[Ideal AV]

Your welcome Kev

Nice speakers btw

[DodgeTheViper]

Thanks, they're the reason that I need to add a power amp along with the receiver. Not going the processor route due to features against cost.

[Ideal AV]

not knocking the Onkyo 5500, for 9 channels and the price of it, I thought "this was it"

but once you get a serious amp on the end of the 150`s they really do come into their own.

anyway this is getting off topic mate so we`ll continue it elsewhere

[DodgeTheViper]

9 channels of extra amplification is way too much for me.

[mark403]

so tempted to buy right now !
£699 on slrhut.co.uk - anyone bought from them. are they any good ?

[RICKYJ]

Originally Posted by mark403

so tempted to buy right now !
£699 on slrhut.co.uk - anyone bought from them. are they any good ?

Do a search on them, I believe non-UK models

[DodgeTheViper]

Originally Posted by mark403

so tempted to buy right now !
£699 on slrhut.co.uk - anyone bought from them. are they any good ?

My guess after some looking around, is that they are sourced elsewhere. As cheap as possible is important to some, but not all.

[Ideal AV]

Originally Posted by mark403

so tempted to buy right now !
£699 on slrhut.co.uk - anyone bought from them. are they any good ?

"We are proud to announce: as per your request all taxes & duties are now included"

that should tell you something

[mark403]

Originally Posted by Ideal AV

"We are proud to announce: as per your request all taxes & duties are now included"

that should tell you something

Good Point.

Maybe best to get it from My Local HyperFi , managed to get them down to £850 as I live local.

[DodgeTheViper]

That's a very good price.

[jamieu]

Just got a new 818 and in the first stages of X32 / Audyssey it's asking me to set the level on my subwoofer (XXLS400) to 75db, but to reach this level I'm having to set the gain on my sub to 1 on the dial (barely on).

My SPL meter is also reading only 55db (I have also tried a second SPL meter which is giving similar readings). To reach 75db on my SPL meter I have to raise the gain control on the SW to half way at which point the Audyssey reading is nearer to ~90-95db. I realise SPL meters can be inaccurate when measuring subwoofers, but we're talking a ~20db difference here on two different meters.

This got me to thinking that this could be due to my subwoofer, room interaction or the mic, so I went back the shop to compare mics / room / subwoofer.

In the shop we setup their 818 with their mic and a B&W PV1D and saw the same results, in fact the lowest volume on the sub (it may have gone lower, the staff in store said that was it's lowest volume, but I think they meant it was actually set at 0 on the readout which my SPL meter was read as ~70-75db). It also sounded like ~70-75db ie. like a vacuum cleaner). But Audyssey was again reporting this as 92db.

When I do a frequency plot with REW I am seeing a clear drop off under 100hz with the Audyssey settings, if (post calibration) I increase the gain control on the subwoofer back nearer to half way / 12 o'clock position, which is roughly where I would expect it to be and re-plot my response I am starting to see a flat response down to 35hz (ie. the kind of frequency response I'd expect).

I realise I can do this, but surely that's defeating the point of Audyssey? It's like buying a thermometer that reads 80 degrees on a rainy day and the shop telling me to just ignore the scale and write my own measurements on it.

So is my (in the past correct) SPL meter wrong? and the gain on my sub and the sub in store should both be set at their very lowest gain setting to hit 75db? or is there a bunch of faulty 818's or faulty Audyssey mics out there?

I'm otherwise happy with the amp so would rather not return it (no to mention the hassle of shipping back a 30kg box) but on the other hand I'd rather not be stuck with a £1000 amp who's setting I don't trust

I should add that post calibration it also sounds like the sub-bass is missing, but trying to keep to non-subjective measurements/fault finding. I'm also not a bass freak, I actually tend to turn by bass down normally so as not to upset neighbours, so this isn't a case of wondering where room shaking explosions have gone.

I've also attached a REW plot (the last 12 o'clock measurement was made with a very slightly different mic position, hence why the high frequency doesn't exactly match.)

Thanks for any feedback / thoughts

Jamie

[zeus65]

Hi Everyone.

Just wanted to ask your opinion of which set of speakers I should get with the Onkyo.

My current setup really needs a good revisit.

Besides replacing the ancient sony amp STR-DB940.

I have Kef IQ5s Floor standings

And I guess really mediocre

Mordaunt-Short Avant 905i centre
and
Mordaunt-Short Avant 903i bipolar backs.


Now as a replacement thinking

Monitor Audio RX6 package (possible replace the floor standings with Rx8s as I like my music)

and use the Kef Iq5s to make up the extra 2 in the 7.1

Or possibly something like the Kef AV700 speaker 7.1 speaker package.

