Thread: Multichannel without using a receiver?

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Post by Varanus December 14, 2011 (11 of 23)
I have a Klipsch Pro Media Ultra. The subwoofer powers the speakers and itself. I had the internals upgraded so they dont burn out. I hook a player to it via analog outputs from the player into the subwoofer. The inputs on the subwoofer are 3 stereo miniplugs. So you can either use 1 of two adapters either 3 rca to mini stereo adpapters or things like audioquest adapters where you just plug the rca cables into it and the other end is stereo mini. I swapped out the speakers it came with and replaced them with Klipsch RSX-5. The pro media ultra also has a control module where volume levels to indivdual channels can be done. As well as bass adjustments. It is no longer made. It puts out 500 watts of hard pumping power. It was originally designed as a 5.1 computer system it uses stereo miniplugs as the inputs. I hook disc players up to it directly.

This is the system I was referring to http://www.klipsch.com/promedia-ultra-5-1-computer-speaker-system

These are the speakers i replaced the original speakers with. http://www.klipsch.com/rsx-5-bookshelf-speaker

Post by armenian December 14, 2011 (12 of 23)
I am still stereo but will probably expand to MC in a year. Currently all my electronics are McIntosh so I will keep it in the family and get a clean used C45 preamp, they go for around $2 to $3K.
I moved away from receivers a long time ago and have no intention of ever considering one again.

Vahe

Post by Varanus December 14, 2011 (13 of 23)
This is the system I was referring to http://www.klipsch.com/promedia-ultra-5-1-computer-speaker-system

These are the speakers i replaced the original speakers with. http://www.klipsch.com/rsx-5-bookshelf-speaker

Post by Celebidache2000 December 14, 2011 (14 of 23)
I don't use a (separate) pre-amp at all. I use the Oppo BDP-83 into three (separate) Primaluna integrated tube amps. This gives me six channels of amplification (I only use five of them) with volume control over each channel (and sweet tube sound). Sounds good too.

Post by AmonRa December 14, 2011 (15 of 23)
How about the channel balance if you have to turn 3 volume knobs every time you change volume? Stepped potentiometers?

Post by Celebidache2000 December 14, 2011 (16 of 23)
Using three volume nobs to set the overall volume is surprisingly easy and since suround mixes (and balances) differ from recording to recording, I have control over how I want everything set (for mixes where the surround channels are too loud - I just turn them down to the volume that I like relative to the other channels - or adjust the other channels up - I love this flexibility).

Post by The Seventh Taylor December 14, 2011 (17 of 23)
grsimmon said:

I have never used a receiver nor a pre/pro, just always a Benchmark dac/pre.

I guess a pre/pro is still preferable for you over a receiver. You could consider a 5.1 one like
- Marantz AV7005
- Marantz AV8003

Post by Oakland December 14, 2011 (18 of 23)
Celebidache2000 said:

Using three volume nobs to set the overall volume is surprisingly easy and since suround mixes (and balances) differ from recording to recording, I have control over how I want everything set (for mixes where the surround channels are too loud - I just turn them down to the volume that I like relative to the other channels - or adjust the other channels up - I love this flexibility).

I have a couple of thousand SACDs, most of them classical and most of them multi-channel. With 95+% of them I have felt no need to alter (or "improve") the mixes of these SACDs. They are as superbly mixed and balanced as I have ever experience among the thousands of Lps and digital discs I have heard. The only thing I feel the need to change from disc to disc is the relative volume.

Based on the reviews you have submitted you are primarily a classical listener which makes it very puzzling as to why you have need to mess with the engineering (if live acoustic is your reference).

I believe that you regularly or frequently encounter instances where the "surround channels are too loud" is because you "winged" the initial set up of your multi-channel system by doing so by "ear", which is incredibly unreliable. Thus you feel compelled to frequently fix things, because they, in fact, do need fixing. But it would take way more that rear channel level adjustments to fix a truly bad mix or balance. If a disc needs fixing it probably can't be salvaged by home remedies.

There are many comments in this forum and elsewhere that address the recommended method of setting up a multi-channel system. My comments can be found at:

/showreviews/1382#3987

Robert C. Lang

Post by tailspn December 14, 2011 (19 of 23)
Hi Robert

I have the luxury of the metering contained in the Sonoma, and the ability to solo channels easily. Except for anything reordered by Polyhymnia, most BIS, and Sound/Mirror, and a few other labels, I usually adjust the "engineered" channel gains of many Mch SACDs. The art of mastering is as individual as the producers/engineers doing it, and there are no standards. They are all second guessing what the average consumer has as their playback systems, how their mix will sound through them, and balance accordingly. Their choices usually slight the center channel, assuming that it will be the weakest of them.

You are absolutely correct that it's impossible to calibrate/setup the playback channel gains by ear. With the Pentatone Stay In Tune SACD, and a Radio Shack meter, it's easy and quick to calibrate any system to within a half dB across all channels.

Post by Oakland December 14, 2011 (20 of 23)
tailspn said:

Hi Robert

I have the luxury of the metering contained in the Sonoma, and the ability to solo channels easily.

For sure, it goes without saying that no recording is "just right" for each listener and that every recording can be improved. If you talk to 4 engineers you will get at least 5 different opinions on how the end result should sound. Your audio editing skills are considerable and your tools, too, are professional and I would bet (a cup of coffee...a lot less than $10,000) that you would affect an audible improvement. But, and here's the key, if the home listener's only remedy is a pair ears and on-the-fly volume adjustments the chances of effecting an improved result on an otherwise less than optimal balanced recording is slim (except for themself which, I guess, is the important thing).

Robert C. Lang

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