My sub came in... Now I need to hook it up.

[His dudeness]

My elemental designs A3-250 showed up today. Looks like a beast and it looks like it's going to make a lot of sound. What kinds of connecting cords do I need for this to connect to my receiver? I'm also running bipolar tower speakers that have built in subs, they're hooked into my receiver with the "large speaker" setting. I've read that it might be better to put these on the "small speaker" setting. Is this true?

 

[robc1976]

My elemental designs A3-250 showed up today. Looks like a beast and it looks like it's going to make a lot of sound. What kinds of connecting cords do I need for this to connect to my receiver? I'm also running bipolar tower speakers that have built in subs, they're hooked into my receiver with the "large speaker" setting. I've read that it might be better to put these on the "small speaker" setting. Is this true?

I have thje elemental design A5-350, I would use a monster series M1000 sub cable, turn the "low pass filter all the way up so it does not interfere with Audyssey if you are using it. Set phase to "0" and in your reciever set all speakers to "small". Set the crossover at 120Htz and with the speakers set to small the sub will be set to "LFE" not "LFE+Main".

 

[theJman]

My elemental designs A3-250 showed up today. Looks like a beast and it looks like it's going to make a lot of sound. What kinds of connecting cords do I need for this to connect to my receiver? I'm also running bipolar tower speakers that have built in subs, they're hooked into my receiver with the "large speaker" setting. I've read that it might be better to put these on the "small speaker" setting. Is this true?

There's probably a lot of debate that could happen about the value -- or lack thereof -- in $100 cables. In my case it would be an opposition to them; to me, that doesn't seem like a good investment.

If you wish to persue less costly alternatives a few potential candidates are the MediaBridge 8 feet and 12 feet, as well as the Velocity 6 feet and 12 feet.

Of course, those are only examples, but it gives you an idea of what else you might wish to consider.

 

[sholling]

My elemental designs A3-250 showed up today. Looks like a beast and it looks like it's going to make a lot of sound. What kinds of connecting cords do I need for this to connect to my receiver? I'm also running bipolar tower speakers that have built in subs, they're hooked into my receiver with the "large speaker" setting. I've read that it might be better to put these on the "small speaker" setting. Is this true?

Forget the Monster subwoofer cable and just order the length that you need from Monoprice.com. You'll have to set the mains to small or double bass to get any output from the sub and I'd try small first.

 

[zhimbo]

I would use a monster series M1000 sub cable, ...Set the crossover at 120Htz....

Monster cable? No reason for that. Monoprice is the go-to for cheap quality cables if mail order is OK with you.

120Hz Crossover? Almost certainly not. 80Hz is the usual recommendation; 120Hz would only be recommended with small, bass-challenged main speakers, and His Dudeness' speakers certainly don't sound bass-challenged.

 

[darien87]

Monster cable? No reason for that. Monoprice is the go-to for cheap quality cables if mail order is OK with you.

120Hz Crossover? Almost certainly not. 80Hz is the usual recommendation; 120Hz would only be recommended with small, bass-challenged main speakers, and His Dudeness' speakers certainly don't sound bass-challenged.

+1 on not setting your crossover at 120Hz. That's WAY too high and will likely lead to localization of your sub. Experiment and see what sounds best with your mains. I have my subs crossed over at 40Hz.

 

[robc1976]

There's probably a lot of debate that could happen about the value -- or lack thereof -- in $100 cables. In my case it would be an opposition to them; to me, that doesn't seem like a good investment.

If you wish to persue less costly alternatives a few potential candidates are the MediaBridge 8 feet and 12 feet, as well as the Velocity 6 feet and 12 feet.

Of course, those are only examples, but it gives you an idea of what else you might wish to consider.

You camn get the M1000 for as low as $30.00...I agree though,noway would i spend $200.00 a cable!

 

[robc1976]

+1 on not setting your crossover at 120Hz. That's WAY too high and will likely lead to localization of your sub. Experiment and see what sounds best with your mains. I have my subs crossed over at 40Hz.

40htz?? Guess everyone has there opinion but that is WAY to low...lowest I would go is 80 htz...I am talking about the sub not the speakers.

 

[robc1976]

+1 on not setting your crossover at 120Hz. That's WAY too high and will likely lead to localization of your sub. Experiment and see what sounds best with your mains. I have my subs crossed over at 40Hz.

Mine was noever localized and it is in a corner and that was without treatments, but if it gets localized just add some bass traps. It also depends on what you are listening to...but for HT I would go with 120 htz....I do this with music also and it sounds great!

 

[His dudeness]

Monster cable? No reason for that. Monoprice is the go-to for cheap quality cables if mail order is OK with you.

120Hz Crossover? Almost certainly not. 80Hz is the usual recommendation; 120Hz would only be recommended with small, bass-challenged main speakers, and His Dudeness' speakers certainly don't sound bass-challenged.

