Hey Gonk --
Yes it helps. I didn't turn on 6.1 Surround, because I don't have surround speakers. I have a duplicate pair of the fronts, wired into the rear surround locations.
As for the bass, there is an 8" sub with variable freqency from 50Hz tp 200. It is set on 200, since I can't by pass it. The volume has been pushed up to max, even though it had always (with the old recvr)had the volume set to the mid position.
Before I replied to your email, I checked all of the settings again. Sub is on, all connections are tight; all speakers are small; crossover is set to 80 Hz.
Thanks again.

P.S. How come I'm only a deputy gunslinger? Just curious, becuause I thought deputys were non-owners.