Advice on audio package

[sdifox]

Ok, the only thing is CD/Tape port on the back of the receiver?? But that won't work??

why are you trying to eq? Unless you have an active waveform equalizer where you can do fine tuned adjustment by frequency, you are just going to degrade the sound quality.

 

[TJ 2]

I'm just trying to improve and increase treble and percussion quality, the unit is a JVC SEA-80 graphic equalizer, so you are saying that it won't make a difference?

 

[sdifox]

I'm just trying to improve and increase treble and percussion quality, the unit is a JVC SEA-80 graphic equalizer, so you are saying that it won't make a difference?

I am saying you will make it worse. Your receiver should have bass and treble boost built in already. Messing with the waveform is not going to improve the sound if your setup is not proper.

Have you tried playing a cd from a player that is connected digitally to your receiver? Placement and room modes are very important for sound system performance.

 

[TJ 2]

No I havnt tried that I mainly play music videos through my iPhone, I realize this isn't the best quality sound but I have all my music on there, so would upgrading my speakers increase the tenor and percussion quality??

 

[TJ 2]

Treble and percussion quality

 

[sdifox]

No I havnt tried that I mainly play music videos through my iPhone, I realize this isn't the best quality sound but I have all my music on there, so would upgrading my speakers increase the tenor and percussion quality??

don't have a cd and a cd/dvd/brd player? Or a computer with digital link to receiver? Source material is the upper limit of sound reproduction.

There is really no need to use lossy compression these days.

 

[TJ 2]

Forgive my ignorance as I'm a novice at all this but I'm using a iPhone jack that goes from the receiver to the iPhone and to the tv so I can play videos, so is that the best way to do it to get the best quality? How could I use the cd or blu ray player in conjunction with the iPhone that's not possible is it??

 

[sdifox]

Forgive my ignorance as I'm a novice at all this but I'm using a iPhone jack that goes from the receiver to the iPhone and to the tv so I can play videos, so is that the best way to do it to get the best quality? How could I use the cd or blu ray player in conjunction with the iPhone that's not possible is it??

I am saying your hardware is most likely not the issue; the content you are playing is too compressed. Especially the music videos, since they tend to be flashy so you need most of the bandwidth for the video and it is no wonder the audio portion suffers.


Only way to judge if your audio setup is up to par is to play something uncompressed, that way you eliminate one link in the chain.

Or encode some CD into high bitrate AAC and play that.

 

[NutBucket]

sdifox is right. I only listen to FM (a couple stations with good content and good SQ), vinyl and CDs on my home stereo. No compressed audio period; that's reserved for the car where its more tolerable

 

[mshan]

"I listen to mostly music so am looking for a good quality sound"

I'd recommend considering a totally separate 2 channel system for music, and just use the 5.1 system for movies.

Especially if you don't need really loud spl or room shaking bass, a simple 2-way bookshelf speaker (e. g. http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=105104.msg1073416;topicseen#new) with well-designed cross-over is going to sound a lot better than satellite subwoofer system using home theater targeted AVR for cross-over. And if you are comfortable wearing headphones and don't mind the way they distort soundstage (drivers are to the sides rather than in front of you), you will definitely get alot more bang for your dollar with quality headphones, headphone amp, and possibly outboard dac.

 

[NutBucket]

While this is generally true, the issue here is the OP is using crappy source materials and expecting mind-blowing sound quality. It just isn't possible.

 

[TJ 2]

Ok thanks for the input guys, so just to squash the debate is it even possible to hook that equalizer up to the pioneer vsx 521? It has a CDR/tape input bu I couldn't get it to work? It is an old equalizer and the receiver Is new maybe it isn't compatable??

 

[sdifox]

Ok thanks for the input guys, so just to squash the debate is it even possible to hook that equalizer up to the pioneer vsx 521? It has a CDR/tape input bu I couldn't get it to work? It is an old equalizer and the receiver Is new maybe it isn't compatable??

no, a receiver is not designed to allow you to manipulate the signal before it gets sent to the amplifier. Unless you have 6 channel out and 6 channel in, you cannot do it.

 

[TJ 2]

Hey guys, just got a good price on a pair of wharfdale bookshelf speakers xarus 1000, anyone know what the performance if these will be like with my pioneer vsx 521? Any comments would be appreciated, they are not a huge speaker but apparently they pack a good punch?

 

[sdifox]

Hey guys, just got a good price on a pair of wharfdale bookshelf speakers xarus 1000, anyone know what the performance if these will be like with my pioneer vsx 521? Any comments would be appreciated, they are not a huge speaker but apparently they pack a good punch?

why are you buying more speakers? And Wharfdale has been a Chinese brand for some time now.

IAG owns Wharfdale, Quad, Mission, Audiolab, Castle amongst others.
http://www.whathifi.com/blog/china-behind-the-scenes-at-iag

 

[TJ 2]

I'm addicted no they are a good price just wondered if you guys had heard of them and if so how you think they would go with my current receiver?

 

[TJ 2]

Ok thanks, so looking at that particular model speakers (xarus 1000) what do you think of the specs and quality of the speaker etc? What is your personal opinion?

 

[sdifox]

define good price.

 

[TJ 2]

$150 for the pair stores over here in Australia are selling them for $300 a pair!!

 

[sdifox]

no local etailer like partsexpress?

 

[TJ 2]

So what do you think about these particular speakers???

 

[sdifox]

So what do you think about these particular speakers???

don't know shit about them. Speakers should be listened to, several different occatioms with different yet familiar music to see if they suit your taste.

 

[TJ 2]

Hey guys, got a question I hooked up those wharfdale bookshelf speakers - 150 watt 60 hz 20 kHz frequency response, 25mm dome tweeter, to my pioneer vsx521 receiver, I had them running for a 3 to 4 hours at fairly high volumes and one of the speakers stopped working, I took them back to the store and the manager told me they are not meant to have massive bass til you run them in?? Can anyone tell me if this is true? And if so how do I do that? Shouldn't these speakers with these ratings be able to handle that? And I'm only running a 70 watt yamaha 6 inch sub.

 

[sdifox]

Hey guys, got a question I hooked up those wharfdale bookshelf speakers - 150 watt 60 hz 20 kHz frequency response, 25mm dome tweeter, to my pioneer vsx521 receiver, I had them running for a 3 to 4 hours at fairly high volumes and one of the speakers stopped working, I took them back to the store and the manager told me they are not meant to have massive bass til you run them in?? Can anyone tell me if this is true? And if so how do I do that? Shouldn't these speakers with these ratings be able to handle that? And I'm only running a 70 watt yamaha 6 inch sub.

so did you get it replaced? I am not sure running speakers at high volume 3-4 hour straight is good for you. You are misunderstanding the specs. It is far easier to damage the speaker by driving them beyond the amplifier's limits. That will cause distortion in the output (called clipping) and can destroy your speaker, starting with the tweeter.

don't bother with run-in, just listen to your music. At moderate levels, you can't get your hearing back.

 

[TJ 2]

Yes got a new pair, the reason why I was wondering is because I've done this with other speakers and they have been ok, just thought it may have been the speakers, cause I have been running some yamahas on the same receiver at the same levels and they are fine, these wharfdales are a better sounding speaker so I'm just frustrated that's all, so out of curiosity how do you run speakers in??