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How much would i have to pay for decent 5.1 surround sound?

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Download the quick hookup diagram here
http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=HT-S6200&class=Systems&p=d

For the speaker wire that comes with the Onkyo unit, it should be pre-stripped at the ends and there should be 7 of them of various lengths. I'm not positive the wire is pre-stripped from that hookup diagram, but if it's not, you just need to strip off a little bit of the insulation on the ends.

It looks like the speakers have spring clips on them. For those, you just need to push the tabs back to make room for the speaker wire, and then you feed the speaker wire in and then push the tab back down... making sure that the metal contact on the speaker is touching the speaker wire.

Each speaker wire is made up of two strands. In order to make sure everything is "in phase", you need to get the polarity right on all the connections. The onkyo wire should have one strand labeled with a white stripe or something. Always connect the marked strand to the red connector point on each speaker.

On the receiver end, you have binding posts. For those, you unscrew the plastic knob at the back of the receiver. This will expose a threaded metal post at the back. Stick your speaker wire into the exposed gap you created by unscrewing the plastic knob. Tighten the plastic knob back down to make sure you get good contact with the wire and metal parts of the connector. Don't tighten it really hard.

Again, you need to get the phase / polarity right. The marked strand of speaker wire should connected to the colored connector for each pair of binding posts. The unmarked strand will go to the black connector for each pair of binding posts.

Does that make sense?
 
YOyoYOhowsDAjello said:
Download the quick hookup diagram here
http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=HT-S6200&class=Systems&p=d

For the speaker wire that comes with the Onkyo unit, it should be pre-stripped at the ends and there should be 7 of them of various lengths. I'm not positive the wire is pre-stripped from that hookup diagram, but if it's not, you just need to strip off a little bit of the insulation on the ends.

It looks like the speakers have spring clips on them. For those, you just need to push the tabs back to make room for the speaker wire, and then you feed the speaker wire in and then push the tab back down... making sure that the metal contact on the speaker is touching the speaker wire.

Each speaker wire is made up of two strands. In order to make sure everything is "in phase", you need to get the polarity right on all the connections. The onkyo wire should have one strand labeled with a white stripe or something. Always connect the marked strand to the red connector point on each speaker.

On the receiver end, you have binding posts. For those, you unscrew the plastic knob at the back of the receiver. This will expose a threaded metal post at the back. Stick your speaker wire into the exposed gap you created by unscrewing the plastic knob. Tighten the plastic knob back down to make sure you get good contact with the wire and metal parts of the connector. Don't tighten it really hard.

Again, you need to get the phase / polarity right. The marked strand of speaker wire should connected to the colored connector for each pair of binding posts. The unmarked strand will go to the black connector for each pair of binding posts.

Does that make sense?
Click to expand...

Yes, thanks! I didnt even think about the receiver end lol, good to know. I have a feeling this is going to take a while for me. For some reason, ever since trying to make on old stereo work a few years back, ive dreaded speaker wire (it was probably both the wire and the stereo that were damaged, thus me never getting it to work haha). Maybe since this is all new stuff it will actually work and not be as bad. Why do people prefer different thicknesses of speaker wire?

Hopefully nothing serious can go wrong during speaker setup. Im probably going to have to put them on various tall objects for a while until i learn how to mount them on walls. I am seriously dreading figuring out how to do that.

vshah said:
face it, you're having fun!
Click to expand...

Ha! Maybe after its all done.

Here's a question...on various diagrams i have been seeing front high corner speakers. I assume this would be 9.1. Whats the benefit of that? Obviously 2 more speakers is cool, but they would be like, right above the other 2 front corner speakers. Regardless i bet this makes for a sweet setup.
 
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Speaker wire info
http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

Configurations higher than 7.1 is a pretty new feature. It's still evolving and there isn't source material to actually use the additional discrete channels, but it may be more common / standard with time. It's adding a height / ambiance component to the front of the room.
 
It arrives tomorrow, huzzah! Unfortunately i wont be able to play with it until thursday at earliest. i have so much to do in my little (literally) entertainment room.

Previously quoted delivery day was friday. Somehow, there is an amazon warehouse or something 50 minutes from my house lol. Maybe they only ship it outta there with 2 day shipping? Come to think of it, no they dont. I used super saver a couple weeks ago and it came out of there, i just think they have additional processing and they take a less direct route, which is weaksauce.
 
Question: the dolby guides dont show the distance away from the viewer (besides the tv distance, and the heights). What are the different distances i should place these things for optimal viewing?
 
Muadib said:
If you follow the guide as best you can for your room, then audyssey will take care of the rest. The following website explains it. Be sure to read the FAQ at the bottom. http://www.audyssey.com/hometheater/receivers.html
Click to expand...

Thanks man! Ill just try to make it work with my room as best as i can like you said. I dont think i have quite enough space to move them exactly like the picture, but ill try to make them proportional. YoYo said this technology makes a pretty huge difference.
 
kazaam said:
Thanks man! Ill just try to make it work with my room as best as i can like you said. I dont think i have quite enough space to move them exactly like the picture, but ill try to make them proportional. YoYo said this technology makes a pretty huge difference.
Click to expand...

