Crossover frequency setting

[feadin]

Hi!

I have a Pioneer receiver model # VSX-D811S http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_4153_34976,00.html?olderModel=Y, but I don't really understand how works the crossover frequency setting.

I know I can set this at 100Hz, 150Hz or 200Hz. Right now, it is set at 150Hz.

I have small Pioneer satellites. Here is the speaker system I have:

6 Piece 2-Way Satellite Loudspeakers

3/4 inch Piezo tweeter
3 Inch Midrange Woofer
High Frequency Wave Guide
Integrated Low Diffraction Baffle
Freq. Response: 150 - 20KHz
Sensitivity: 85 dB @ 1m/2.83V ms
Maximum output: 102 dB SPL
Amp requirements: 15-100 Watts

100 Watt Powered Subwoofer

8 Inch Woofer
Bass Reflex Enclosure
Low standby power consumption (less than 1W)
Transformer-less dynamic power supply
Bass Level Control

What should I put for crossover frequency setting?

Many thanks!

 

[tbewick]

I can only recommend experimentation. Try out the different settings and see how it sounds.

My experience with systems like yours is that the bass can sound muffled. Try listening to some pop music with a bass guitar. If you can't hear the bass guitar and all you get is a muffled bassy sound, then adjust the settings. Such systems may have the bass control set too high to start off with so try lowering this.

One other suggestion I have would be blocking up the port on the subwoofer. This may help to give you cleaner bass at the expense of bass efficiency. To do this, stuff a cloth or something into the port securely. Leave it loose enough so that you can remove it if you don't like the results.

 

[mpompey]

In your case, the crossover frequency is the frequency in which your receiver starts redirecting sound to your subwoofer. Since your satellites can only play as far down as 150 Hz, that's a decent starting point. However, for Home Theater uses you'll need to upgrade your speakers and receiver. A Crossover setting of 150 Hz is far too high for a subwoofer. A setting of 80 or 60 is more common.

 

[feadin]

Thanks to both of you for your tips.

I know my system is quite basic. When I bought it, I was still a university student, so I didn't have a lot of money! But it did the trick.

I guess I'll experiment a bit more. Right now, it's at 150Hz and sounds pretty good.

Am I right to think that if I set this at 100Hz, the bass will be louder?

Thanks

 

[j_garcia]

No, setting it lower will not make the bass any louder and in fact might actually give you LESS, because more bass will be sent to the mains which cannot reproduce the lower frequencies. If the sats roll off quick, you might actually create a dip between their response and the sub's response, but you should try it out anyway and compare with 150Hz. As Mpompey said, 150Hz is high to cross a sub because it makes it very easy to tell where the sub is in the room and also because most subs are not designed to perform in the higher ranges.

 

[feadin]

Okay, thanks for the tip j_garcia!

 

[Taifun]

I had a similar receiver, a Pioneer VSX-D810S, which i retired. If you upgrade speakers first, you can run the LR speakers as large and use a subwoofer with speaker line in and out. Then you can use the sub's crossover. I did this until recently and it worked well enough.