 channel direct input audio cables for that... so which is it then???And on the cable box which should I use HDMI or the component and optical. HDMI would be easier I think and you cant get 1080P with component right?Got the monster cables on ebay pretty cheap so I didnt waste too much. This is all new to me but I want the best possible connection on every component.

The other member corrected himself right away (some older players did not support passing hi-res on HDMI). You will definitely get 5.1 24bits/88.2Khz on HDMI from your Oppo player using SACD (I have a Oppo player and SACDs).

As for TV, the signal being broadcast is limited to 1080i (often it is 720p) and you cannot get hi-res audio (they have very limited bandwidth). I even doubt your cable box can output at 1080p. So you can use HDMI for sure, but as you only have 2 HDMI inputs on your receiver (unless I am mistaken), I was suggesting you keep one free for future expansion (HDMI is getting increasing frequent on laptops and computers). Either choice will be good.

I personally like HDMI as it drammatically reduces the number of cables, but my cable TV is on component/optical as it has trouble with copyright protection with my TV (the infamous HDCP).

To recap:
Oppo to receiver: HMDI
Cable Box to receiver HDMI or Component+Optical

You're getting close to heaven!

Ya I do only have 2 HDMIs on my receiver what about one of those HDMI boxes OPPO sells that adds 3 to every one. Do those things work and do you lose any quality splitting it like that?

Guy, it's disappointing that a receiver at that price point would have only two HDMI inputs, since 3 or even 4 are commonly available on moderately priced units these days. If you just got it I'd consider returning it for a more fully-featured receiver.

Yes, the external HDMI splitters, available from sources such as MonoPrice at low cost, work well, but again, you shouldn't have to do that these days with a new receiver.

Thanks everyone I got the connects down now about the configuration. Not being familiar with the Axiom M22s the QS8s and VP100 My reciever wants me to set the crossover for these speakers so what is ideal here? Im thinking 80 but not really sure> I will have the volume and crossover on my EP175 sub all the way up.

80 setting on the crossover of all speakers (setting on the receiver)...check

Crossover on the EP175 all the way up...check

The volume control on the EP175 should not have to be maxed out. What is the subwoofer level set on your receiver? (it will be a number value ranging usually from -12 to +12).

I'm sure you meant crossover knob on the sub, not the volume? The receiver handles the management for speakers set to small, so get the sub crossover knob out of the way.

For most speakers 80hz is a good starting point. That should work great for the 22's. On my Denon I have the Q's set to 90hz and the VP150 set to 80hz as well..

I hope that was a typo. Imagine running the sub that "hot" during Iron Man .

HDCP? How do I know if my TV supports this? My A?V reciever says it will only output to components that support it. My TV is a Sony Bravia 46" KDL-46Z4100. JEEZ if my TV doesnt support this then Sherwood reciever is going back or are all A/V recievers like this?

The probability that your HDMI-compatible TV does not support HDCP is literally 0. Only a few early models had flaky support. On the other hand, a lot of cable boxes have very poor HDCP support (for example, mine supports it so badly that I use components).

Which components do you have trouble connecting using HDMI?

I dont have my whole system yet(my surrounds and center wont be here for 3 weeks) But I hooked up my Sherwood NewcastleR772 and my EP-175 and my M22s through HDMI to my cable box and to my TV and I cant get a picture. I also hooked up my PS3 through HDMI. No picture at all with either. Thought it was the HDCP but I am glad it isnt now I dont know what I did wrong.

This isn't making any sense.

If you hooked up the cable box through the Sherwood and then to the TV, make sure the TV is on the right input, and that you have the box going to the IN of the Sherwood and the HDMI from the Sherwood to the TV is going OUT. You could also bypass the Sherwood altogether with the HDMI to make sure the TV is working.

Finally figured it out the HDMI cable I had the TV hooked up with was bad. I just happened to try a differant HDMI cord and it worked fine which explains alot because I used that cord on other stuff and it was driving me nuts because it is a new HDMi so I didnt even think it could be bad.

Hey, I'm glad you figured it out, at least. That frustration is something we've all felt.

Well now even with the new HDMI the sound on my PS3 seems to only works half the time. It works fine plugged into the TV but plugged in to my AV receiver I seem to have problems with no sound or no picture. But my xbox 360 works fine plugged into the same HDMI input. This is telling me my AV receiver's HDMI input is having a problem with Blu-ray. Does anyone else have problems with blu-ray and HDMI? I hope my new Oppo player doesnt do the same thing that would mean my AV has to go back. Anyone have any idea as to why this is happening? Its working fine now but I bet when I turn it on Monday it wont have sound again.

There are some well buried HDMI settings you might check in the PS3 under sections where you might not expect them.

Are you using the same cable when swapping back and forth? How about a HDMI switch in there. I had a similar issue with a cheap HDMI cable when I introduced a switch box. Straight through it was fine but I lost audio if the switchbox was in the mix and other cables worked well with the switcher. Seems that some HDMI cables just have electrical limitations and once you add in a weak element, they fail.