Question Regarding Crossover..

[JDaBod]

Around this time last year I started building (on a tight budget) my home audio system. What I ended up with is a Sony DA555ES driving Boston VRM-60s in the front, a VR10 center, a pair of Boston CR5s in the rear, and a PV500 subwoofer (which I am now looking to upgrade-fingers are crossed for an Emotiva Ultra 12). I have always struggled to understand how to adjust the crossover on the 555. It simply asks if there is a subwoofer, but gives no adjustment options. I assume this indicates that the receiver automatically sets it (at 80hz?), but don't really know. Is having the front speaker option set to "small" and the subwoofer option set to "yes" as good as I can get with this receiver?

Thanks very much for any insight!

 

[baniels]

See this. Set to SMALL and the crossover appears to be a fixed 120hz.

EDIT: Here is a guess that it may be 100hz. In any case, no option to change it. I skimmed the manual (flattened, couldn't search) and found no mention of the spec. Just large or small.

 

[lsiberian]

Nothing in your manual indicates the frequency used, but 80 is certainly likely. You would set your speakers to small and your sub to yes. If you want custom control it gets more complicated and requires additional equipment.

 

[JDaBod]

Am I correct in assuming that the internal setting on the receiver bypasses the crossover adjustment on the actual sub? If I am listening to music and have the receiver set to AFD, does the internal crossover still apply, or does it then rely on the setting on the sub? I apologize for what are probably stupid questions, I have just read the manual and been trying to investigate this on my own for a while to no avail.

 

[baniels]

I believe AFD is Auto Format Direct - meaning no processing. It's hard to say exactly what this means - does it pass any content to the sub when you are listening to 2-channel content?

In any case, the crossover on your sub is typically a LPF if you are running the sub from a line level. Or it is a crossover between the mains and the sub if you are using the hi level inputs (if it has them). I assume you are using the line level.

The dial or knob is selecting the frequency below which content will be permitted. In most cases the best bet is to leave this at its highest position if it doesn't have an OFF setting.

 

[JDaBod]

Yep, the sub is active in Auto Format Decoding.

Thanks very much for everyone's input and advice. I really appreciate it!

 

[lsiberian]

Am I correct in assuming that the internal setting on the receiver bypasses the crossover adjustment on the actual sub?

No you should disable it or turn it to the highest frequency possible.

 

[JDaBod]

Ok, one more question: I absolutely love the VRM-60s...if I set the front speaker setting to "small" on the 555 will that detract from the sound quality and warmth of the fronts?

 

[baniels]

How about you give it a try and listen? Those speakers are rated to about 50hz. You might find most music does fine running them full range.

The question is how well the sub integrates with the mains crossed so high (if it is really 120hz).

 

[JDaBod]

Does anyone by chance know what the crossover switches to with the option set to "large?" I can't seem to track that down.

 

[baniels]

The general convention is that the crossover would be off. A stereo source with two mains set to LARGE would mean that the subwoofer is not getting a signal.