Using Helix with my Hi-Fi Stereo / Speakers - Recommendations

[Sjaltenb]

Hello!

 

Long time analog guy, used to have huge pedalboards, switchers, etc. Sold everything and going Helix. I play at home exclusively and love great tone and play guitar in my spare time. Helix is in the mail!

 

When I purchased our home, my office had 5 very very high quality home cinema speakers already installed. I’m using a standard Yamaha surround receiver to power them. Specs here:

 

https://m.bowers-wilkins.com.tradeitlive.com/speakers/custom-installation/In-Wall-In-Ceiling/In-Wall/CWM-Cinema-7.html?c=set

 

Currently can’t afford to add a FRFR (I know some are cheap) and want to at least try using the speakers I have for space, convenience, and cost.

 

Things I’m thinking about:

- set the Yahama to flat bass / trebble

- determine if the phono input is any different from other inputs on the receiver 

- try headphone out vs. 1/4 out on Helix

- May need high and low pass filters and master EQ

- in theory, recorded guitar sounds exceptional through these when listening to music, so does it make sense to use a mic model to emulate a “recorded guitar” vs a “live amp”? Understand it may be different than “amp in a room”?

 

Can someone smarter than myself review the frequency response and specs of those speakers to determine what EQ adjustments may need to be made?

 

Thanks in advance,

Stephen

[jester700]

I'd set the tone controls to flat on the receiver.

Phono IS different - it has much more gain and a heavy RIAA EQ curve to compensate for deficiencies in vinyl. Your signal will be distorted, bassy, and dull using that input.
I use the 1/4" out for my similar setup (and the impedance is a better match), but you could get away with the headphone out.

You can tweak with global EQ, but cabinet and mic settings should get you close. Yes, using a mic model will get you closer to what you're used to as recorded guitar tones.

 

Don't sweat any theoretical EQ adjustments for those specific speakers. They interact with your room in a way that is specific to your speakers, with your placement, in your room, in your listening position. So tweak it to your own ears, maybe using recordings you like as a guide.

[spikey]

The flatter the response on the receiver the better, but that won't help if your speakers are "tone colored" as well. Most "stereo systems" speakers are colored tone wise for more bass response. If you use one of those speakers with Helix and a cab in the chain, it most likely will sound muddy. In fact, its said that "half" of your guitar tone comes from the box you are playing thru I.E. the speaker cabinet. That's why a Flat response full range (FRFR) class D powered speaker sounds good if the IR(speaker emulation) in the chain was done right too. I have found that I like the built-in factory ones in Helix, but you can add what you want IR wise if those don't suit you.

[Sjaltenb]

Thanks for the replies! 

 

Abxious to get the Helix tomorrow and give it a try. Will report back for sure. 

 

The receiver does have a “straight” option why bypasses all internal processing, so that’s good.

 

One thing I don’t quite understand - in the signal chain, you can put delays (for example) between the amp and the cab (or IR).  What does this really do? Obviously it gets the preamp gain stage before the delay which is preferable, but is it fair to think about the power amp section as being in the cab/IR? Thus placement here is basically in the FX loop?

 

what about between the IR and a Mic?

 

im sure I’ll learn all this when I start fiddling around