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Gerry

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Everything posted by Gerry

  1. @hobbyinn Thanks so much for the heads up about the rear port - my other speakers aren't rear ported so it hadn't occurred to me and I almost did the opposite. I have a set of wall mounts which is really a little multiple position shelf you put the speaker on but I didn't want to use them because the speakers weren't close enough to the wall. Considering your tip about the ports, I guess I should rethink and remeasure. Thanks again.
  2. My system is a Denon AVR 2600 7.2. I have Heresy 2s all the way around but I'm seeking advice on height speakers (I have two sets of excellent smaller speakers I'd like to use rather than buy a third!) For height speakers, I'm currently using a pair of Mirage OMD5 omnipolar speakers which don't sound bad but the timber isn't quite right. I also have a set of Klipsch R-51M bookshelf which are a much better match but aren't made for wall mounting. Is it possible to wall mount R-51Ms? Thank You!
  3. It's been some time since I posted this but I thought I'd post an update. As much as I loved the sound of my 15 year old Denon 3805, I decided to take a chance a bought a new Denon X3600H because the decoding in new AVRs is so much better than the old ones. I couldn't be happier ... the sound quality is as good as my old 3805 but the surround capabilities are far superior and the height speakers really makes it far more immersive.
  4. @wuzzzer I was hoping you were right; it would have been a far easier problem to solve but no such luck. I checked the specks for my TV and the toslink signal is 5.1/7.1 provided the AVR is set to compressed signals, which it is.
  5. @wuzzzer I didn't know that; thanks for mentioning it. I'll have to look into that because it would solve something of a mystery: why did the 5.1 digital from from my old DVD player and my CD changer sound so much better in the rear speakers than my TV? At the time, I had them all connected to my AVR via optical. (I've since changed that ... I found that using the 5.1 analog outputs on my Blueray player to my AVR sounded a lot better and fuller (especially in the rear) than the toslink connections. I've since been playing music CDs through my Blurray as well because the sound is nothing short of awesome). Anyway, the toslink connections from my old DVD player and CD changer did sound a hell of a lot better in the rear than my television so maybe you're onto something there. I'll have to look up the TV's specs and, I must admit, I'll feel like a real dope if that proves to be the case LOL! My TV is a Vizio which I rather regret buying; the picture is fine but it's got its limitations - perhaps you've stumbled another one? I'll check and thanks for the info.
  6. @willland I do have a pair of smaller wall mountables I could put in the back higher on the wall - those level balance microphones do compensate for spacing problems remarkably well but I know from experience that the timber is all wrong, still, it would do until I get something else. @MC39693 The Heresy's do make for great center channel speakers - they're clean, clear and have a fuller sound as you know. I had a problem at first because of their size. I'm actually using a pair of Heresy 2s for center channel with one speaker on each side for the sake of balance (a center channel speaker that isn't centered is just weird) but when you use two speakers connected to one speaker output, they have to be connected in a certain way or it changes the impedance (or some such thing - a friend who is an electrician did it for me so I'm at a loss to be more specific). I'lll have to change my center channel setup though because I moved into a different place and what I'm doing now just takes too much room. I will look into the AVRs you mentioned: this is something of a project for me so I want to do my homework and do it right. You wrote " The NAD route would be really good, but a fair bit more $$$ vs used Denon at least. It all comes down to budget." That is so very true but if these $1,000 economic stimulus checks become reality, I will be a good patriotic American and stimulate away LOL!
  7. When I moved recently, my Denon was unplugged for some three weeks so I had to re-initiate/reset the Burr-Brown decoders which I did and that's fine and back to normal. I have a new living room so I used my mike to reset that balance of my speakers (those things do work remarkably well). Some years ago, I discovered that I much preferred the way that my unit processes 5.1 analog over 5.1 digital so I disconnected my toslink and coax cables and watch or listen to DVDs and music CDs through my blueray player and the surround effects of the rear speakers are nothing short of awesome when connected in this fashion. The only digital audio I'm using now is my television which is connected to the AVR via toslink/optical. I've been doing a lot of reading on this subject since I helped my neighbor set up his system and I discovered that my problem is a common one - again, because fifteen years ago, all this was quite new technology and the decoders made then simply don't hold a card to the technological advancements in the newer decoders. I did buy an exterior DAC which I tried a few days ago and for the first time, I did get quite good effects from the rear speakers but I realized that it was just putting a band aid on the problem because I constantly had to readjust the settings on the DAC and I don't have the patience for that - constantly having to do that would drive me nuts so I boxed it up and sent it back. That was when I decided that I'm simply going to get a new AVR.
