Progressive scan

[PeteB]

I have a Marantz DV 4001 and a Marantz SR8001. I'm using these with a Samsung DPL television, model HL-S5687W. Should I use the progressive scan feature on the dvd or keep it at default. I can not find in the tv specs if this is a progressive scan tv....Thanks..PeteB

[Blue Meanie]

Set it to progressive scan. You DO have it connected to the TV via the component video (red, green, blue) input jacks, right?

Jeff

[PeteB]

Thanks for the reply. I am using HDMI cables.

[Blue Meanie]

Thanks for the reply. I am using HDMI cables.

You're welcome.:D
HDMI? Good. In that case, leave the progressive setting to 'off' on the player. I BELIEVE that setting is only used for the component outputs. The player will be upscaling from the HDMI output.

Jeff

[PeteB]

I'm trying to sort out some problems. Bluemeannie was kind enough to help me out with the progressive scan. I purchased a Marantz SR8001. After I let the amp configure the speaker settings using the auto configuration, how should I set the equalizer? Leave it off, set it to audyssey, front, flat or preset. Also I'm having a problem with the remote. I can switch to all the functions, dvd, tv, vcr, etc. When I push the dss button the amp will not switch to that input. Do I have a bad remote? Also on the Marantz DV4001 should I set the cd upsampling rate to off, 88.2kHZ (x2) or 176.rkHz (x4). All wiring is HDMI. I'm using a Direct Dish 622 and the speakers are Paradigm 300's....Thanks for any help....PeteB

[Blue Meanie]

OK, I'm wingin' it here. Can you select DSS as an input using the controls on the receiver? If so, I'd GUESS that the remote is bad, same as you. As to EQ settings, wouldn't that be a personal preference thing, as opposed to having one correct answer?:scratch2:

Set the CD audio upsampling rate to 'off'. The upsampling setting only applies to the analog audio output jacks. You have your player hooked up via HDMI jacks.

Jeff

[PeteB]

Jeff:
Thanks for your reply. I can set the dss on the amp so I also think it is the remote.
I'll have to take it to a Marantz dealer and see if it switches the input on their amp. Or is there a way of testing it? Seven years ago I purchased a home theater for my home in New York. (Marantz with DEF Tech speakers) Now I have a new one if Florida. I can't believe how many more inputs and mode selections there are. Many I wasn't familiar with. Only the HDMI makes things easier. Thank you very much for the help. I appreciate it....PeteB

[Blue Meanie]

Jeff:
Thanks for your reply. I can set the dss on the amp so I also think it is the remote.
I'll have to take it to a Marantz dealer and see if it switches the input on their amp. Or is there a way of testing it? Seven years ago I purchased a home theater for my home in New York. (Marantz with DEF Tech speakers) Now I have a new one if Florida. I can't believe how many more inputs and mode selections there are. Many I wasn't familiar with. Only the HDMI makes things easier. Thank you very much for the help. I appreciate it....PeteB

You're welcome, Pete. Glad to be a help if I can.

There is a way to test the remote to see if it is sending an IR signal when pushing any button that is supposed to. If you have some sort of camcorder, have someone aim the remote at the camcorder and push the dss button while you are recording. After that, have them push another source button on the remote that is known to be working. The camcorder will pick up the IR as blinks of light from the end of the remote. If you see no blinks when pushing the dss button, that button is bad. If you DO see the blinking, the dss button is working, but apparently the wrong code is being sent.

Also, SOME components (my exes cheapo DVD player) have an LED on the front that flashes whenever it is receiving an IR signal, even from another remote.

Jeff

[PeteB]

Thanks Jeff. I'll give it a try. You have been a great help...PeteB

[Blue Meanie]

Thanks Jeff. I'll give it a try. You have been a great help...PeteB

:D

Keep us posted.:thmbsp:

Jeff

P.S. SWEET receiver, BTW!!

[PeteB]

Jeff: It appears that the dss button is the problem. I have the Paradigm 300speakers all set to large with the sub set to 80hz and mixed. I've read on other sites that some prefer the center channel set at small as well as small for the fronts. Should I leave as is or should I make adjustments in the speaker settings. If I did set to small would I drop the sub to 60hz mixed. The sub cut off control is set at 150 and the sub level at 11 o'clock. The sub is a Paradigm seismic12 and runs out of the sub woofer output on the amp. Thanks...PeteB PS: The trick with the camcorder works great....PeteB

[Blue Meanie]

Jeff: It appears that the dss button is the problem. I have the Paradigm 300speakers all set to large with the sub set to 80hz and mixed. I've read on other sites that some prefer the center channel set at small as well as small for the fronts. Should I leave as is or should I make adjustments in the speaker settings. If I did set to small would I drop the sub to 60hz mixed. The sub cut off control is set at 150 and the sub level at 11 o'clock. The sub is a Paradigm seismic12 and runs out of the sub woofer output on the amp. Thanks...PeteB PS: The trick with the camcorder works great....PeteB

Hey Pete!

