Dialogue to quiet - Action too loud!

[admin_exported]

Hi All

Well I have the Panasonic DMP-BD85 Blu-ray player up and running and the audio fed via optical / Benchmark DAC into my amplifier.

The system I am using is a Marantz SA-K1 Pearl amplifier and Esoteric MG-20 speakers (Two channel).

The problem is that the dialogue is very quiet but the action parts are way too loud. I have heard of this complaint before and hear that it can be improved with a dedicated centre speaker. As the Pearl only has one set of speaker terminals I cannot see how to achieve this! Also as there is no matching centre speaker for the Esoterics it would be a problem to find a partner for them.

The other alternative could be to go for something like the upcoming Marantz AV 7005 Pre-amplifier, which will have the Audyssey MultiEQ XT system and use the Pearl as a power amplifier.

As you can probably tell I am a complete novice when it comes to home theatre so any guidance would be much appreciated

Thanks

 

[The_Lhc]

have you setup the blu-ray player correctly for two-channel operation?

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, I believe so. I had some guidence from Chebby yesterday.

 

[chudleighpaul]

Go to set up - sound - downmix, set to stereo.

Alternatively connect a pair of phono leads to the 2 channel output on the player and connect these direct to the amp bi- passing the DAC

 

[anderc02]

Hello,
At one time I had a 2 channel system (Cyrus and Castle speakers) with a stereo 2 channel Pioneer DVD. I moved to 5:0 by buying a multi channel amp that now powers the centre and rear speakers only .My Cyrus still powers the left and right channel stereo as I have a 2 channel 'out ' from the multi channel amp into the Cyrus. This way you retain your main stereo hi fi with the Multi channel amp doing the work to the centre and rears . Your manufactur should point you to something that would match the MG-20.Or if not the good folk here may respond to a specific post aslking for matching rear and centre speakers. I was lucky as Castle had matching speakers. I have not bothered with a Sub as the bass response and lower frequencies that the Floorstanding Castles dig out are fine. You can still use your DAC (I use a Beresford Caiman) plus your Panasonic has Multi channel outputs to do what I have suggested.
Hope this helps, let me know.