VP100 distortion at high volumes - Axiom Message Boards

First off, Happy Thanksgiving...

Secondly, I have the VP100 and M60's that I have calibrated, hopefully correctly, and at high volumes I get some vibration or rattling coming from the VP100. My Wife constantly is complaining that she can't hear the dialogue from movies coming from the center channel, so she turns up the volume so much that I get some distortion that sounds like a vibration in the speaker. By turning up the volume I mean my Marantz reads -7 db +/- at the levels that my wife listens.

My question is, if I get a sub hooked up to the system and the proper crossover set, will that allow me to have the volume at -7 db without the distortion? It seems that the bass that is going to the VP100 at that volume is what is causing the problem and if I can redirect it, that would fix it. My room is only 14 feet wide by 20 feet deep and the listening position about 15 feet from the tv.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Hi raz_la,

First, use the Marantz's setup menu to make sure you have the center speaker set to "Small"--the VP100 IS a small speaker--so you do not want significant bass output going to it.

All the bass should be handled by your subwoofer and/or M60s if you don't have a subwoofer. For that kind of listening distance--15 feet--I'd prefer you use a larger center like the VP150.

However, if there is an intelligibility problem, where do you have the center mounted? If it's buried in a bookshelf or recessed in any way, boundary effects and reflections will degrade clarity. Move it so its front baffle protrudes slightly past a shelf or the top of the TV, or consider wall-mounting it with a Full Metal Bracked so you can tilt it towards the listening area.

Have you tilted the center down or up towards your listening area? Check the drivers to make certain there is no mechanical vibration that might be caused by a loose mounting screw. Hand-tighten the screws (don't overtighten) so there is no chance of mechanical vibration.

What is the Marantz's rated output into the center? Be sure you have any impedance switches on it set to 8 ohms.

Center channel speakers are not designed to produce significant bass output so don't set them to Large. I think that may be your problem.

Hi again,

Until you have a sub, set the M60s to Large and keep the center at Small, using an 80-Hz crossover.

Thanks, Alan.

I do have the speaker at the top edge of my tv and tilted slightly to direct the sound toward my seating area. I know I currently have the speaker set to large, so I'll adjust that and take a look at the mounting screws of the drivers, but I doubt they will be a problem.

Thanks for the input, I need to go eat some turkey now!

Set all your speakers to small with a crossover of 80hz, unless you don't have a sub, then set your 60's to large.

If you look at the frequency response of the VP100, it would not make sense to set to large.

Quote:

If you look at the frequency response of the VP100, it would not make sense to set to large.

Or its intended use... dialog fundamental frequencies range from what, 100Hz to about 1500Hz (Barry White and Little Nell excluded).

Bren R.