Crossover help

[Jay_C]

Hi Guy,


Can you give some info on what the crossover settings should be.

My Amps documents say it handle between 20 Hz to 20 kHz
In amp setting for sub crosover is 40-200Hz
My 10" Sub can handle 50-250hz
My Fronts can handle 49-22kHz


Oh I also have another 6" sub that handle 40-200hz (Mission AS6E)

Thanks


System Details :

ONKYO TX-NR509 (Amp)
Eltax Thunder 10 Active (Sub)
Bowers Wilkins 685 (Front)
Gale 3050C (Center)
Gale 3010S (Rear)

 

[afterlife2]

Read these:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/877661-post3.html
Have you tried calibration?
Mine is:
80 fronts
80 center
80 rear
sub 120
http://www.avforums.com/forums/av-amplifiers-receivers/1019893-crossover-speaker-settings-relation-bass-management.html
http://www.axiomaudio.com/sub_setup.html

 

[timoteo]

I have the B&W 685 speakers as well. For me, after trying a lot of different crossover points, the best point is 90hz. I use them as surround channels though.

Those bookshelf speakers are probably 6dB quiter at 49hz. They are at minimum 3dB quiter at 49hz. So to prevent any information from damaging the woofer, I would recommend you try crossing them over between 60hz-100hz. Try each option between those values & see which sounds best to you.

As long as you have your crossover engaged on the Onkyo then you don't need to worry about the crossover setting on the sub itself. Set it to its highest available value just to make sure you don't clip any of the upper bass that should go to the sub. As long as the crossover on the sub is set higher than the crossover you have set for the speakers your fine.

Make sure to use the Onkyo auto calibration to set the volume trim & then make sure the speakers are set to Small & change the crossover value to your taste. Even better, if you have an SPL meter (i.e RadioShack) you can set the speakers & sub to the right volume in relation to eachother.

 

[Jay_C]

I have the B&W 685 speakers as well. For me, after trying a lot of different crossover points, the best point is 90hz. I use them as surround channels though.

Those bookshelf speakers are probably 6dB quiter at 49hz. They are at minimum 3dB quiter at 49hz. So to prevent any information from damaging the woofer, I would recommend you try crossing them over between 60hz-100hz. Try each option between those values & see which sounds best to you.

As long as you have your crossover engaged on the Onkyo then you don't need to worry about the crossover setting on the sub itself. Set it to its highest available value just to make sure you don't clip any of the upper bass that should go to the sub. As long as the crossover on the sub is set higher than the crossover you have set for the speakers your fine.

Make sure to use the Onkyo auto calibration to set the volume trim & then make sure the speakers are set to Small & change the crossover value to your taste. Even better, if you have an SPL meter (i.e RadioShack) you can set the speakers & sub to the right volume in relation to eachother.

Please excuse my noobness, setting the crossover does that mean if I set it @ 60 Hz say 60Hz and lower the sub will output and too high a hertz value going to sub will bottoming it out possibly causing damage?

The manual state frequency range -6dB at 42Hz and 50kHz is this when you say 6dB quieter?

I just got these speaker last week : D I am so impressed with them I can’t believe how much sound I was missing and the bass responce is awssome. i wish i could afford you fronts though . I had TDL Nucleus2 before that for 8 year, I’m going to make them my rears for just now. Next purchase will be the B&W HTM62 (Centre) my current one the voices have little bass response. Could this be to do with a receiver setting maybe?

 

[timoteo]

I'm sorry buddy but I'm having a little trouble understanding your question so I will do my best explain what I think you want to know.

The lower the hz number the more bassy it is (thats the scientific definition)
If you set the crossover for the speakers in the receiver to 60hz you are telling the receiver to send the frequencies from 60hz & UP to the speaker (60hz-20khz) The frequencies below 60hz for the speakers will be redirected to the sub. This way the speakers are safe from frequencies that can damage them.

The sub is designed to handle low bass. So don't worry about giving it too much bass. As long as the volume setting on the sub is correct compared to the speakers then you are good. By giving it frequencies that normally go to the speaker, using the crossover in the receiver, your totally fine!

A typical sub can easily play up to 120+hz so it can be crossed over that high no prob.

On average (this is in no means set in stone, just a guideline) speakers that have these specs should be crossed over at about this point. Examples below:

Speaker 1. -3dB at 30hz, crossover at 45hz-80hz
Speaker 2. -3dB at 40hz, crossover at 60hz-90hz
Speaker 3. -3dB at 50hz, crossover at 75hz-100hz

Like I said, if you have the sub's volume set correctly then you don't have to worry about overdriving or damaging it. If you hear distortion or some sort of popping noise then turn the master volume or sub volume down a bit. Use common sense!

Hope this helps!!

 

[Jay_C]

I'm sorry buddy but I'm having a little trouble understanding your question so I will do my best explain what I think you want to know.

The lower the hz number the more bassy it is (thats the scientific definition)
If you set the crossover for the speakers in the receiver to 60hz you are telling the receiver to send the frequencies from 60hz & UP to the speaker (60hz-20khz) The frequencies below 60hz for the speakers will be redirected to the sub. This way the speakers are safe from frequencies that can damage them.

The sub is designed to handle low bass. So don't worry about giving it too much bass. As long as the volume setting on the sub is correct compared to the speakers then you are good. By giving it frequencies that normally go to the speaker, using the crossover in the receiver, your totally fine!

A typical sub can easily play up to 120+hz so it can be crossed over that high no prob.

On average (this is in no means set in stone, just a guideline) speakers that have these specs should be crossed over at about this point. Examples below:

Speaker 1. -3dB at 30hz, crossover at 45hz-80hz
Speaker 2. -3dB at 40hz, crossover at 60hz-90hz
Speaker 3. -3dB at 50hz, crossover at 75hz-100hz

Like I said, if you have the sub's volume set correctly then you don't have to worry about overdriving or damaging it. If you hear distortion or some sort of popping noise then turn the master volume or sub volume down a bit. Use common sense!

Hope this helps!!

Ye sorry I didn’t explain very well.

I have i “think” =) a reasonable knowledge of most of most audio terminology.

Yes that what I wanted to know in particular that crossover meant that the frequency below did not go to the fronts.

What I was confused about is where you’re getting the info about the fronts being 6dB quieter at 49 Hz, will that info it be in the speaker manual or would you really need an SPL meter to know.

 

[timoteo]

Your 685s are +-3dB between 55hz & 22khz. That means that there is no more that + or - 3 decibels between 55hz & 22khz. Just so you know, + or - 3dB is a range of 6dB. So there is no more that a 6dB difference in volume between 55hz & 22khz.

The specs on the Gale speakers doesn't give a +-3dB rating. The specs they give are meaningless unfortunately.

Don't worry though about all that. Just set the crossover between 60-100hz. See which sounds best to you. Your not gonna damage them.