2.1 Setup

[Prestonnnn]

I just found a setting on the receiver that allows me to change the subwoofer "level" in terms of decibals.

 

[Prestonnnn]

Any idea what that is or any further tips?

 

[lovinthehd]

Try this. Have you gone thru your manual?

 

[markw]

There is no perfect way to tell you how to set up your system.

first off, there is no ".1" channel in stereo, What comes from your subwoofer is a summed combination of your two stereo channels.

Large or small settings will determine whether or not your system will send lows to your speakers. Small, no bass to the mains. Large, they get the full range.

Now, you need to check here: some receivers will only send a signal to the sub when the mains are set to small. See what yours does. If that's the case, end of game. If the sub gets a signal either way, continue reading.

As o your speakers, as long as he sub sends out a signal whether you set them to large or small is immaterial. What DOES matter is what they sound like when run full range? Do they "fart out" or show other signs of being overdriven when being run full range? If not, then I would leave then that way. If they do, then set them to small, game over.

Now, as for the sub, it goes down below 80 hz. That's the setting for the upper range of the sub, (crossover, or low pass filter) not the bottom.

The sub should take over where your mains fall off. Assuming you've got everything above figured out, set the receiver to the upper range of where you want the sub to kick in. Or, you could set it to off to send all it's got to the sub.

Now, once that's done, the sub itself contains two main controls, the level and crossover. If your receiver determines the crossover, set the subs crossover to as high as it goes. If you aren't using the crossover in the sub (it's off) then set it on the sub's crossover control In either case, Set it's level to where it sounds right.

That last part is time consuming. You have to use your ears and it took me several weeks of kerfutzing around to the level/crossover settings on my sub to find the correct (for me) combination of crossover/level settings where the sound smoothly transitions from the mains to the sub. eall kinds of music and set it to the perfect balance. "perfect" is a relative term. We can't tell you where that is. That's something only you can do and that takes iime, patience, listening, and playing around with the controls.

And, to add to your confusion, you might want expeiment with the sub's placement. moving it a few inches can have a significant difference on the sound. Again, this takes time, patience, listening and kerfutzing.

Take your time. Don't rush it. It can be done.

 

[Prestonnnn]

Thanks for your response. I noticed that I can only select large/small speakers in pro logic so should I use that or stereo. Also my sub still works when the speakers are set to large

 

[markw]

I prefer stereo for music. It's only two channel to begin with and, IMNSHO, trying to artificially manipulate it to seem like multi-channel destroys it's sound. YMMV.

 

[Prestonnnn]

Ok, last question. I found a pair of jbl bookshelf speakers and was wondering if they would sound better paired with a sub than the tower speakers for music.

 

[markw]

All the sub does is extend the low end. It won't improve a speaker that has problems in other areas.

Everything above where it cuts off is determined by the speaker.

If a speaker sucks, all a sub will do is extend the low end but the rest will still suck.

 

[Prestonnnn]

So should I use the bookshelfs or towers?

 

[markw]

So should I use the bookshelfs or towers?

you tell me. Which one sounds better.

We can explain things TO you but we can't understand them FOR you.

...I think we're done here.

 

[Dan Madden]

Set the AVR to stereo mode (This will sound best) and connect the sub to the 'sub out' on the back of the pro-logic receiver. The sub out on the back of those older receivers is already set to a 80hz crossover so there's no need to set a crossover on the sub itself (Set it to full or bypass) . You just need to adjust the sub's volume level to your liking while playing music. Once that's done, you should not need to touch it again. That's it......that's all!

Setting it to Pro-Logic will cause needless processing for nothing since your playing your music in 2.1 channel mode and have no center or surrounds.

 

[Mark of Cenla]

I say to set up your AVR to "stereo" and use your tower speakers. Do not even connect the sub. Try that for a few days. If it has enough bass for you that way, forget the sub. If it is lacking bass, then connect the sub and do what must be done.

In two of my systems where I was using a sub, I disconnected the subs and turned up the bass slightly. One system has Polk Rti4 bookshelf speakers, and the other has Boston Acoustic CS26 bookshelf speakers. You are the only one who can say what sounds good to you. Peace and goodwill.