Recent content by Joel McIntosh

I wanted to take a few moments to offer my impressions the new Polk RTi10s. I'll also discuss how these speakers compare to the RTi8s. I just used my Circuit City upgrade to move from the RTi8s to the RTi10s. I have been using RTi8s since October 2003, and I want to say up front that I think the...

I'm running my Polk RTi8s (similar to the old RTi70s) L/R fronts directly into the subwoofer and using the subwoofer's (HSU VTF-2) internal crossover (rather than my receiver's crossover -- fronts are set to large in the receiver). The Hsu subwoofer's manual says to set the crossover at...

OK, nevermind everyone ... I got more inventive about wiring the fronts through the sub's speaker-level inputs. After trying some different plugs and using a little electrical tape, I've got it to work -- everything is feeding through the sub's speaker level in/outs. The bass is much better. Thanks.

I'm sorry this is painfully long, but my situation is a little complicated. Right now I've got a 6.1 set-up using Polk RTi series speakers (fronts RTi8s, center CSi5, surrounds Rti38s, back CSi3). My subwoofer is a Hsu VTF-2. My trouble is that I just got an open-box deal on a Marantz 8300...

More Marantz DV6400 trouble ... two weeks after receiving my replacement unit (see my earlier post about the device's multi-channel/2 channel trouble), my 6400 is choking on all of my CDs, SACDs, and DVDs. The 6400 just suddenly seizes up in the middle of play. To make matters worse, you can't...

I've already talked to the Marantz people about this. Basically, they acknowledge that it's a problem, but to fix it would require a software fix. Like Brian said, I'm not holding my breath for a firmware upgrade. I basically posted the information about the flaw because I wanted others who are...

There is a flaw with the Marantz DV6400s software. (1) Certain hybrid SACDs (and perhaps pure SACDs, but I don't have any to test) force the set-up software in the Marantz DV6400 to change the SACD setting from SACD-->MULTI-CH to SACD-->2 CH. Thus, hybrid SACDs that should be playing in 5.1...

I got mine today (pre-ordered it back in October from the dealer). I love it. So far, my first evening of impressions are (1) easy set-up, (2) simple operation with a sizable remote that has large buttons, (3) smooth operation, and (4) very quiet. I'm impressed with the sound quality from the...

Thanks Cees. Actually the RTi150 have a pair of input posts for the tweeters & mids and another pair of input posts for the woofers, so other than the expense of extra 12 gague wire and bananna prongs, this isn't a huge task. I was mostly wondering if there were some hard and fast rules about...

My Marantz 7300 with (105 watts per channel - 8 ohms) was too under-powered to handle my Polk RTi150s (especially when lots of bass was cranking out of the RTi150s). So I bought a separate amp (NAD 218THX -- stereo output, 225 watts with 280 dynamic power - 8 ohms). Right now, I have the RTi150s...

I hope you will give some weight to the suggestions for the HSU VTF-2. I went through a couple of subwoofers this summer (including the CHT-12), and finally settled on the VTF-2. It really offered a level of clarity of bass and power that, to my ear, was unique in the $500 and below category. I...

Thanks for all of the help. Based on a few suggestions (both here and at the HSU forum), (1) I shifted my receiver to subwoofer output to -7 dB and (2) recalibrated the system so that the subwoofer runs about +2 to +3 dB louder than the other speakers. The former let me turn up the volume on the...

I'm having a bit of trouble calibrating my HSU VTF-2 subwoofer with the rest of my system (receiver-Marantz 7300; fronts Polk RTi150; center Polk CSi40; surrounds RTi38; and back CSi30). I've set all speakers to "Small" in the Marantz receiver's set-up menu and set the crossover to 80 Hz. Using...

If the trouble is Wayne's item #1 (i.e., ground loop trouble) and your subwoofer has a three prong plug, you can get a three-prong to two-prong plug attachment. However, don't connect the little grounding wire that sticks out of the two-prong end as this would defeat the purpose of using the thing.

Given my situation, is it wise to get a back surround speaker at all? My HT is in a small space (13.5' x 13.5') and my listening position is up against the back wall. Even at that, I'm only 11' from the front speakers. Because of the very weird way this room is designed (it's hard to describe...