  8. LOL! They are "brutes" aren't they! The old Denon I have sure is one hell of a work horse! What I fear about your suggestion is that I'd have the same problem I have now ... great and awesome sound from the fronts but obsolete decoders which make the rear speakers lack the sophistication of the newer models. You suggested NAD AVRs as did Willand (Bill) and while I've never heard one, I've liked what I've read - the specs are impressive and I'm guessing that the sound quality is too. What also got my attention with the NADs (and what the reviews all rave about) is the modular design of the decoders ... if some new and innovative decoders should be invented and come on the market, the old decoders can be popped out and replaced with new ones. From what I've read, very few AVRs are capable of this. If my old "brute" of a Denon were capable of this, I wouldn't be having this problem and expense. After going though this, that particular advantage with the NADs is well worth considering because I'm NOT looking forward to connecting a new AVR. I really use to enjoy getting on the floor with my head behind my equipment and a flashlight in my teeth, connecting everything while cussing like a trooper but at nearly 70 years old, I'm not quite as nimble as I use to be. Getting on the floor behind my equipment is easy, it's getting up again that's a pain in the backside! ... still, I'll manage. Thanks
  9. @wuzzzer Actually, I love my Denon AVR3805 ... it was their top of the line in 2005 when I bought it on sale for $1,200 and run through my Heresy 2s, the quality of the sound is awesome and to this day sounds it better than most but here's the problem: in 2005, "surround sound" was in it's infancy and decoders were primitive by today's standards. This was made quite clear to me some weeks ago when I helped a neighbor set up a new lower end Sony home theater system. The sound quality was okay but nothing to write home about but the "suround" effects from the rear speakers were a lot better than mine. If I only listened to music, I wouldn't change it but now that I've retired, I watch a lot more TV and movies and compared to new systems, the surround from the rears is just lacking. I emailed Denon and asked if the decoders could be upgraded but they can't. I tried bypassing the old internal decoders with external ones through the system's 5.1 analog inputs but that just didn't work out. Now that I'm retired, I do a lot of drawing and painting (my hobby) while watching TV and movies and if I'm going to spend this much time doing that, I want to enjoy it as much as possible. When I helped my neighbor set up his system, I wasn't impressed with the quality of the sound but when I heard the effects coming out of his rear speakers (and not terribly good speakers at that) I remember thinking "Damn, I wish mine could do that". I've got two astonishing Heresy 2s in the rear which are capable of delivering a lot more than the very old decoders in my Denon 3805 can provide. Thanks
  10. Thanks, Bill! The Anthem is too steep for me but I'm going to take a closer look at the NAD, haven't looked at the specs yet but I liked what I read in the product description. They also specifically mention that the decoders are modular and can be replaced/upgraded when significant changes occur ... if only that were the case with my old Denon (I called and asked).
  11. I have (very reluctantly) decided to replace my old Denon AVR-3805 (I use Heresy 2s all the way around). The sound from the unit is astonishing but it's now 15 years old and those old Burr-Brown decoders are primitive by today's standards. I tried a DAC but that didn't work out. I've been a classical musician since I was a kid so I'm really picky about the quality of sound; if it isn't really good sound, I won't listen to it at all. I'll be connecting any AVR in 5.1 as I no longer have room for surround/back speakers. I really don't need a lot of bells and whistles like huge amounts of power, multiple zones etc. (I have those in my Denon but never used them). What I need is an AVR with the best quality sound possible, a good number of inputs and the best possible surround processing. I'm trying to stay under $1,000 (less if possible) so I'm willing to go used/refurbished if it can get me a better unit and if I can find a reliable seller. I would appreciate any suggestions regarding AVRs and if you know any good reliable online dealers, please suggest them! Thanks. I forgot to mention, my speakers are Heresy 2s which can handle up to 100w constant/400w peak (though I've never used anything remotely close to that).
  12. I bought the above unit on the condition that I could return it. I connected it today and ran into something of a catch 22 situation: Pros: 1)The surround effects are in fact a great deal better than the decoders in my old Denon AVR3805. 2) The quality of sound of my Denon (which I love) remains unaffected. It's seems a bit boomier but nothing I couldn't adjust on the receiver. Cons: The remote and the user's manual are in Chinese! The front and back panels of the unit are in English but the remote is in Chinese and the only English on the user's manual are the words "User Manual"! I couldn't find one in English online. The sound is awesome but I can't get the memory function to work and can't figure out why because I don't read Chinese! I have to reset everything every time I turn it on. As awesome as the surround effects are, I'll have to send it back.
