ekbriggs

No worries man, a complaint list is just the stripped down version of a more functional upgrade further down the road. What kinds of problems could you foresee happening to your Pa 4000 further down the road had you left everything the way it was? Also, in my case it will be in a rack that only has 8" of height to use but is open on all other sides. Given that the amp is 7 5/16" tall i am somewhat concerned about the height of it and proper ventihilation, yet the PA 2000 that i run my mains off of runs quite cool. So do you think i am ok? or should i look into getting another pa 2000 to run my rears and let my 525 run my center? Thanks again for all of your help and advice man. -Eric

First of all let me say that i dig your setup man, fantastic job on all parts of your theater (dont know how many times i have visited your site to see both the finished and the step by step pics...motivates me to not always take the easy way out). I own all HK stuff too and was thinking of picking up a PA4000 as well to power my Center and 2 fronts. However, my setup as far as stacking will be almost identical as yours thus i wanted to ask if you have ever experienced any ventihilation problems with the amp (i noticed it is on the bottom of your stack in your pics)? I have heard people say that HK recievers need alot of room to breath, but my PA 2000 runs pretty cool, esp compared to my 525. Just curious as to what your experiences were. Thanks for any help. -Eric

There must be others out there who feel like Arthurs or who might have that actual amp and have it in a enclosed space with little to no problem. Lets hear it. -Eric

Thanks for the input. My pa 2000 runs what i would call barely warm when driving my fronts, though nowhere near as warm as the 525 tends to. However, the Pa 2000 and 4000 both are fanless while the 525 relies on one that i have only been able to cut on once, and that was after a few hours of hard listening when our home temp was reaching close to 80 after the ac failed (call it musical anger management). I have seen others with things stacked on top of their Pa 4000s and have not heard of problems but i appreciate the advice and will definately take it into deeper consideration. -Eric

Hi all I currently have the chance to get an Hk Pa 4000 and Pa 2000 at pretty heft discounts. As of now i have: Hk Avr-525 (4) Rf-3's and an Rc-3 center Polk psw505 (rear sub) Velodyne FSR-18 (front sub) I am currently using the 525 to power the center and 2 rear channels and a Pa 2000 to power the front speakers. My dilema arrives in the fact that: 1. I can get another pa 2000 to drive the rears (which itself will have plenty of room in my rack) and let the 525 just take the center for now.... 2. I can get a pa 4000 and let it handle the center and the 2 rears...BUT my rack space has only 8" of clearence on top and the amp is 7 5/16" high but has unlimited clearance on the sides and front. Thus, would it be worth the extra 150.00 to go to the PA 4000 and have all of my speakers on an amp, and if i did would it damage the amp to have so little top clearance? Or would it be better just to get another Pa 2000 to drive my rears and just let the 525 handle the center? Thanks for any advice that is given. -Eric

Ahhh i get it now (the default volume setting that is). Good to hear that i am not the only one who likes to get this unit running hot. Also lancestorm, how do you like the 630 vs. your old 525...any noticeable differences other than the asthetic standpoint? -Eric

To any that have Hk amps/recievers with their Klipsch speakers: 1. What do you set your volume on in relation to your room and movie choices? 2. hey moon i noticed that you have your dvd-50 on top of your AVR-7200, do you have any problems with your amp getting too hot (i know my 525 runs a bit warmer than my old 2095 yamaha...not sure if that is because it is working harder with all RF-3's or if thats the nature of Hk pieces in general) 3. lastly, (moon you might know this right off), in the osd setting of my 525 there is a setting titled "default volume" and mine is set to (-25). What is the default volume? What should it be set on? Does it make any difference? I tried to find something in the owners manual with a quick glance but came up empty handed thus i turn to the more knowledgeable for help. Thanks to all that reply with answers to what might be trivial questions. -Eric

My pleasure man, glad you got everything up and running. Hope they enjoy the new piece. -Eric

As far as the subwoofer mode, it has nothing to do with using the dsp modes. After playing with the 501 here at my store it seems that it will only let you access dsp modes when its passing a PCM signal (normal on cds and has to be accessed on the dvd player when playing a digitally encoded disc). Reguardless with what speakers setup mode you are using (2-5) as long as there is a digital coax/fiber optic connected i get the "not available " message when trying to use a dsp mode on a cd. However you can pass the Dolby Digital signal just fine with 3 speakers and a sub which would be the preferred listening mode on movies anyway. Good luck with the reciever i think they are some of the best bangs for the buck on the market. Any other questions i will follow up with you later so feel free to let em fly. -Eric

Love the onkyos but they are a pain to trouble shoot over the phone so i feel your pain, esp when you are trying to help out loved ones: 1. Make sure that they do not have the B speakers on. 2. Make sure that they have verified the inputs to be correct on the dvd input. The 501 has a "digital input" button on the front to make it easy to change/set. 3. Select a source other than the dvd menus to make sure dd and dts are picked up correctly. 4. Last but not least make sure you go into the dvd players internal menu (which you may have already done) and set the digital path to output multi chanel sound and not 2 channel PCM or something of that nature. if none of this helps and they still have a problem post what you have done so far, I will have one in my hands for 10hrs tomorrow so i can work with you if you need it. -Eric

