Large vs Small and crossover frequency

[TankTop5]

Not sure about other AVR’s but what’s the difference between large vs small speakers and crossover frequency? Setting speakers to small with a subwoofer sends different signal to mains but what effect of crossover frequency have on this?

Use small words please

 

[lovinthehd]

Small is generally used instead of "turn bass management on", i.e. the redirection of bass frequencies from the speaker/channel to the sub. Some avrs can still still use a "crossover" but keep speakers at a don't use bass management or "large" setting....called by various marketing/setting names like Extra Bass, Double Bass, or LFE+Main, etc.

If you set speakers to small with a sub, the crossover is the "cross over" point of the low pass filter for the sub and the high pass filter for the speakers....

 

[ryanosaur]

Effect of crossover frequency...

Beyond what Lovin' wrote, the XO frequency is meant to help protect your woofer from too much power and possible overexcursion (the cone moving outwards too far, thus allowing the voice coil to leave the cylinder and misalign (bad)). It is also noted by many that by offfloading the lows to a capable subwoofer, you take power demand off the speaker itself where it is not necessarily meant to excel (down low), and allow better performance in the mids and highs. To my ears, in my system, it is a subtle shift to better bass, (punchier) from the subwoofer, and more clarity in the mids.
I cross at 80 Hz. Others like it a little higher, still. I would not recommend going over 100 unless it is a small standmount speaker that doesn't perform well below 60Hz.
General rule of thumb is to cross 1 octave above the F3 of the speaker. So, the F3 is the -3dB point at the low end of the FR on the speaker. 1 octave is a doubling of the frequency.
So let's say you have a speaker rated ±3dB 34Hz-20kHz. Take that 34Hz, and double it: 68Hz is 1 octave up, or 70Hz.

Hope that helps!

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Looks like this.

 

[TankTop5]

I was mostly wondering because I made some physical changes to my system recently and re-ran odyssey. The lower middle base got amazingly punchy, then I realized that’s because the subwoofer in the mains were playing the same frequency together. Perhaps it would be beneficial for some people if there was a setting for small speakers, large speakers and a range in between, I’m thinking you may be able to blend your means and sub a little better or get a more personally desirable mix.