i dont think it matters what crossover the mains are set at and running lfe + mains wont solve my issue.
the main issue and problem in my setup is the hsu vtf-2 mk5 puts out less bass in stereo mode plus the towers at 80 or 60, than the towers alone in direct mode. though in stereo mode its cleaner and fills the room more. in direct mode the towers bass lingers a bit, but definitely thumps harder and lower. specs say they go down to 32 and i believe it. towers are about 13 inches from the back wall. four 8 inch woofers compared to mk5 single 12 woofer.
i raised the sub from -6 to -2 in the speaker/test tone option a week or so ago, and maybe thats not doing anything. i barely hear the sub when i listen to the test tones compared to the other speakers.
im starting to think i need to raise the channel level of the sub in the setup menu. instead of the speaker/test tones option. but ive been advised raising the test tones option is the correct way to do it.
all speakers are set to 0 in the channel level option.
with my denon 1712 i always raised the channel level of the sub and that always did the trick. i never messed with the speaker/test tone option.
also, i dont think its a placement issue.
i went to frys again today and spent an hour switching from stereo mode and direct. stereo mode with sub running always had the loudest and deepest bass. but unfortunately this time, they had all klipsch rp towers, 280, 260, and 250 running at the same time in either mode. there is a 30% klipsch rp sale going. i didnt bother to ask frys employees to set it up with just the 280s, because they are useless and unenthusiastic.
tomorrow i am going to set the sub back to -6 in the speaker/test tones option, where audyssey set it in the first place. but i am going to raise the channel level from 0 to perhaps +4.