Basically would the Kef IQ5s work well as the remaining 2 in any 5.1 setup. (I'm assuming you wouldn't suggest the mordaunt-Short bipolar speakers)

Also what do you guys think of the Dali Zensor 7s. Obviously trying to figure out my budget, Also does anyone know of a dealer that allows pay monthly over 12 months no interest, possibly with extra warranty options

Thanks.

[jamieu]

Originally Posted by mkebbay

My first week with 818.
3) ran audyssey and did 8 Mic positions. <snip> It set sub at -11 db which is much lower and less lively than I would like.
6) a few owners have reported that xt32 sets most subs lower than they like. How have fellow owners countered this?

Yep, seeing the same thing, see my (sorry, overly long) post above.

818 is asking me to set the subwoofer level to 75db but this gives a reading of 55db on my SPL meter (and an iPhone app SPL meter)

To get 75db on the SPL meter I am having to increase the sub gain control to half way, which is where I'd expect it to be, but then Audyssey reads this as ~90-95db

Are there a bunch of badly calibrated 818's or mics out there? Does anyone else have empirical measurements (ie. REW plots / SPL meter vs Audyssey readings) they could share if they are seeing this issue.

* all my other speaker db measurements besides the sub are spot on when I check them with SPL meter, it's only the sub that Audyssey is setting so low / is wildly off compared to my SPL meter / REW plots.

[DodgeTheViper]

I'm looking for a particular post, but I can't find which thread it is in.

Someone here said that over in the US they are starting to return their 818's due to the Audyssey sub calibration issue some people are having here. From what I've read they still love their 818's on the whole, with no one really reporting any Audyssey issues. Some have little niggles, but you get that with anything.

So, who said it, and we're did you read it ?

[Ideal AV]

Hi Kev

i`ve set 4 up now and nothing to report other than it all was very easy to do

Allan

[DodgeTheViper]

You preempted me, I was going to ask you about that.

So from what you see, there is no real difference between the 818 and any other Onkyo with XT32 ?

[Ideal AV]

no mate not at all

I just do a full 8 point setup as usual, adjust the levels to suit using a SPL meter and thats it.

I do tend to lift the sub a little but thats just my preference, all the sats are usually left at 75db but once again thats just my preference

xovers et to 80hz THX

[DodgeTheViper]

Ok great,

I understand raising the sub a little, but do you have to adjust the sats much or pretty much leave them as calibrated ?

Btw, I'm asking this for others to see.

[Ideal AV]

no probs Kev

as I say its all down to personel preference, I never adjust the distances, just the levels, adusting the distances affects the frequency and time domain settings so I always leave those alone.

the levels are set to 75db which seems to be spot on for my rooms here but if a customer wants say to increase the center or surrounds then theirs nothing to stop them doing that as its all a personel thing.

What I really ask them to do though is to give themselves time to take into account what audyssey has done to the sound they hear in their room first before making adjustments, and I don`t me for a 15 min blast.

its not for everyone but nothing is, but once you have acclimatised yourself to the audyssey settings then I for one really do like it, the leapt from XT to XT32 for me was massive.

[DodgeTheViper]

Cheers Allan,

The listening time is very important yes. It took me quite a while to get used to my S150's after coming from KEF's, I can now appreciate the differences between them both.

For the price of the 818, it's very much worth considering it as a pre/pro

[jamieu]

Ideal, when you say "adjust levels with an SPL meter to suit" are you talking about to suit customers personal preferences ie. people wanting their sats or surrounds more pronounced (for whatever reason they'd want to do that, possibly turning down the sub so as not to annoy neighbours) or are you talking about adjustments to reach 75db or a given reference levels at the MLP for all speakers including the sub (surely Audyssey / X32 should have done that correctly already?)

In other words, are are you saying sometimes Audyssey can be off on the level. Either just off or off due to differences in how Audyssey is measuring levels vs how the SPL meter is, not sure what those differences would be, but I'll remain open to that possibility (in which case the Audyssey readings should be trusted over the SPL meter? although using that logic using a SPL meter post calibration to trim levels would surely seem like a bad idea?)

Do you have any room frequency response plots with a 3rd party calibration microphone/suite to show where Audyssey X32 (particularly on the 818) is setting the sub in relation to the sats?)

Put simply, after you run X32, if you run an in room frequency plot are you seeing a fairly straight response all the way down to 30hz?

(I ask, as that is far from what I am seeing, will post some data/plots later - [edit] just posted them here What do you set your subwoofer to.. XT32?)

FWIW. If I run Audyssey and then tweak up the sub a bit, it sounds good, but the cold hard data is showing that my sub is being set too low in relation the the sats (which are spot on) and hence why I am needing to manually up the sub level/offset post calibration.

