DREAM SYSTEM LACKING PUNCH.....FLOORSTANDERS & 7.1 REQUIRED????

[admin_exported]

Hi my dream system is now all assembled with your advice it is now up and running however i cant help thinking that because i have gone down the good looks & good design route that it lacks punch somewhat. The system is mainly used for watching movies and is currently at 5.1 using the B&W MT30 package which utilises the PV1 subwoofer. I am driving all of this with a Yamaha RX V1800 amp/receiver and using the Denon 3930 DVD player all with QED reference HDMI interconnects and QED silver anniversary XT cabling so overall you could say i havent scrimped on any of my purchases, although i am impressed by the quality ive just got this niggling feeling that it aint running how it should be; could it be that: (a). either it needs tweaking to improve on the settings that i have inputted or (b). it needs some big floorstanders adding to it?? (c). I need to give in, wave my white flag, admit defeat and get a professional to come in and tweak it for me?? In terms of (a) above when deciding crossover points for the MT30 package the amp asked to turn the crossover dial on the sub all the way round to its maximum to let the amp do all the bass management, however in the B&W manual it says to leave it at centre/mid point. Which is correct and what should the crossover point be, i would of thought that B&W would have been the authority on this but then it is the AV receiver that is doing all the decoding. Could this scenario be the creator of my problem or do you have any other ideas on other settings i need to boost to correct this lack of punch i so desire?? In terms of (b) i am completely taken aback by the new monitor audio platinum series though im not sure how they would fare in a movie orientated application. Would these fit into this system or would they be too overpowering and dominate too much. Also this would make the system 7.1 but with 5 speakers at the front end of the room is this correct as i have no scope for re-positioning of other speakers as all wires are now hard wired though walls??? And finally if there are any other AV speakers that i may of overlooked possibly B&W then please let me know as i really wanna get this system running right once and for all.....im not frustrated at all....honest!!!! In terms of (c) please god dont let it be this otherwise ill have to start wearing quilted carpet slippers and eating quiche!! Many thanks...

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Your system should sound superb. I would tweak your sub settings. The sats are only sats at the end of the day and will need help with the bass. I would set your crossover to about 120 Hz and see how you go, may be even 140 Hz. This should allow the PV1 to take over and I'm sure your system would sound excellent. Of course, style systems, even one as good as yours, will never sound as good as a decent traditional set-up. The MA Platinum would blow your B&W set up away (as would the Silver and Gold range from MA - I have the silver and my brother in law has your set up). You would need the centre speaker from MA too as it would sound disjointed otherwise - that is a serious amount of money. So much so, I would say that your receiver could be bettered before you went that mad with the speakers. I would audition RS6s and the Gold range first if you are not happy still after tweaking with your subwoofer. The B&W sats would work really well as rear speakers with these floorstanders and matching centre speakers. Any additional sats you don't need could be sold.

 

[Gerrardasnails]

What size room do you have? If you can't reposition your speakers then you should just stick to 5.1 and sell your two front and centre sats (if you decide to go with floorstanders).