  13. I hadn't thought of that but it's perfectly logical and probably the only way to do this as I really don't think they make what I'm looking for - I'd just have to push two buttons instead of one; no big deal. Thanks for the suggestion; I'll look into that!
  14. I have my DVD/Blueray player connected to my older AVR via the analog external inputs and the sound is awesome (I use only six rca/composite cables; I don't use the "surround back"). I would like to connect a second device this way but only have one set of inputs. I know they make many different kinds of selector switches where one can connect multiple devices to one set of inputs but I cannot find one for this. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could connect two devices to this one set of external analog inputs? Thank you everyone.
  15. No. As much as I love the quality of sound from my Denon AVR 3805 (I've got it connected to Heresy 2s all the way around), HDMI didn't come out until the next year's model, the 3806 which, I admit, was rather annoying. All the inputs/outputs are component, composite rca, toslink etc. which does make for a mess of cables if not organized. I have my DVD/Blueray player (which I also use for CDs) connected to my AVR via six RCA cables to the analog 5.1 "external inputs" on the AVR and the sound is spectacular - this bypasses the decoders in the AVR and creates an awesome "surround" effect but the AVR is 15 years old and the decoders are primitive by today's standards. My question is: if I were to connect my TV's toslink output to the DAC above and then connect it's six RCA analog cables to the external inputs on my AVR, would it improve the "surround" effects from my TV? This would bypass the old decoders in my AVR in the same way that my DVD/Blueray does but do these DAC decoders really work? I love the sound from my old AVR and don't want to get rid of it simply because it's old, I'm looking for a way to improve the surround effects from my TV. Thanks.
  16. Okay, a demonstration of ignorance here, but what the hell ... using my Denon strictly as a power amp, would connecting the toslink from my TV to my old AVR actually work or is it just gimmicky junk: https://www.ebay.com/itm/5-1CH-DTS-AC3-Digital-Audio-Sound-Converter-Decoder-OPT-COX-AUX-to-6RCA-Analog/164005241743
  17. @ MC39693 - I use the 5.1 analog inputs (the "external inputs" on my AVR) with my DVD player and the sound is truly awesome but obviously can only use that with DVDs. I've seen external decoders online that have several digital inputs to which you can connect multiple pieces of equipment and the decoder's output to the AVR uses the analog 5.1 external inputs on the AVR in the same manner as I have my DVD player connected. One then just uses the switches on the front to choose the device one is going to use. Is this what you're referring to? (Seems logical given the term "digital to analog converter" but I'm prone to making wrong assumptions LOL!) Thanks.
  18. I have an older Denon AVR-3805 and I love the sound this thing can produce. The quality of sound from the analog 5.1 is awesome but while the Burr-Brown decoders were state of the art in it's day, that was 15 years ago when all of this was more or less in it's infancy! I was told that the decoders now have come a long way since that and while I don't know it for a fact, it only makes sense that such is the case. Is it possible to upgrade the decoders in an older Denon AVR or are there external decoders one can use and somehow connect to the older AVR? I don't want to get rid of my Denon AVR 3805 - the sound is just awesome (nor could I afford to as I've since retired; that AVR cost me about $1200.00 fifteen years ago, I can't even imagine what the new top of the line models cost!!). Any input/suggestions most appreciated. (Just a note: you guys are an impressively knowledgeable bunch! I tried using other sites only to get dumb advice from people who knew less about the subject matter than I did!)
  19. Once again, thank you for the suggestions. I've started looking into them; it's quite a lot of work but I'm sure worth it in the end.
  20. Thank you all for your suggestions ... looks like I have some homework and shopping to do! Those two borrowed Mirage speakers I'm using in the rear have got to go. They did sound okay in my nephew's system as he has Mirage all the way around but they're just a terrible match to the Heresy 2s. Thanks again folks!
  21. I have a 5.1 system comprised entirely of older Heresy 2s (which I love). I've got Klipsch subs connected to the two front speakers as well as to the regular sub output. All are connected to an older Denon AVR 3805 (but I never use anywhere near the power it's capable of). The sound is spectacular! I recently moved to a smaller and place and while I have room for the existing front speaker arrangement, the Heresy 2s I have for the rear are much too large. I'm presently using smaller Mirage omnipolar speakers in the rear but they sound terrible (timber matching couldn't possibly be worse and the heresy 2s are a great deal more sensitive so I must turn the fronts all the way down and the mirages all the way up). Does anyone have any suggestions regarding speakers (new or older models) that are at least somewhat compatible with the heresy 2 fronts? The system was put together by a friend but I'm not very knowledgeable of such things and don't really know what I'm doing. Suggestions would truly be most appreciated. Thank You so much!
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