Hi all...My speakers finally arrived a few weeks ago, and though I was going to leave them in the boxes, till I moved, I got the itch to test them out (who wouldn't!).
So, I took out the HK and connected everything together, via banana plugs and 12g speaker wire. Easy install, not much of a learning curve there.
Now, I have 2 M80's and 1 VP150 for now, till I get the rest of the speakers. I have tried to check levels, etc. and have found that music, on 2 speaker stereo sounds great. Nice bass, nice mids and highs. Only thing the HK doesn't allow me to set is the mids...though, I wonder why that is?? Maybe an 'upgrade' to the receiver might allow for it? not sure.
Movies play through all three speakers, and though I have to turn up the receiver to a fairly high volume, it definately feels good to be able to watch movies through some real speakers...hehe. TV Speakers just weren't cutting it anymore. I also invested in an LCD HD TV (Polaroid 32" for about 1K) and let me tell you...picture quality on this TV is great (for a tv at it's price). Upconversion via Faroudja technology is great through the HK. Xbox 360 games seem to come alive, color rendition is great (even though I am sure I could calibrate it a little more) and the sound through the Axioms is awesome. My brother has been playing Blazing Angels for a few days...and lemme tell ya, planes sound like planes, guns sound like guns, and everything else in the game is just nice and audible...down to the wingmen on the right or left, bombs blowing up, planes flying past, etc.
I know this isn't the most 'complete' review...but it's what I have right now. After I set everything up, we ended up going to Vegas for the past week (let's just leave that there...hehe), so I haven't had much 'listening' time...although I try to listen to ANYTHING when I have a chance.
Only question I have, and maybe someone can answer this, when I use the 2-channels to play music, everything is great. I barely have to go to -50db on the receiver to get loud sound from the speakers. However, when I switch over to movie mode (I use the 360 to watch DVD's with an optical cable (even though I have a Sony DVD-player -- which I have tried, with no difference in sound)), I have to turn the receiver up fairly high -- as in -35 to -30db. Is this a common thing? or am I missing something? Maybe it's cause I am missing surrounds, and a sub? Maybe someone can guide me here...
Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions/recommendations. I am sure once the system is more 'complete' with surrounds/sub it will be even better than what I have now...which ain't too shabby...lemme tell ya!
Take care,
i.
