DVD distortion with RT15i

[pjespers]

I have been using my RT15i's as mains for a simple 2-channel setup. My receiver is a (*cough*) older model Sony. For music, the sound is superb. But when Jango Fett sets off siesmic charges, the RT15i's buzz like they're blown. Go back to music (even hard rock with pounding bass) and the sound is clear and clean. ???? I suspect that adding a powered sub with a low-pass filter will take 'the heat' off the RT15i's so DVD action and explosions will be distortion free. Any thoughts?

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

Originally posted by pjespers
I have been using my RT15i's as mains for a simple 2-channel setup. My receiver is a (*cough*) older model Sony. For music, the sound is superb. But when Jango Fett sets off siesmic charges, the RT15i's buzz like they're blown. Go back to music (even hard rock with pounding bass) and the sound is clear and clean. ???? I suspect that adding a powered sub with a low-pass filter will take 'the heat' off the RT15i's so DVD action and explosions will be distortion free. Any thoughts?

For the most part, bass produced during DVD playback is lower and more intense than bass produced during music, but that's just a general rule. I have a couple of suggestions:

1 - Find a CD with alot of bass. You need something probably with a great deal of bass. You can try one of those bass CDs like people use to showcase their car systems. Also, if you have the Sting brand new Day CD, track 1 (A Thousand Years) has some wierd synthesized bass stuff that should test those speakers a little. Try that and see if you still get the noise. If you do, then it's just a limitation of those speakers or the amp pushing them. If you don't, see step 2.

2 - This is actually more of a questions. Are you using the same souce for both audio and DVD? In other words, are you using your DVD player to play the CDs? If not, then you may want to give that a shot. If you are, report back here and we'll see what's next.

I'm not at all an expert, but there is a lot of knowledge floating around this forum. Someone should be able to assist if I can't.

[Loud & Clear]

Please add a subwoofer.

[VR3]

I second that...

If you're going to watch movies with the RT15i (on large I am guessing), then you need a subwoofer. A PSW 202 will even be better than the RT15i being stand alone for a movie....

[pjespers]

I finally got around to testing an audio CD from both my CD player and DVD player. The sound is identical as far as I can tell. No distortion. I ordered a sub, but alas, it is a PSW202.

[pjespers]

The PSW202 has been installed. I used the POLK recommended hookup method. Connecting the receiver speaker-outs to the speaker-ins on the sub, then connecting the R15i's to the subs speaker-outs. I set the sub volume to the 10 o'clock position, and the low-pass filter to 12 o'clock. Phase at zero. The sound is much cleaner. DVD's now sound clean, no matter what's exploding. With the receiver volume at 4 (out of 10), the low-end punch can make my CD-player skip. (It probably needs cleaning). Using the DVD player with the same audio CD will not skip though. Fine tuning the sub will take time. Finding a happy medium between DVD and Audio CD is elusive.