 New vp150 today-not impressed
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Hooked up my new vp150 speaker today to my Yamaha RX-V3000 receiver, and I am actually disappointed. It seems like I have to increase the volume by 15db to get the same volume from my 8yr old polk CS300 center. I have the impedance set at 8 ohms and all speakers set at small. I read another post by a guy with the same receiver and swapped it out with a cheap radio shack amp and felt his axioms sounded better with the cheap amp. Could we both just be setting up outr receivers incorrecly? Any help or suggestions? I really want to feel that it's on my end and not the vp150.
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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It is unlikely you hooked anything up wrong, unless your +/-wires are crossed from the receiver to the speaker. When you say 15dB, are you saying your cranking the main volume up that much more, or adjusting the center channel "level" control 15dB's higher than your old center? Where do you have the speaker positioned, it should be at ear level if possible, or at least pointing/angled towards the listeners. Hmmmm, not sure what else.
Last edited by sirquack; 12/22/06 04:10 AM.
M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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axiomite
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Quote:
Where do you have the sub positioned, it should be at ear level if possible, or at least pointing/angled towards the listeners. Hmmmm, not sure what else.
Rick
"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." Sigmund Freud
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Man Rick, I love the edit feature!   It has been one of those days. I love my job....I love my job.....I love my job.... 
M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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The main receiver volume needs to be cranked up by 15db to match what I had existing. The speaker is on the top of the t.v. in the same location as the polk and the vp150 sounds so much weaker. The speaker polarity is also correct.
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Double check that all of the drivers are firing on the VP150. While it is not unusual (by any means!) for speakers to produce different levels of sound compared to one another, I suspect something else is going on.
I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Quote:
I have the impedance set at 8 ohms and all speakers set at small.
Isn’t the VP150v2 a 6 ohm impedance. It says it’s compatible with 8 ohm receivers but if you can set the impedance to 6 ohms it might sound better.
Dean
3M80 2M22 6QS8 2M2 1EP500 Sony BDP-S590 Panny-7000 Onkyo-3007 Carada-134 Xbox Buttkicker AS-EQ1
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Have you recalibrated all of your speakers with the addition of your vp150 so they are all at 75dB's? If you still are using the same settings within the receiver for distance/dB levels/etc... and have not recalibrated, this could be the issue. The vp150 is a 6ohm design, not sure about your prior center.
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Dean, you do not want to adjust the impedance switch on a receiver to 6ohm, as other speakers in the setup may be 8ohm.
M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Quote:
Have you recalibrated all of your speakers with the addition of your vp150 so they are all at 75dB's? If you still are using the same settings within the receiver for distance/dB levels/etc... and have not recalibrated, this could be the issue. The vp150 is a 6ohm design, not sure about your prior center.
Yes, I have recalibrated the other speakers because of such a volume difference. The rest of my polk system is 8 ohms. I have two QS8 on the way though. So I am not sure if I should switch the impedance on the back.
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Quote:
Dean, you do not want to adjust the impedance switch on a receiver to 6ohm, as other speakers in the setup may be 8ohm.
Wasn’t thinking about the other speakers thanks for catching that.
Dean
3M80 2M22 6QS8 2M2 1EP500 Sony BDP-S590 Panny-7000 Onkyo-3007 Carada-134 Xbox Buttkicker AS-EQ1
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Craig, the volume difference that you've mentioned is puzzling and again it's suggested that you listen closely to verify that all the drivers in the VP150 are actually operating. Nothing like that should occur. Leave the impedance setting at 8 ohms regardless of the speaker impedance; setting it lower just limits the maximum voltage output of the receiver and likewise reduces the maximum current and power available.
-----------------------------------
Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Give Axiom a call. They're very helpful with this sort of thing.
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Quote:
Craig, the volume difference that you've mentioned is puzzling and again it's suggested that you listen closely to verify that all the drivers in the VP150 are actually operating. Nothing like that should occur. Leave the impedance setting at 8 ohms regardless of the speaker impedance; setting it lower just limits the maximum voltage output of the receiver and likewise reduces the maximum current and power available.
What the heck??? Wheres the "Have you tried a single vertical M22/M2 for a centre channel?" 
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Hi upyourkit,
It's puzzling, but my first instinct is that you might be running Yamaha's YPAO auto-Equalization on the center channel. Turn it off and leave it off if you are running the auto-setup or auto EQ. Do a manual setup, ideally with a Radio Shack sound level meter or by ear if you don't have the Radio Shack meter.
The previous advice about checking each driver in the 150 to make sure each is working is important. Put your ear up close and play pink noise or a wide-range recording. Once in a while the connectors to the driver(s) may get dislodged in shipping.
Leave your Yamaha set to the 8-ohm setting for all your Axiom speakers. The 6-ohm setting may cause it to limit current output.
It's common for sensitivity to vary with different manufacturers but not by the degree you cite. What is the impedance of the old Polk center?
Regards,
Alan Lofft,
Axiom Resident Expert (Retired)
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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I'm the guy that was using your same receiver with my Axioms. There has to be something wrong... my center channel volume was set at -3 which made it equal to my two mains while using that Yammy receiver.
Since I posted last I replace my cheap radio shack reciever with one of those Panasonic digital recievers. The sound quality is very good, I don't notice much of a difference between it and the radio shack receiver but it also sounds far better than my rxv 3000. There had to be something wrong with that reciever, because music always sounded thin and harsh and now it's lush, smooth, addicting, and beautiful.
How does your yammy sound with music?
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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That is good to hear Cameron, sounds like an issue with the Yammy. I wonder if the original poster could borrow another receiver from someone to rule out the VP150.
