Can't get PLIIz Height speakers to work with 7.2/7.1 On Onkyo A/V Receiver (AVR)

[Michael Fernandopulle]

I have an Onkyo AVR (model HT-RC260) which is a 7.2 system. It also has front wide or front highs. I have fixed all my speakers (7.2) plus included an additional two for the front highs. However, I cannot get sound coming out of the front highs. Please advise how can I fix it.

Appreciate your response.
Thanks.

Michael

[MrBoylan]

I have an Onkyo AVR (model HT-RC260) which is a 7.2 system. It also has front wide or front highs. I have fixed all my speakers (7.2) plus included an additional two for the front highs. However, I cannot get sound coming out of the front highs. Please advise how can I fix it.

Appreciate your response.
Thanks.

Michael

Hi, Michael,

If I understand you correctly, you're trying to actually do a 7.2 system *plus* front height speakers, correct? This would actually require a receiver that is capable of delivering 9 channels of amplification (9.1 or 9.2) which your receiver cannot do.

On your receiver, you can only do up to 7 channels (7.1 or 7.2) at any one time. You get the standard 5.1 channels (front left, front right, center, left surround, right surround, subwoofer(s)) plus any *one* of the following options:

• rear surrounds,
• front width channels
• front height channels

But you can't use front height channels *in addition to* a 7 channel surround system. Only the more expensive surround sound receivers support the use of of a full 9.2 (or 11.2) channel configuration. If you look in your set-up menus on the Onkyo receiver you will see under the speaker configuration where you select which speakers will be active.

I hope that answers your question and sorry if it's not the answer you were hoping for!

Regards,

-Chris

[Michael Fernandopulle]

Hi Chris,
That's exactly what I wanted to know. However, instead of the rear surrounds can't I use the front height speakers and if so how do I get the sound from the front height?
Thanks.
Michael

[MrBoylan]

Yes, you can use the front height speakers instead of the rear speakers. There are two options here. If you plan to use *ONLY* the front height speakers for 7.1 (never using the rears), then plug them into the top left speaker terminals in the back of your receiver, labeled "SURR BACK or FRONT HIGH or FRONT WIDE Speakers." If you want to experiment with surround rear speakers for some material and front height speakers for other material, then plug the REAR SPEAKERS into the top left speaker terminal, and plug the front height speakers into the lower, smaller spring-loaded speaker terminal labelled "FRONT HIGH or FRONT WIDE or ZONE 2 Speakers."

Whichever one of these options you choose, you will need to go into the Onkyo set-up menu into the "Speaker Settings" menu. Make sure you have the Front Speakers set to "Normal" (not bi-amp). If you bi-amp the front speakers, you can only go 5.1 or 5.2 as two additional amps will be assigned to the front left/right speakers. So no bi-amping. Under "Speaker Terminal Assign" is where you assign which speakers you want to use and how you have them connected. Page 36 of your manual has all of this explained. And you can find your manual here:

http://filedepot.onkyousa.com/Files/...78586b541c1a31

But in a nutshell, assuming you plug in all 9 of the speakers, with rear surrounds plugged into the top and front high speakers plugged into the lower speaker terminals, these are the settings to use:

Front High/Front Wide/Zone2: - Set this to "Front High"

SurrBack/Front High/Front Wide - Set this to "Surr Back"

Speaker Configuration Menu

• Front High: Make sure this is set to Full Band (if they're full range speakers) or set the crossover to something if you want to prevent these speakers from getting low bass information. Just make sure this is not set to "None"
• Front Wide: set to "None"
• Surr Back Ch: Set to 2-ch

To change between 7.1 with REAR and 7.1 with HEIGHT, I believe you just hit the "SP LAYOUT" button on the remote and it will cycle between:

• Speaker Layout:FH: The sound from front high speakers is output by priority.
• Speaker Layout:FW: The sound from front wide speakers is output by priority.
• Speaker Layout:SB: The sound from surround back speakers is output by priority.

Keep in mind that you will only hear something from the height channel speakers if you select Dolby PLIIz or Audyssey DSX surround modes. And you will only hear content from the rear channels if you have a 7.1 recording coming in (e.g., some Blu-ray Discs, which have 7.1 soundtracks), or you select one of the surround enhancement modes like Dolby PLIIx.

Anyway, do refer to your manual if you have questions but this should get you pointed in the right direction.

Regards,

-Chris

[Michael Fernandopulle]

Wow Chris,
Wonderful news. Shall try it out. You're the best!
TC
Michael