Sky HD Surround Sound - No Subwoofer

[admin_exported]

I have been trying unsuccessfully to set up my home theater system properly for a long time (read 12 months plus). I have Sky HD, a Yamaha DSP-AX863SE & Kef Eggs.

I have finally been able to obtain surround sound using the digital optical route (I had no idea HDMI wasn't supported by Sky) but the subwoofer is remaining in standby mode (works fine with DVDs). So a good clear sound now but no bass.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what settings I need to change to fix this issue? All replies appreciated.

Mike

 

[Dr Badger]

Have you checked the 'crossover' (dial) which is probably at the back of your subwoofer? (the 12 o'clock position is usually a good starting point for setting this, I gather). Maybe you have this too low, i.e. too far anti-clockwise, so the sub isn't taking care of bass duties?

I also had problems getting bass from my subwoofer with Sky HD - have you tried viewing some music channels (i.e. where more chance of obvious bass)? I was having getting bass from 'normal' channels (Sky One), etc until I viewed a music channel so that bass could kick in, and also once I had turned the volume up a bit.

Also, does your sub have a red/green indicator light so that you can also see when the subwoofer is active? My Kef sub (which I got with my 2005.3 'eggs' has such a light) though I have a different AV amp to you (Sony DA2400ES). Anyway, good luck!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I don't have a crossover dial but I understand the unit is staying in standby as it is not receiving a signal. As you suggest, cranking the volume wakes it up so it looks like the signal at lower levels is not strong enough to activate the sub. I believe their is a way to boost this by upping the signal level on the amp but I have not been able to find out anything even after wading through the 110 page manual.

Any Yamaha owners out there know how to boost the output level to the sub?

 

[cwalduck]

I would turn the SUB's volume down on the SUB and re-run the auto calibration routine this will up the gain on the SW output on the amp and should fix your problems.

 

[Andrew Everard]

See manual p70 for details of how to adjust the levels of various channels.

Dial down the level on the subwoofer, and wind up the sub output level on the amp to compensate. This will have the effect of triggering the auto on/standby switching more readily.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Guys

There is no manual way to turn the subs volume up or down so I'll just have to try changing the output level on the amp to see what happens.

 

[Andrew Everard]

mbpage:There is no manual way to turn the subs volume up or down

Which KEF sub do you have?

 

[Anonymous]

I have the Kef HTB2SE Subwoofer - Home Theatre 3000 Series

 

[Andrew Everard]

Ah right - in which case I'd simply increase the level on the Yamaha's menus and see whether that helps. Of course it could be that some programmes are being broadcast in 5.0, rather than 5.1...

 

[Anonymous]

Everything seems to working now - thanks for your help guys.