Hopefully your Marantz dealer will be able to exchange the remote for you without too much hassle. If you bought the receiver online, it might be more work. Yes, the trick with the camcorder does work well. Something I stumbled upon completely by accident.

Interesting coincidence. We seem to have similar taste in speakers. I have a pair of Paradigm Reference Studio 100v2, and a Servo 15 subwoofer. Even though I haven't heard them, I like the form factor of the Millenia 300s. I was surprised at how relatively light they are. My 100s go about 110 lbs each.

OK. If it was me, I'd set the main speakers and center channel to 'small'. It takes the 'strain' of producing the high power required for heavy bass passages off of your receiver's amps, and lets them focus on mids and highs. Your mains will probably sound more articulate (for lack of a better term) configured this way. You've got a kick-ass sub, let it do the heavy lifting. I'd set the LFE output of the receiver to 80 or 90Hz. Set it any lower, and you'll have a hole in the frequency response, and the sub and mains won't blend as seamlessly. The 300s don't have the best low frequency extension (+/- 2dB, 87-20,000Hz). I'd also set the cutoff control on the sub as high as it will go, to remove it from the equation entirely, as the cutoff from the receiver's LFE output is already handling that function. I also personally wouldn't have the output of the receiver set to 'mixed'. I'd send all of the LFE to the subwoofer. But try it both ways, and see which you prefer. None of this is carved in stone.:D Don't know if 11 o'clock is a good spot for the sub level control or not. TECHNICALLY, you should use an SPL meter for that. Or does the auto-setup program for the speakers somehow set the volume level of the sub too? As for setting the phase control on the sub, sit in your listening position, and have the wife/whoever turn the control until you think it sounds best. Hope this is of some help. Nice system!:thmbsp:

Jeff

[PeteB]

Jeff: Thanks again for the reply. Sorry to keep asking questions but I'm trying to get the best sound possible. I like the Paradigms. I have Def Techs up north but the Paradigms sound a little more musical. I also have a Mcintosh system using XR-19 speakers and MAC amps etc. I know what you mean about heavy. Once I get them placed that's it for me. I couldn't believe how heavy the seismic was for it's size. Don't care to move that too many times either. Again thanks for all your help. Some of the manuals are difficult to follow...PeteB

[Blue Meanie]

Jeff: Thanks again for the reply. Sorry to keep asking questions but I'm trying to get the best sound possible. I like the Paradigms. I have Def Techs up north but the Paradigms sound a little more musical. I also have a Mcintosh system using XR-19 speakers and MAC amps etc. I know what you mean about heavy. Once I get them placed that's it for me. I couldn't believe how heavy the seismic was for it's size. Don't care to move that too many times either. Again thanks for all your help. Some of the manuals are difficult to follow...PeteB

No need to be sorry for asking questions!! We're all here to try and help each other. If nobody asked any questions, it wouldn't be much of a forum, would it?:D

You have an all Mac system, including a pair of XR-19s?
OK, so I was WRONG. Your new HT system SUCKS (compared to the Mac system), LOL!!:tongue: Would you like to adopt a brother? I'm so poor, I'm not even allowed to utter the word 'McIntosh'!:no:

Some of the manuals certainly are difficult to follow. They seem to lose something in translation. I've got a cheapie Sony HT receiver that I've had for 7 years, and I STILL can't figure out how to adjust the built-in equalizer (it has one knob). I gave up after about an hour. The flat setting is just fine.