Sorry for all the questions just trying to work out if we are talking empirical data here or personal perception/preference and whether I have dodgy 818 or my plots are normal (for X32) which is hard to believe as you can see from my plots that the bass is missing below the crossover point.

Many thanks

Jamie

[mkebbay]

Originally Posted by jamieu

Ideal, when you say "adjust levels with an SPL meter to suit" are you talking about to suit customers personal preferences ie. people wanting their sats or surrounds more pronounced (for whatever reason they'd want to do that, possibly turning down the sub so as not to annoy neighbours) or are you talking about adjustments to reach 75db or a given reference levels at the MLP for all speakers including the sub (surely Audyssey / X32 should have done that correctly already?)

In other words, are are you saying sometimes Audyssey can be off on the level. Either just off or off due to differences in how Audyssey is measuring levels vs how the SPL meter is, not sure what those differences would be, but I'll remain open to that possibility (in which case the Audyssey readings should be trusted over the SPL meter? although using that logic using a SPL meter post calibration to trim levels would surely seem like a bad idea?)

Do you have any room frequency response plots with a 3rd party calibration microphone/suite to show where Audyssey X32 (particularly on the 818) is setting the sub in relation to the sats?)

Put simply, after you run X32, if you run an in room frequency plot are you seeing a fairly straight response all the way down to 30hz?

(I ask, as that is far from what I am seeing, will post some data/plots later - [edit] just posted them here What do you set your subwoofer to.. XT32?)

FWIW. If I run Audyssey and then tweak up the sub a bit, it sounds good, but the cold hard data is showing that my sub is being set too low in relation the the sats (which are spot on) and hence why I am needing to manually up the sub level/offset post calibration.

Sorry for all the questions just trying to work out if we are talking empirical data here or personal perception/preference and whether I have dodgy 818 or my plots are normal (for X32) which is hard to believe as you can see from my plots that the bass is missing below the crossover point.

Many thanks

Jamie

U may have a inaccurate SPL meter. I don't get a 20 db difference using my SPL meter. I made some comments in the xt32 thread. I think the 818 is a brilliant amp despite some niggles such as setting my crossovers too low on my kef 3005 se than the spec and setting my sub a bit low than my preference although SPL meter shows it to be 75 db or over. For 600 pounds I can't complain.

[jamieu]

Originally Posted by mkebbay

U may have a inaccurate SPL meter. I don't get a 20 db difference using my SPL meter. I made some comments in the xt32 thread. I think the 818 is a brilliant amp despite some niggles such as setting my crossovers too low on my kef 3005 se than the spec and setting my sub a bit low than my preference although SPL meter shows it to be 75 db or over. For 600 pounds I can't complain.

Thanks Mike, I saw your post over on the other thread.

Dodgy SPL meter was my obvious first suspicion, but I get similar (and near matching) readings with an iPhone app as well.

Have to say if it wasn't for my sub being set so low (and that may just turn out the be some strange interaction between X32 and my room), I'm otherwise really happy with the amp, if I hadn't of been I probably would have sent it straight back for another brand given the problem I (not saying anyone else) have been having.

Anyway won't clog this thread up anymore with the issue I am seeing unless other people start seeing similar issues too / I get feedback from Onkyo.

thanks

[mambo1888]

just been looking at the offer kef are doing with 20%off the t range. WAs wondering if you thought the kef t305 woulf be a nice match with the 818?

[DodgeTheViper]

I had the KEF Q's previously with an Onkyo and I was very pleased indeed with them.

[mambo1888]

Originally Posted by DodgeTheViper

I had the KEF Q's previously with an Onkyo and I was very pleased indeed with them.

It says theres 20% off when you trade in your old speakers, and i have an old set of tannoys (i think their tannoys, my mate gave me them but theyve sat in the shed) if i remember missing the centre speaker, or I have an old philips dvd player/5.1 combo. Not sure if these will be accepted tho lol.
Will phone and find out tomorow

[DodgeTheViper]

I would be very surprised if the dealer didn't take them. You may even find that they'll just give you the offer anyway.

[mambo1888]

Originally Posted by DodgeTheViper

I would be very surprised if the dealer didn't take them. You may even find that they'll just give you the offer anyway.

Ive often thought that about similar tv/laptop deals where you think its probably a lot more hassle than its worth getting some dated equipment that they then have to dispose off. Will give them a call tomorow, I was trying to find the list of speakers you gave me before that would be a good match with the 818, got the sunday head on today and everything is proving more challenging than normal

[DodgeTheViper]

What list of speakers are you looking for ?

[mambo1888]

You had mentioned a few sets of speakers that would be a nice match for the amp when i was getting advice on what amp to get, but now I think of it it was maybe the marrantz

Other than the kef t305, is there any other speakers worth looking at that proce range (approx £1300), or would I be better waiting and spending say £3000 after my next trip?