questions from a noob....

[psbfreak]

Hey everyone, love the forums, have learned so much already, but still, I have a couple of questions and I'm hoping to get some ideas..... here it goes:

I recently purchased the following for my 7.1 home theatre / music room;

-Harman Hardon AVR635 receiver
-2x PSB Image T45 Towers (front right and left)
-1x PSB Image C40 center
-2x PSB Alpha T Towers (surround right and surround left)
-2x PSB Alpha C centers (sbr and sbl)
-1x PSB Subseries 6i subwoofer

The choice of speakers I made has alot to do with room layout and space.

So far, I'm quite happy with this setup, but I'm having trouble with some settings, no matter what I try, I cant get the system sounding like I believe it should...

My question is, in general for an average sized living room (aprox. 16ft x 14ft), in order to get the cleanest and richest possible sound in both movies and music, what crossover setting should I use for all my speakers and sub? I know that every system and situation is different, but I'm sure that there must be a general configuration that will help me get the most out of my setup.

I've read so many different articles and everyone has different opinions, but I'm sure that there are some experts in here that can help... remember that I'm new at this, but I'm also very picky when it comes to sound quality.

I tried using the ezset/eq that's included with the hk avr635 using the included mic, but the results were not satisfactory and would like to enter the settings manually.

Options I can modify include:

-speaker size (small or large)...... need help
-front right / left crossover........ need help
-surround crossover........ need help
-surround back crossover........ need help
-sub crossover.......... need help - the sub also has a crossover dial, do I set it the same as in the receiver?

Delay adjust and db adjust for each speaker, I'm OK with.

Thanks for any help you can provide and I apologize for such a long first post!

 

[MDS]

The best all-around choice (recommended by Dolby and THX) is all speakers set to Small and 80 Hz xover for all channels. Because your receiver allows you to set different xovers for each channel, you can experiment with different xovers for each channel. The way to go about it is to look at the frequency response specs for each speaker and set the xover for that channel at or above the - 3 dB point of the speakers for that channel; eg if the frequency response specs say 60 hz - 20 Hz +/- 3 dB then you could use 60 Hz or above for that channel. I think you'll find 80 Hz to be about right though.

If you are connecting the sub with a single cable from the receiver's subwoofer pre-out to the line-in of the subwoofer, then the receiver will control the xover frequency and you don't want the subwoofer's internal xover to be active. Some subs have a switch to disable the internal xover or disable it automatically if you connect to a specific input (eg. JBL subs disable the internal xover if you use the input marked 'LFE'). Check your manual to see how your sub can be configured. If there is no way to disable the sub's internal xover, then set the xover dial on the sub all the way up so that it is higher than the xover you set in the receiver (this is to avoid 'cascading xovers' which is a bad thing...)

 

[psbfreak]

thanks for the info MDS, that is exactly the answer I was looking for. I'll set all speakers to small and crossover @ 80 for all speakers and sub and see what results I get.

When you said all channels to 80Hz, you mean the sub as well, right?

Thanks!

 

[ozdvduser]

thanks for the info MDS, that is exactly the answer I was looking for. I'll set all speakers to small and crossover @ 80 for all speakers and sub and see what results I get.

When you said all channels to 80Hz, you mean the sub as well, right?

Thanks!

Turn the sub right Up to Maximum x-over, the amp being set at 80 will do all the managment

 

[psbfreak]

there's a switch on the back side of the sub, when set to "active" the x-over knob does nothing according to the manual, x-over is then controlled by the receiver as MDS said!

 

[darien87]

Just a suggestion

Your speakers are rated to play down to 35hz. I think crossing them over at 80 is going to be a little too high, especially for music. I have a Denon 2805 and Boston VR2's for fronts. I started out at 80 hz, but tried 60hz just for the hell of it and it sounded A LOT better. It wasn't much of a difference with movies, but it was definitely noticeable with music. Unless you're planning to switch your crossover point manually when you go from HT to music.

Crossing over at 60hz just made sense to me. Why miss out on what is in your case and extra 20hz of usable sound from your front speakers. Try it both ways and see what sounds better to you.

 

[Sheep]

Your speakers are rated to play down to 35hz. I think crossing them over at 80 is going to be a little too high, especially for music. I have a Denon 2805 and Boston VR2's for fronts. I started out at 80 hz, but tried 60hz just for the hell of it and it sounded A LOT better. It wasn't much of a difference with movies, but it was definitely noticeable with music. Unless you're planning to switch your crossover point manually when you go from HT to music.

Crossing over at 60hz just made sense to me. Why miss out on what is in your case and extra 20hz of usable sound from your front speakers. Try it both ways and see what sounds better to you.

When you run towers with more bass then 80Hz, they need more power too.

Subwoofers have their own amp, while receivers have to power 5 channels. Its easier on the equipment to just run 80Hz.

SheepStar

 

[psbfreak]

Thanks for all the info and help guys...

So far, I've set the x-over @ 80Hz for all channels including sub, music sounds very good at all levels and finally the subwoofer blends in perfectly, the sound has a nice punch, base is pleasently present and while listening from any area of the room, you can not tell where the sub is located. Movies were never an issue, therefore I'm not worried about what they'll sound like.

If I close my eyes and listen, I cannot tell where the sub is, yet if I put my ear right next to it it's output is huge...

If I were to try all speaker's x-over set to 60Hz, should I set the sub to 60Hz as well????