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Problem with Arcam or JM LABS

I have an Arcam AVR 250 with an Arcam DV78. The speakers are JM Lab 716S Chorus Line(mains) w/ a JM Lab 700S Chorus Line (center) and JM Lab 716S (rears). The front 3 spkrs have Rega cables. The problem is understanding the dialogue from the center channel when watching movies. We think we have everything hooked up correctly and every setting set proberly. We have adjusted and readjusted every setting many times with little or no improvement. I have been running the mains on 0-5 with the center at 6 and the rears around 2-4. I purchased a sound level meter and set the levels correctly. No help. The voices coming from the center sound thick at times and slurred. We have tried the center at 5' and 2' with no improvement. The odd part is that I can understand every word coming from my TV during a broadcast when it is coming out of the center. Is there anything I can do to brighten the sound or is it just the British sound that I will have to learn to deal with. Thank you for your time.
kypride
kypride OP
18 posts
 
Is there a digital coaxial lead and center channel cable that really helps with dialog? I have been told by some that it doesn't make a lot of difference especially on the coaxial lead. Thanks
everest_audio
285 posts
 
Try something different than the Rega cables. As much as I think in general that Rega is a good brand, I was not impressed with their cables at all when I heard them. On the system I heard them in initially, I was not impressed with the system until the cables were swapped out for another brand. The difference between the two brands in terms of sound quality and overall clarity was huge. Borrow some other speaker cables from a friend to try.

To answer your other question, the coaxial digital interconnect can definitely make a difference ... without a doubt. In a system like this, it is one of the most crucial cables since absolutely everything for the home theatre audio signal is riding on this cable. I'm not sure what digital interconnect you're using, but definitely try the different speaker cables.
rick_da
1 posts
 
i have the same problem which i posted in ht forum..http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/showthread.php?p=3108718&posted=1#post3108718
kypride OP
18 posts
 
Thanks Rick but this is all old news to me. I purchased a sound level meter with little or no improvement. I agree with Shane and Jeff but the calibration and delays are set perfect. I am going to switch from the Rega cables going to the center shortly. I am breaking in a set of Oval 9s on another system right now to try on the center later. I am also looking for a recommendation on a digital coaxial cable from anyone who has seen improvement on their system from using one. I have a Wasatch on it now and I'm beginning to believe it is of very poor quality. I bought the system as a whole from a dealer and I think most of the cables are junk. Any cable recommendations would be greatly appreciated, as this will be my last investment in this problem.
krc1951
4 posts
 
My wife and I are also just north of 50 and she has a slight drop in hearing as well. as I said in my earlier post we were using JMLab 707S and 700 center. We just changed our speakers. We went with Paradigm S8 fronts and a C3 center - and the center has made all the difference in the world - dialogue is now improved drastically. The C3 is larger than the JMLab 700 and is also a 3way design. I would think about upgrading the center channel based on our experience.
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