Same PC speakers, but it now sounds horrible

[jpinard]

Since my Klipsch Promedia 5.1 sub/amp died I decided to move a receiver into my game room to power my PC music/gaming. I figured out how to run analog from my X-Fi card and get great directional sound. However, I have almost no mid or low tones. In fact, it sounds like pure crap.

I added a sub-woofer too of course and just nothing sounds right. Previously the satellite speakers filled most of the sound needs, but now they only do high tones.

Can anyone help? Here's a picture if it helps:

http://jeffpinard.com/Speakerissues.jpg

Thanks! :)

[Zylon]

So this receiver apparently has no equalizer controls.

Have you tried turning it off and on again?

[mkozlows]

Make sure you're going out of the right port of the X-Fi card. And if the receiver has digital inputs, why not use that?

[jpinard]

So this receiver apparently has no equalizer controls.

Have you tried turning it off and on again?

Yes, many times. It's like the satellite speakers only push upper sounds instead of full range. Is it possible it's because they're not wired through the subwoofer? I can connect some speakers to the sub first via speaker wire, and then have them go to the satellites. Seems unnecessary though?

[jpinard]

Make sure you're going out of the right port of the X-Fi card. And if the receiver has digital inputs, why not use that?

You lose surround sound & the benefits of the Creative Labs X-Fi card in many games. I will hook up the digital port to see if it sounds different.

[mkozlows]

Also, most receivers let you configure your speakers. If you've got your speakers set to "small" (which is accurate) and you have a sub (which you do), the receiver will not push all frequencies to the satellites. You can either change them to "Full"/"Large" to get all frequencies pushed to them, or change your crossover point if you just want to go to the sub at a more bassy point.

[Zylon]

Yes, many times.
SIGH. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn2FB1P_Mn8&t=11s)

[Case]

Also, most receivers let you configure your speakers. If you've got your speakers set to "small" (which is accurate) and you have a sub (which you do), the receiver will not push all frequencies to the satellites. You can either change them to "Full"/"Large" to get all frequencies pushed to them, or change your crossover point if you just want to go to the sub at a more bassy point.

No, assuming it's an actual subwoofer for home theater, you connect it to the subwoofer out on the receiver. It's likely the crossover frequency between the subwoofer and satellites is set incorrectly. This can often be changed in the receiver setup or, sometimes, set on the subwoofer itself, with a knob.

[RobotPants]

Changing your satellite speakers to full or large can damage them as they're not meant to be full frequency speakers. Since those particular speakers were originally meant to be used with a specific sub, that sub was crossed over to make up for the entire range of bass and mid that the speakers couldn't produce. It will probably take a bit of tweaking your receiver and sub's settings to get it to sound right and, depending on the sub, may not completely fill out as much mid range as you like.

[mkozlows]

Okay, wait, you're using the sats from a PC gaming sat/sub thing? Okay, that's your problem right there: The "sub" in that thing was reproducing a lot of midrange frequencies, and wasn't a true sub at all. If you're pairing those speakers up with a real sub, you've got a huge hole there.

[John Many Jars]

http://www.telovation.com/photos/little-horn-speakers.jpg

[RyanMichael]

Yep, everyone has covered this pretty well. The crossover on the 5.1 set is 120hz, so you'll want to make sure that the receiver is sending everything up to 120hz to the sub.

You're currently crossing over at 60-80 hz, most likely, leading to a huge lowend/midlow gap.

[jpinard]

Yep, everyone has covered this pretty well. The crossover on the 5.1 set is 120hz, so you'll want to make sure that the receiver is sending everything up to 120hz to the sub.

You're currently crossing over at 60-80 hz, most likely, leading to a huge lowend/midlow gap.

Brilliant - you guys nailed it.