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Post by omuracada on Mar 26, 2021 16:27:56 GMT -5
Hi All,
I finally made the move to ditch my A\V receiver and go with separates and as I started to set everything up when I ran into my first 2 challenges. I have the XMC-2 along with the XPA Gen 3 7 channel. I also have a Rotel RKB-8100 V3. I am going to initially be starting out with a 5.1.4 with a total of 4 subwoofers that will be directly hooked up into a minidsp. The 7 channel at this point in time (I am about to purchase a house and will then have a dedicated room where I will convert to 9.1.6) has the the left and right front, center(soon to get its own singe channel amp) both the right and left surrounds plugged into it. I put all my atmos speakers on the Rotel. This is where my questions comes in. With the rotel each channel has a red and and white RCA, Can I assume that with each channel since this is a 8 channel amp the red RCA is for one speaker channel and the white RCA is for the other speaker channel? For example, I put my right and left front Heights on one input taking up two RCA spots. I do assume this is correct however before I power everything up I just want to verify. The next question is the Rotel has switches for link or Stereo, however input A switch says Stereo or Mono. Would I want to look to plug my minidsp into this input for my subs, and select mono? Is it better to use the 7 channel as I have 2 more spots open on it, however this leads me to my last question. How does one hook up the minidsp to an amp and then the preamp? For some reason I am very confused on this one. When I had my A/V receiver it was easy, however chances are since this is so new to me I am over complicating it in my head!
Any assistance is appreciative and as mentioned super new to the separates world, however super stoked to see the difference.
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Post by omuracada on Mar 26, 2021 20:33:58 GMT -5
Ok so most of this I have since figured out, however I am still having trouble getting my MNIDSP to play all 4 subs as I do not think I set it up right!
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Mar 27, 2021 11:50:48 GMT -5
1. The Rotel looks like an 8-channel amp in that it has 4 X stereo modules. You should have an owners manual that will describe the function of the switches, but looking at a photo of the back I would say if each switch is in "stereo" then the left RCA input will drive the left speaker output, and the right the right on each of the 4 stereo modules. I would also say that the "mono" position on input A means that an input to either left or right will drive both the left and right outputs as a mono amp. The "Link" positions on inputs B, C and D means you can drive all outputs set to the "link" position from a single input. If you intend to drive 8 speakers in an Atmos setup, you want all four switches in "stereo" and use this as an 8-channel amp.
2. Your miniDSP should not connect to the Rotel amp at all. If you wish to use this to EQ your subwoofers, it should get input from the sub out on the XMC-2, and then the output from the miniDSP can be split to drive each of the subwoofer amps.
The XPA-7 channel amp will be used to power your L-C-R-surround speakers.
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Post by ttocs on Mar 27, 2021 12:24:30 GMT -5
DYohn covered all the main points. It would help to know which miniDSP you have to know which interface it uses. But, if it's a miniDSP 2x4HD and you are only getting sound from two of the channels, then you'll need to look at the Crossover Settings. All you need to do to get started is to change the Settings for Channels 2 and 4 to match the settings from Channels 1 and 2. Look at Channel 1 and copy those settings to Channel 2 to get sound to the subwoofer from Channel 2. Channel 1  Channel 2 
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Post by omuracada on Mar 27, 2021 13:59:19 GMT -5
Thank you for both your responses! Yes I finally was able to figure out the Rotel, however to be honest (and again it could be something I am doing wrong) with the four heights attached to it, they are so low in sound I need to see if there is a gain option on the rotel or I may ditch that and just go all emotiva as the 7 channel hits! I am only using it to run 4 heights and I have the four channels on stereo. I finally figured out the minidps hookup and everything in working. I now need to learn how to get into the mini and start the calibration! I will start that tomorrow. I have the mini 2x4 not the HD. Again I thank the two of you for the assistance!
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DYohn
Emo VIPs
Posts: 18,348
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Post by DYohn on Mar 27, 2021 14:30:15 GMT -5
Thank you for both your responses! Yes I finally was able to figure out the Rotel, however to be honest (and again it could be something I am doing wrong) with the four heights attached to it, they are so low in sound I need to see if there is a gain option on the rotel or I may ditch that and just go all emotiva as the 7 channel hits! I am only using it to run 4 heights and I have the four channels on stereo. I finally figured out the minidps hookup and everything in working. I now need to learn how to get into the mini and start the calibration! I will start that tomorrow. I have the mini 2x4 not the HD. Again I thank the two of you for the assistance! The Atmos speakers will only reproduce sound effects, and you should not "hear them" as much as notice that they enhance movie soundtrack effects now and then, and then only with Atmos-encoded material. I found that in my system the effect was not worth dedicating equipment to it and the Atmos ceiling speakers I installed sit unpowered at the moment. If it wasn't such a pain to patch the holes in the drywall they'd be gone.  |
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Post by ttocs on Mar 27, 2021 14:35:13 GMT -5
Thank you for both your responses! Yes I finally was able to figure out the Rotel, however to be honest (and again it could be something I am doing wrong) with the four heights attached to it, they are so low in sound I need to see if there is a gain option on the rotel or I may ditch that and just go all emotiva as the 7 channel hits! I am only using it to run 4 heights and I have the four channels on stereo. I finally figured out the minidps hookup and everything in working. I now need to learn how to get into the mini and start the calibration! I will start that tomorrow. I have the mini 2x4 not the HD. Again I thank the two of you for the assistance! When you say "so low in sound", is this while playing a movie? or when you are adjusting the Levels in the processor Menu? The audio level from the Height channels is almost never very loud. When I turn off the amp channels for everything except the four Top channels, those four speakers are actually more active than I previously thought, but it's mostly ambient sounds except for when a helicopter or space ship is flying overhead. However, try Blade Runner and they will be quite active! But when I play the tones in Menu:: Setup:: Speakers:: Preset 1:: Levels:: the level from every speaker is the same. |
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Post by omuracada on Mar 27, 2021 17:29:19 GMT -5
Appreciate the heads up on what my expectations should be for ATMOS as I am also new to that format! Yes your correct they are low when adjusting the levels! When I play movies I do hear the subtle nosies comeing from them. when I was trying to match speakers with a sound meter and with the height's being low I thought it was the amp!. You learn something everyday!! Thanks cause you all just saved me some $$!!!!
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Post by ttocs on Mar 27, 2021 18:04:55 GMT -5
Appreciate the heads up on what my expectations should be for ATMOS as I am also new to that format! Yes your correct they are low when adjusting the levels! When I play movies I do hear the subtle nosies comeing from them. when I was trying to match speakers with a sound meter and with the height's being low I thought it was the amp!. You learn something everyday!! Thanks cause you all just saved me some $$!!!! . . . we don't work here for free 'ya know! In the immortal words of Carl Spackler: "How 'bout a little somethin', you know, for the effort?" Glad it's working out. And yes, it's always good to learn something new. As far as I can tell at the moment, when the learning stops, it's all over. |
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