M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Personally, I'm still suspecting a disconnected driver or two.
Heck, that was one of the first things I checked when I got the 80s. And that's a lot of drivers to check!
<cue laugh track>
Last edited by kcarlile; 12/22/06 05:29 PM.
I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Quote:
That is good to hear Cameron, sounds like an issue with the Yammy. I wonder if the original poster could borrow another receiver from someone to rule out the VP150.
O.k. Alan to answer some of your questions, yes all the drivers are operating. Also the receiver was manufactured before YPAO came out so the system as been manually calibrated with a R.S. SPL. Now, the suggestion about using another receiver was a good idea, so I pulled out my old harmon kardon AVR35 from 1998 and plugged her in and set it up. I listened to both music and movies and very proud to say the the Yamaha has a problem!!! Not sure if this is related to Cameron's issue but the center sounds...sweet dudes!!! Hope any new buyers out there realize that this speaker looks and sounds great, and the problem was with my hardware,and look at the support you get from other listeners. Thanks everyone. Cameron, I am curious if you have taken in your yammy for any repairs? At some point I had a copy of a hidden service menu from a buddy that showed you how to internally reset the programming to factory defaults but I can't seem to locate it. If anyone else knows how to get into this menu please let us know.
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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axiomite
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Glad you found the problem, Craig. Sorry, can't help you with the hidden menu thing.
***********
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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No, I never did have it repaired. If you find out how to reset the receiver, let me know I'd love to try that.
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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No, I never did have it repaired. If you find out how to reset the receiver, let me know I'd love to try that.
The kids are out with the old lady so I have time to search for that guide that gets you into the service menu. I had an issue with the front mains being too quiet and after resetting the service menu in the Yammy all was fixed. I think I need to do that again.
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Just curious,
did you guys buy your yamaha from an authorized dealer, or did you go the low budget route, without warranty ? I am considering this issue myself.
thanks
Randy
Axiom M80, Ep600, Qs8, VP150, Crown XLI 2500 , DBX Driverack PA2, Focusrite Scarlet 2i4
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Hey, great! That's excellent that you've solved the problem. It's also kind of bizarre that the Yamaha has some kind of inherent design fault. I've never been a huge fan of Yamaha receivers, but I would still expect competent design in term of the basic electronics--the preamp and amp section.
Regards,
Alan Lofft,
Axiom Resident Expert (Retired)
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Quote:
Just curious,
did you guys buy your yamaha from an authorized dealer, or did you go the low budget route, without warranty ? I am considering this issue myself.
Yes I bought mine from Good Guys in Concord, CA. Unfortunatly Good Guys is no longer in business. My circumstances is still very weird, and I probably wouldn't buy another yammy. I think my next purchase will be separates. Looking at the new Axiom amplifier....hey Alan I am more than willing to be one of your guinea pigs!
thanks
Randy
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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My rxv3000 was from a non-authorized dealer, Etronics. I don't think I will go that route again. Saving a few bucks is not worth losing peace of mind.
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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local
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Quote:
I've never been a huge fan of Yamaha receivers
Arrgh...don't say that! I've got a brand new RX-V2700 sitting here waiting for it's axioms!
Nick
My M60's make me listen
My M80's make my ears hear
Either way - I'm not deaf anymore
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Nick, don't worry. The newer Yammy's are very good quality in my opinion. 
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Yeah, I probably should have ended my post with a I've read enough about the yamaha's here and AVS to have faith that I'll be happy for a while to come. To be honest, I feel I can already hear a difference using my HTIB speakers. I attribute that to using the Yamaha's DAC over the DAC on my Revolution 5.1 sound card that I was using before. And yes, I'm using a lossless format
My M60's make me listen
My M80's make my ears hear
Either way - I'm not deaf anymore
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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Nick,
Don't fret. I've owned lots of Yamaha electronics over the years, which were generally excellent, including some of the very early "Digital Soundfield Processors". Plus Yamaha seems to have first-rate quality control. I've never had a test unit or any of the Yamaha gear I own ever fail, not once in 25 years.
I got annoyed with Yamaha AV units some years ago because they misbehaved with lower-impedance loads like the 4-ohm M80s. Apparently that's not true of recent Yamaha units.
I also had a usability bias because Yamaha used to hide secondary controls behind a flip-down panel on their up-market AV receivers. To access those controls was really annoying: they were tiny, hard to see, let alone read the labels. Now of course most of us use a remote control much of the time, but I sometimes like to operate stuff from the front panel. . .blah, blah, and so on. . .
Regards,
Alan Lofft,
Axiom Resident Expert (Retired)
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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I'm still a babe in terms of A/V. My parents had a stereo receiver when I was a kid, but I can't remember what type it was. My dad probably still has it. Hell he probably still uses it.
I do remember how exciting it was when they expanded on our turntable by adding a dual head tape deck, and *gasp* a 6 disc CD changer.
At one point he also brought home a Bose surround system back when they were still new and innovative. I wouldn't consider my dad an audiophile, but I remember he hooked everything up and ended up taking it back because he decided it sounded like crap.
Ahh..the good old days.
My M60's make me listen
My M80's make my ears hear
Either way - I'm not deaf anymore
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Re: New vp150 today-not impressed
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axiomite
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Quote:
At one point he also brought home a Bose surround system back when they were still new and innovative. I wouldn't consider my dad an audiophile, but I remember he hooked everything up and ended up taking it back because he decided it sounded like crap
Glad he didn't let the price tag tell him how "good" it sounded, and actually used his ears to decide.
***********
"Nothin' up my sleeve. . ." --Bullwinkle J. Moose
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