Any more questions, feel free to ask.:D

Jeff

[PeteB]

Jeff: The volume control for the sub, fronts, center and surrounds is set with the auto set from the Marantz. It sets the speakers from six different locations and then configures the results so you get good speaker response from each sitting position. I'm not sure if it is as accurate as a spl meter. That is what my dealer used in New York for calibration. I bought the system from him and had it shipped to Florida so I don't have anyone to calibrate with the spl meter unless I hire someone. I may have to purchase a meter at Radio Shack and that way I can check the accuracy of the auto system. Paradigm makes wonderful speakers. I heard the 100s and they are a great speaker. They must rock the room with that sub....PeteB

[PeteB]

Jeff: I've had the 19's for over twenty years and wouldn't trade them for anything. I recently had them refoamed and while they were in the shop I listened to some of the new speakers including B&W, Thiel, Merlins etc. They all sounded great but not good enough to make me trade...PeteB

[Blue Meanie]

Jeff: The volume control for the sub, fronts, center and surrounds is set with the auto set from the Marantz. It sets the speakers from six different locations and then configures the results so you get good speaker response from each sitting position. I'm not sure if it is as accurate as a spl meter. That is what my dealer used in New York for calibration. I bought the system from him and had it shipped to Florida so I don't have anyone to calibrate with the spl meter unless I hire someone. I may have to purchase a meter at Radio Shack and that way I can check the accuracy of the auto system. Paradigm makes wonderful speakers. I heard the 100s and they are a great speaker. They must rock the room with that sub....PeteB


Hi Pete,

I have no personal experience with newer receivers that include the auto speaker calibration function, but I have heard that most of them work quite well at setting speaker levels accurately (within i/2 dB). So an SPL meter probably isn't needed. Although for forty bucks, it's a cheap peace-of-mind investment. Doesn't get used very often, though. Leave it on a tripod in the corner of the room. Great conversation piece. Most folks will think you're nuts when you explain what it's for (mostly BOSE fans).

Yes, the 100s are a nice speaker for the price. And are fully capable of rocking the room WITHOUT the sub (I only use it for HT, not music). WITH the sub, I believe I could literally blow out the windows, for whatever that may be worth, LOL.:D But my days of ear bleeding, pants flapping volume are pretty much behind me. These days it's more about quality, not quantity...

Your XR-19s, on the other hand, are in another league entirely (as you know). And with Mac amplification? Pure Nirvana, I'll bet. Wish I could hear them! Are you SURE you don't want to adopt a brother???

Jeff

[Blue Meanie]

Jeff: I've had the 19's for over twenty years and wouldn't trade them for anything. I recently had them refoamed and while they were in the shop I listened to some of the new speakers including B&W, Thiel, Merlins etc. They all sounded great but not good enough to make me trade...PeteB

I can believe that, Pete! I'd seriously consider Grand Theft Speaker to get myself a pair!:D

Jeff
P.S. Don't worry. I live in Wisconsin.

[PeteB]

Jeff:
I ordered a replacement remote from Onecall and sure enough it was a defective remote. All functions work fine now. I'll take the defective remote back to my dealer when I go back to New York and try and get a my money back. There is a three year warranty on the remotes. I got the new remote for 99 dollars plus shipping. It retails for 129 on the Marantz site.
I've been playing with speaker positioning and found the 300 fronts work better slightly toed in and about 12" away from the television so they are about 8 feet apart. I've placed the woofer behind the right front speaker to give it more space and keep my grandaughters fingers away from the cones. I'm going to opt for another sub in the future to give it more balance although that sub has a lot of power.
I took your suggestion and set the center and fronts too small and took the sub out of the mix and set it at 80HZ. It made an improvement. I kept the surrounds at large. The TMX setting sets everything at small.
I've toyed with the idea of bringing my Mac equipment to Florida but I really don't have the room to do that system justice. Besides moving it would make me very nervous.
The designer, Roger Russell is a great guy and I have e-mailed him for suggestions a few times.
Again I want to thank you for all your help. These set ups get more complicated, especially all the new movie formats and equalizer settings. HDMI makes the wiring a snap however...PeteB

[Blue Meanie]

Hey Pete,

Good to hear you got a new remote.:thmbsp: I hope your old one isn't out of warranty.

I'm surprised that you left your surrounds set to large. Are they truly full-range? Well, you are there, and I am not. You'd be the one to know which way they sound better.:yes:

If you ever need someone to fly to New York, to babysit your Mac gear while you're in Florida, I'm available, free of charge.:D

You've spoken with Roger Russell via email? It's pretty cool to hear of folks like that, which come across like 'regular guys'. I wonder if Mark Levinson is that 'down to earth'...

You are more than welcome for the help. That's what AudioKarma is all about, even though the Home Theatre forum is a bit slow because most folks here concentrate on vintage gear more than HT.

Any further developments, keep us posted!:D

Best,

Jeff