Ok guys so what is the overall concensus on a full range center channel vs. a center rolled off at 80hz like most recievers do default? Namely here is the situation that i am in: setup: 4 Klipsch RF-3's (Front L/R and Rear L/R) Rc-3 center Velodyne FSr-18 sub (currently situated 10' from listening position but i have it firing out of a closet..its not the best setup i know but it will have to do for now unless someone suggests pointing it towards the front wall of the closet...) I have a spare polk psw-505 sub from another system. I love the sub and want to incorporate it in my main system but i have come to the dilemma of where to put it, thus my choices are: 1. Speakers level input in conjunction with my center rc-3 and run it full range (have an Hk-525 so i can alter bass management per each channel) 2. Use it near the listening position under a table as a rear subwoofer and just y-out my LFE to the big velo and that. SO given my circumstances what would you all do in my case. I have tried running the center full range but the speaker level input signal appears to be somewhat weak thus its hard to tell that there is a sub even there when the volume is up at around 6-7 out of 10 (i am thinking that that is the nature of speaker lvl vs. line level inputs). I have not tried using it as a rear sub yet as it is a task to relocate from its current position thus i turned to the forum to ask what the more experieced opinions are. Thanks to any and all that reply. -Eric

get to play with that little beast every day (as well as the 202, 404, and 505). Its great for music man you wont regret your purchase. Congrats. -Eric

You have the SVS part right, no matter where you put one of those monsters it will sound good (all but the B-4 Plus is downfiring, but onto a plinth so you capet will not suck up bass energy). As far as the klipsh goes i would relocate it to your L side wall maybe 2-3' from the fireplace. Also since you say that the arm. is huge you could technically simulate a corner using it if you wanted. Another idea is to pick up another sub to use in conjunction with your existing and place it on the side corner i mentioned while keeping the original sub where it is. Your second sub does not have to be huge (on of the newer rw-10/12 or the rsw subs or even a nice pb-1 isd ) but I think that it would definately help fill out the room. Hope this helps a bit. -Eric

I have not the least bit of fear that you Ear have nothing to worry about when it comes to being banned. Isn't experience the best teacher. We ask you answer. I like that setup quite nicely. And i feel you innova i tend to be a velodyne whole myself...18" drivers just have that certain look about em.

Come now there must be others out there like innova that have heard both of these subs, so lets hear it. How about you Ear?

So how do you think the two of them would stack up against one another. M7K's finest thx ultra certified vs. Klipsch's finest (which could probably make the certification if they ironed out that steep 30hz rolloff. Thanks to all that reply. -Eric

Hey Ear where can you buy the knightshadow at nowadays, i thought it went of production a few years ago? -Eric

Ok for all those that have/have heard/or even have the opportunity to hear...in a 17X22 room with 10' ceilings, give me your thoughts on the following matchup: 1. Dual Velodyne FSR/HGS 18s 2. Dual or even triple sunfire signatures 3. Dual or triple RSW-15s Looking at a multiple sub configuration for the room setup. They will be used with an all reference system and some hk/citation separates. Curiosity is centered around powerful full range music listening (classical involved) as well as the best in the action movie roundups. If possible please state the reason as to why you think whichever setup you go with would be the best for what it does i.e. depth, precision, slam, speed, etc... Thanks to all that reply, look foreward to what the collective knowledge that floats around this forum has to say and why. -Eric

Went to their website and looked at it, seems like a great cable for the money. Two questions: 1. What made you choose it over similair priced ones (like monster etc..)? 2. Do you have the y-adapter as well? -Eric

Though i am sure i should have addressed this post to the EAR specifically i was wondering how the two compare with one another. I have had the pleasure of demoing the RSW-15 but never the two side by side as i currently own the FSR. Thus anyone with either: a. A better memory or ability to recall sonic charactistics or B. that owns them both please let me know how the two would stack up in a strictly home theater environment when they both are set to their limits (just give me a all the testing quotas you can think of). Oh how do i get the little custom icons below my name? -Eric

Anyone have any info on the newer subs shown at CES 2004 like the Thiel SW-2 (quite impressive looking considering 2 15" woofers and an enclosure that is almost 250 liters...sure EAR will eventually own one, if the price is right)? What about the newer AV Everest, any power stats and cost estimates? Wonder how these two might compare to that massive beast that is the B4? Or will it ever be powered internally? Or will there be a B4 ultra? Hmmm

Thinking of upgrading my subwoofer cable...What do you guys think are the best sub cables for the money (not passive speakers cables but powered sub cables...thought i should clear that up right away)? What kind do you use in you systems? If you could have any sub cables what would you use? Thinking

Hey smilin, i live in the RTP area of North Carolina..right near Raleigh. Though i doubt i live anywhere near you as i seem to only live near the wilson audio/genelec/i have more money than i need area. But if for some reason i do live near you i would love to see/hear that beast... One day i will have two of these girls run off a k2 gracing my listening area. Until then i will be content with the tiny FSR-18. Congrats on that behemoth again, you are living in alot our audio dreams.

How many of our favorite subs would it take to match the output of a single B4-Plus SVS assuming one would be using the mighty crown k2 (give me a rough estimate)? 1. M&k MX5000 THX Ultra's 2. Velo. HGS-18s 3. Revel B15 4. Paradigm servo-15 5. Aerial Acoustics model SW-12 6. SVS Pb2+ 7. and lets just interject the wilson audio watch dog for fun... So here is a small list, feel free to add that favorite of yours to it if i left out too many of the old reference subs. How many would it take to upseat this monster? -Eric

Ok here is the second update. Connected the sub in line with the center channel via line lvl inputs and magic!! I still have a hum...take the subwoofer lvl output to the onkyo sub preout and magic again!!! No Humming!!! In fact the sub settles right down, runs perfectly (God willing it will for a long long time) and really augments the center when i run it full range. So what do you all think...could it really be the onkyo's subwoofer preout? Let me hear some input from you guys i know you have it. -Eric