Def Tech powered towers setup and more

[Dsnape]

Hello everyone,

I have been an avid follower of Audioholics and this forum for a while.

I seek some advice in setting up my 6.2 system:

Reciever: Pioneer SC82
Center: CS9080
Fronts: BP9060
Surrounds: SR9080
Rear: SR9080
Sub: Velodyne CT120
Sub 2: MTX SW1010
Bluray Player: Oppo 103
Speaker cable: Mono price 12 gauge cv2 cable

I mainly watch blu rays listen to music through spotify and SACD through my oppo.

I Set everything up manually with an SPL and a tape measure setting speakers to 75db and sub to 78db.

I am concerned about bass performance. I cannot adjust the crossover for individual speakers and I have crossover set at 80. I have experimented with setting the size to large and small and in my opinion I prefer small as I think the bass response is better. Can fellow def tech people answer my questions please:

1, By setting my speakers to small am I reducing the performance of my speakers. Will I loose dynamic range and soundstage?

2, I feel my sub is the weak link at the moment and I plan on upgrading to a SVS SB 13 in the near future to solve this issue. What are your views.

3, someone suggested to set speakers to large for movies as there is a dedicated LFE channel and small for music what are your views?

4, I listen to a well rounded selection of music and sharp refined bass is important not just a boom. Movies I want to feel the bass blended into the mix with my towers.

5, I live in Naples Florida if anyone is interested in listening to my setup pm and I will accommodate you.

Best

Danny

 

[shadyJ]

I don't have time to go over all of your questions, but I will just leave a few comments. If your speaker's built-in subs are very capable subs, there is no real reason not to use them on the LFE output, so long as they can be properly dialed-in with the other subs. On the other hand, if they are weak subs with respect to the outboard subs, there is no good reason to use them on the LFE output since they will not contribute much except for distortion. Your Velodyne and MTX subs are not great ones, but if you don't listen to bass loud than they may be just fine. Your built-in deftech subs are not going to be great, but again, if you don't listen at high levels, they may be just fine. There is no reason so switch the speakers from large to small depending on content. If you have to do that, something is not right somewhere. The SB13 is a good sub, but I think the SB16 is a worthwhile upgrade for just a few hundred more. If you get one of the SVS subs, then it is time to ditch the Velodyne and MTX subs and also knock the Deftechs off the LFE input. The important thing about subs is to calibrate them for an overall flat frequency response. However you get there is up to you, but that is the goal.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

How big is the room?

The DT BP9060 has 10" built-in subwoofer, which like ShadyJ pointed out, may be enough in addition to the other subs.

If you have a Denon or Marantz AVR with Audyssey Dynamic EQ, I would recommend setting speakers to Small, and using the LFE on the DT BP9060 towers. You would need to use Y-cables to split the LFE outputs on the AVR.

Audyssey Dynamic EQ works wonders for me in terms of LFE/Subwoofer BASS PERFORMANCE. It's not about increasing the bass VOLUME. It's Bass EQ that makes the mid bass sound more dynamic or "PUNCHY".

Without Bass/Subwoofer EQ, although the bass could still be very good, I don't think the bass would ever be as good as it could be.

 

[Littlefoott]

1: if your speakers are 75db set the subs to 85db as per dolby standards

2: the towers are very capable so set the bass management to small and crossover to 60 or 40 hz using speaker wire only (my 8060's are set at 60hz)

my receiver's audyssey has "left and right bypass" in the audyssey setting, does mcacc have similar? if so run mcacc and try that.

3: remember to keep the speaker trims well below zero and adjust the sub gain if you need to in order to stay below zero. I recommend -5 to -9db on subs (assuming pioneer goes to -10)
this is to keep the majority of the power coming from the subs built in amplifier as it is designed to do