Which cable on monoprice would work the best?

Sorry, not too cable knowledgeable.

 

[walter duque]

Which powered speakers do you have and how do you have them hooked up?

 

[templemaners]

Which cable on monoprice would work the best?

Sorry, not too cable knowledgeable.

Something like this will work just fine. You just need to figure out what length of cable would work best.

 

[GranteedEV]

120Hz Crossover? Almost certainly not. 80Hz is the usual recommendation; 120Hz would only be recommended with small, bass-challenged main speakers, and His Dudeness' speakers certainly don't sound bass-challenged.

For one sub, I wouldn't recommend 120hz but when you multiple subs i think higher crossover points definitely have their benefits. Even without multiple subs, I currently cross at 100hz beacause, due to placement it gives the best overall frequency response from 70hz-95hz and also happens to let my mains handle more power.

 

[robc1976]

would only be recommended with small, bass-challenged main speakers, and His Dudeness' speakers certainly don't sound bass-challenged.

If you are setting your speakers up to full range wich is a waste of power because a sub will out do most tower speakers, and not MANY speakers are capable of reproducing accurate bass even though people think they are LOL!! Why waste power reproducing bass from a speaker when a sub can do this easily...welll most descent subs ( And the sub in question will). Setting the speakers to "small" in the AVR has nothing to do with size. May I ask what brand model you classify as being able to reproduce bass? Not saying your wrong...that is your opinion and you are entitled to it. My speakers are 600 watts and play 33Hz-24KHz ± 3dB with (2) 8" drivers and I have 4 up front and they will not come close to reproducing bass like a decent sub will. Also I am talking about "LPF for LFE" and this NOT a crossover. By setting your crossover to 40htz all content above that goes to your speakers all below goes to the sub...why even have a sub?

May want to read the first paragraph here by "Chris Kyriakakis":

Bass Management : Ask Audyssey

 

[robc1976]

For one sub, I wouldn't recommend 120hz but when you multiple subs i think higher crossover points definitely have their benefits. Even without multiple subs, I currently cross at 100hz beacause, due to placement it gives the best overall frequency response from 70hz-95hz and also happens to let my mains handle more power.

That I agree with because you are taking strain off your speakers...120 htz in my room is good...but some 100 may be better....I wouldn't go lower.

 

[darien87]

By setting your crossover to 40htz all content above that goes to your speakers all below goes to the sub...why even have a sub?

May want to read the first paragraph here by "Chris Kyriakakis":

Bass Management : Ask Audyssey

So sound stops at 40Hz?

I think you're nuts setting your low pass at 120, but hey it's your system.

 

[His dudeness]

Which powered speakers do you have and how do you have them hooked up?

I've got Camridge Soundworks Tower speakers. They're not the newest or flashiest out there but they were free from my parents who never actually used them. The reviews for them seem fairly positive though and for a guy who just bought a house free is always better than expensive.
Cambridge Soundworks Tower II Floorstanding Speakers Reviews

They are hooked up with ridiculously expensive cables to a Pioneer receiver which both the cables and receiver is new. I believe this is my receiver...
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/AV-Receivers/Pioneer+Receivers/VSX-821-K

So, all in all nothing fancy. I'm definitely not going for a showstopper system here, just something relatively solid to enhance movies and music. Hence the addition of the ED A3-250 sub. I know there's a ton of more expensive stuff but this fit the budget and will hopefully add some love to the ears.

 

[walter duque]

I've got Camridge Soundworks Tower speakers. They're not the newest or flashiest out there but they were free from my parents who never actually used them. The reviews for them seem fairly positive though and for a guy who just bought a house free is always better than expensive.
Cambridge Soundworks Tower II Floorstanding Speakers Reviews

They are hooked up with ridiculously expensive cables to a Pioneer receiver which both the cables and receiver is new. I believe this is my receiver...
VSX-821-K - NEW 5.1-Channel 3D Ready AV Receiver | Pioneer Electronics USA

So, all in all nothing fancy. I'm definitely not going for a showstopper system here, just something relatively solid to enhance movies and music. Hence the addition of the ED A3-250 sub. I know there's a ton of more expensive stuff but this fit the budget and will hopefully add some love to the ears.

Very nice speakers. In you OP you mentioned that they had build in subs, but I don't see an amp on the speakers. Nice starter system, that's for sure..

 

[His dudeness]

I always thought they had built in subs. They say they have a 8 inch woofer in each one, and there is a ported opening in the back. But then again I'm not the most knowledgeable here so I could be mistaking a woofer for a subwoofer.

 

[walter duque]

I always thought they had built in subs. They say they have a 8 inch woofer in each one, and there is a ported opening in the back. But then again I'm not the most knowledgeable here so I could be mistaking a woofer for a subwoofer.

Yeah you did get the two mixed up, but that's OK, it's woofer and not a subwoofer. Still a nice fullrange speaker system.