Ok, I just picked up a set of 4.1s to upgrade from my set of v.2-400s. I got them home and hooked them up to my sony dvd player. I popped in Saving Private Ryan and proceeded to test the sound differences between the two sets.
I first tested my set v2-400s with the volume set (the dot) set at 1 o'clock and the sub volume set at 11 o'clock. I watched the intro beach invasion scene and then proceeded to hook up my new 4.1s. I set the knobs to the same matching settings as I had set the v.2-400s and to my surprise, the sound was much lower than the v2s. I had to set the volume knob to the 3'oclock position to even match the same volume level. I had to also re-adjust the bass a bit too, changing the knob setting for the sub volume to 12 o'clock.
There was a definite difference in sound as the crossovers provided for more mid-range as speech was more discernable in the explosions and gunfire, but other than that, the brightness of the sounds and the volume levels didn't match up.
I then continued to compare the sound with the tank/bridge scene near the end and found the same results. It seems that the 4.1s lack the same power and amplification compared to that of the v2s.
I cranked the v2s to the max and compared to that of the 4.1s at max for both scenes again, and definitely, my ol' v2s were much louder.
I then hooked up both systems to my cd player and found the same discrepancy.
Overall, the v2s sounded much brighter and louder at equivalent sound levels (not knob setting) than the 4.1s.
Now, am I wrong to believe that the new 4.1s are supposed to be the same as the v2s except for the new crossovers improvements? Has anyone had the same problems? I don't understand how I can spend another $300 not to get something that is better.
I am hoping that it may just be my unit but I would like to know if anyone has the same problem or at least offer an explanation for this handicap.