Pioneer VSX-41 Elite: Sub "Tweaking" Question

[Raymond]

Just upgraded from a Prologic system and so some of the settings on the new AMP - Pioneer A/V VSX-41 Elite - are new to me. I have the operating manual dog-eared already but there's nothing like advice from the pros on this board. I hope you can bear with me on these very basic questions:

The settings on the amp allow me to send frequencies from 100Hz, 150Hz and 200Hz to the sub. The center and front speakers are Athena (c.5 and s.5 series) respectively, sub is RW-8 Klipsch. The center speaker specs state frequencies 60Hz-20kHz, the fronts 80Hz to 20kHz, Sub 30Hz-120Hz, Surrounds - my old bose V-100 speakers (don't remember the frequencies).

What settings should I set the sub to: 100, 150 or 200?? (YES, will definitely be getting an SPL meter, any suggestions in the meantime).

And here's a real dumb one but just have to ask: can sending frequencies outside of the frequencies of a speaker cause any damage to the speaker - in this case, the sub - or will those frequencies simply be lost??

Ray

 

[hopjohn]

And here's a real dumb one but just have to ask: can sending frequencies outside of the frequencies of a speaker cause any damage to the speaker - in this case, the sub - or will those frequencies simply be lost??

Ray

Actually your sub will likely reach almost any low frequency that you might encounter from a movie or music, it's just that the level at those frequencies will be so low that they become inaudible. Usually the low rating of a given sub is where the low frequency level dips below the audible range. These inaudible frequencies won't damage your subwoofer.

 

[Raymond]

Sub Conx: Thru LFE or Left-Right RCA jacks

Thks Hopjohn !

Another newbie question on sub:

The Klipsch RW-8 has 3 ways for connection - thru the LFE (bypasses sub crossover - Amp manages bass), through a Left-Right RCA input (sub handles bass frequencies) and directly from speaker outs on the Amp - of course, I have no intention of using this option.

I am now connected from the PREOUT on the Amp to the LFE on the sub. The sales guy - who seemed to know what he was talking about ??? - said that I could connect from the PREOUT on the Amp to the Left-Right RCA inputs on the sub via a Y-connector and have full frequency control from 0-120Hz via the frequency control knob on the sub.

Phase control should work using both methods.

Any thoughts on this? Somehow, I don't like using Y-connection cables, doesn't seem right to me.

As well, any thoughts on phase control on the sub - what the settings are supposed to achieve between 0 and 180 degrees?

Thanks again for your patience with these basic questions .

Ray