I have a ONKYO AV processor that has dts and dolby digital encoders?

Question

Since the surround speakers volume when playing dts dolby discs is not very effective can i add a power amplifier to the surround speakers to get better output..now how to make the connections?Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Look in the setup menu on your receiver.  All DD receivers MUST have adjustments to add/subtract volume from the center and each rear speaker.

Find the adjustment for the rear speakers and slowly add some volume to just the rears.

The volume for everything goes up/down with the main volume control, but these settings let you add/subtract some volume because we rarely sit an identical distance from all 5 speakers.

The PROPER way is to use a Radio Shack SPL meter and a setup DVD (Avia, Digital Video Essentials, any disk with "THX Optimizer"). Test tones move from speaker to speaker and you use the SPL meter to measure the volume so you add/subtract until all speakers produce the same volume at you seat.

Answer 2

you probably could but that is defeating the purpose of surround. the back speakers only make alot of noise if say a explosion goes off behind the characters in the movie(for example). the point is to make it realistic. some onkyos have whats called 5-ch stereo, this will make all 5 speakers play at the same volume. its the same button you use to change between stereo and surround.

Answer 3

The only way to know if you are getting enough volume from your surround speakers is by using the test tones built into your A/V receiver.  All the tones should sound the same volume.  If you truly cannot get enough volume from the surround speakers (very unlikely), you could add an extra amplifier IF your Onkyo has line-level outputs (RCA jacks) for the surround channels.   Check the manual to see if there is a section on "using external amplifiers".