It will make the biggest difference when your equipment or room have significant problems. The better your room is optimized and the better your equipment performs, the less of a difference it will make.

In most cases, I think it will make a big difference for people's HT setups.
 
YOyoYOhowsDAjello said:
It will make the biggest difference when your equipment or room have significant problems. The better your room is optimized and the better your equipment performs, the less of a difference it will make.

In most cases, I think it will make a big difference for people's HT setups.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you've got me exact. 😀
 
kazaam said:
Thanks man! Ill just try to make it work with my room as best as i can like you said. I dont think i have quite enough space to move them exactly like the picture, but ill try to make them proportional. YoYo said this technology makes a pretty huge difference.
Click to expand...

And I agree with him 100%! I didn't use audyssey for weeks after my last upgrade, because I wanted to see if I would notice it after I calibrated my system the old fashion way, using a sound meter. I was pretty happy with the way things were, but decided to give it a shot due to the positive buzz it got. I'm so glad I did, because it made quite a difference.
 
kazaam said:
If i want to mount these, do i have to buy wall mounts, or are the speakers directly mountable onto the walls?
Click to expand...

According to the following Amazon review, you can hang them on a screw:
The speakers have a "keyhole" type hanging system that lets them hang from screws set in the walls (screws not included). You don't need to buy the expensive hanging arm systems unless you just want them.
Click to expand...
That's how I hang (or hung at my old house...haven't installed them at my new one yet) my surrounds, and they weigh about 8 lbs. each. I just spent a couple dollars on some hefty wall anchors (that say they support 30 lbs.) since my studs didn't correspond with where I wanted my speakers.

Edit: That Amazon review was for the S5100, but it still applies to the S6200. Crutchfield has some pictures of the keyhole slots.
 
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kalrith said:
According to the following Amazon review, you can hang them on a screw: That's how I hang (or hung at my old house...haven't installed them at my new one yet) my surrounds, and they weigh about 8 lbs. each. I just spent a couple dollars on some hefty wall anchors (that say they support 30 lbs.) since my studs didn't correspond with where I wanted my speakers.

Edit: That Amazon review was for the S5100, but it still applies to the S6200. Crutchfield has some pictures of the keyhole slots.
Click to expand...

you are the man kalrith, thanks. also nice little reference to me getting $1500 speakers and forgoeing the dish network. I dont think anyone got that but me lol. Nice try. 😉
 
I set it up! I have a question though, I'm watching Rome and I can't seem to get the back r+l surround speakers to work. Is this because of the blu Ray or because of the settings I'm using? So confused and excited lol
 
It's definitely not a zone 2 that I have I don't think. But I don't know. Not much really, it all worked out the box. Only the back two aren't playing music.
 
Don't mean to butt in here but have you setup Audyssey? Instructions should be in the manual.

Also, you might try the different listening modes for movie/tv. There should be buttons on the remote and on the front of the receiver.

You may also need to setup the particular inputs you are using with the receiver. I think the defaults are set to the best possible but it won't hurt to check. It should be the first option in the setup menu in the OSD or receiver display.

I'm still learning about my Onkyo but I hope I helped a little. Congrats on your new system!
 
balloonshark said:
Don't mean to butt in here but have you setup Audyssey? Instructions should be in the manual.

Also, you might try the different listening modes for movie/tv. There should be buttons on the remote and on the front of the receiver.

You may also need to setup the particular inputs you are using with the receiver. I think the defaults are set to the best possible but it won't hurt to check. It should be the first option in the setup menu in the OSD or receiver display.

I'm still learning about my Onkyo but I hope I helped a little. Congrats on your new system!
Click to expand...

Yes sir, i was going to set up the audyssey installation thing later, but i was trying to figure out why it wasnt working just using the default settings. my lord, all those adjustable settings and listening modes and all that stuff have fried my mind lol. the manual is utterly confusing to me.
 
kazaam said:
Yes sir, i was going to set up the audyssey installation thing later, but i was trying to figure out why it wasnt working just using the default settings. my lord, all those adjustable settings and listening modes and all that stuff have fried my mind lol. the manual is utterly confusing to me.
Click to expand...
I agree! It's very confusing.

Try the listening mode buttons for movie/tv and see if one of the modes gives you sound from the back speakers. It may not be the best mode for the movie but give it a try to see if they work.
 
balloonshark said:
I agree! It's very confusing.

Try the listening mode buttons for movie/tv and see if one of the modes gives you sound from the back speakers. It may not be the best mode for the movie but give it a try to see if they work.
Click to expand...

Thanks balloon!

I tried some of those earlier, per the manual, but none seem to work. T-D (theater dimentional) should have all channels, but its not really working. Maybe Rome just isnt set to work with rear surround?

From the specifications:

"Audio
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1"

Surely there is a way to force it though, no? It seems very few titles actually use 7.1
 
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