Pass speaker connections through subwoofer?

[Jin-X]

The speakers are Polk RM6700 and the sub a Polk404 (10 inch 200watts), is it better to run the speaker connections through the sub like the Polk manual says or is it better the normal way, connecting them directly to the receiver?

 

[j_garcia]

You are probably better off running them through the sub with those speakers. Running it through the receiver, you will need to set the crossover higher which will have the sub playing higher than ideal. This will make the sub easy to localize within the room. With that configuration, you would set the system as sub=none and front R&L large. You will still have the problem of the other speakers needing to be crossed over fairly high though. This is the number one problem with smaller satellite speakers.

 

[mtrycrafts]

The speakers are Polk RM6700 and the sub a Polk404 (10 inch 200watts), is it better to run the speaker connections through the sub like the Polk manual says or is it better the normal way, connecting them directly to the receiver?

I would say that would depend on your intention of use and the receiver. For strict stereo use, through the sub to use the lows, then to the speakers. But, if you use prologic processing that can separate the sub band to the LFE out, that would be ideal.
If for DVD use, then the LFE out as well.

 

[Jin-X]

Is Bass Peak another term for speaker crossover? If so at about what decibel do you recommend it should be set?

 

[j_garcia]

bass peak is the point at which you hear distortion coming from the sub indicating that it is being pushed too hard. Just below the point that you hear the sub start to sound like it is struggling is where this should be set. It is a feature that is designed to limit the sub's peak output to prevent damage.