Sub connection and settings question

[Shell]

I have a Hsu VTF-3 connected to a Pio VSX-21. Only owned them for a few days.
I'm using Dish Network and have digital channels available.
I had the subwoofer pre-out(same as LFE?) connected to the L input on the sub. This worked fine for movies, but the sub didn't seem to activate when watching TV, even if it was a digital channel that triggered the VSX-21 to indicate 5.1. The analog channels only trigger a stereo signal, so sub output is non existant there.
My solution was to leave the LFE to L-in connected but add a Pre-out R connection to the R channel on the VTF-3. I have the sub's crossover on and set to roughly 80Hz. I'm running Jamo E660 floorstanding speakers for R/L and surrounds with all being set to large by the MCACC.

This should add some LFE to my TV experience, right?
Is there a chance to damage the sub with both of these connections being made?
I recently read that it was recommended to let the receiver manage the bass instead of the sub. This raises 2 questions for me.
Is the MCACC auto calibration smart enough to notice that sub's crossover is being used, and disable the VSX -21 bass management?
Shouldn't I disable this in my receiver since I'm using the sub's x-over to filter the pre-out R signal?
Thanks alot.

 

[Adam]

Hi. There are a few things that I'd change with your set-up:

• Set the speakers to "Small." MCACC often sets speakers to Large, even if they are bookshelves. That's one of the very fews things (if not the only thing) that I think needs to be corrected with MCACC - otherwise, it does a great job, IMO.
• Leave the crossover setting on the receiver at 80 Hz to begin with, but feel free to experiment with it. The E660s are speced down to 45 Hz, but I don't know at what level (-3dB, -6dB?).
• Only connect the subwoofer pre-out from the receiver to the "Sub In/Left" input on the sub. Do not connect any other pre-amp outputs to the sub.
• Set the crossover switch on the sub to "OUT." That should disable the crossover in the sub. Just to be sure, I'd still set the crossover dial on the sub to the highest possible number. This is to disable the crossover in the sub and have the VSX-21 do all the bass management.

With these settings, the receiver will be performing the bass management and sending all frequencies below the crossover frequency (80 Hz in this example) from the speakers to the sub. In addition, the LFE (or .1) audio track will be sent to the sub.

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments about that.

Here's a picture of the subwoofer amp for others who are reading this:

 

[daiva]

You will damage your sub however you might try using a rca y connector to get LR out of 1 cable. Also set your AV receiver to all channel 5.1-7.1 this will give you all Channels.:

 

[Shell]

Thanks Adam.
I'd read recommendations to set all speakers to small even if they were floor standing units, but it makes me wonder that I'm not using them to their full potential by doing that. I just thought I'd run with the MCACC calibration.
I will make the changes you suggest tommorrow, Got "Return of the King" scheduled for a viewing.
With just the single connection to the VTF-3, will I get anything from the sub while viewing analog TV or the Sirius music channels on Dish? That's really the only reason I was trying to run the sub's x-over and the extra R signal.
Do you think the VTF-3 would benefit from using a Y-splitter to reach both low level inputs?
Would you suggest keeping one of the ports plugged in the back of the VTF-3 or removing it?
Looking forward to auditioning your suggested changes.

 

[Shell]

Aha! I think some of the fog is lifting...
The reason that I had no sound from the sub during analog TV is because my speakers were set to large. And if there is no LFE on the track, than I won't get it just because the sub is receiving signals from the R channel. I was just duplicating the -80 hz sounds from the R speaker with the sub.
I was also processing the LFE, etc twice.
Right?

 

[Adam]

Always happy to help if I can!

I'd read recommendations to set all speakers to small even if they were floor standing units, but it makes me wonder that I'm not using them to their full potential by doing that.

I hear ya. I can understand wanting to fully utilize those speakers. You can still do that by setting them to "Small" and setting the crossover frequency lower. With their lower spec at 45 Hz, and with no indication of what the output is at that point, I personally wouldn't go below 60 Hz on the crossover, and would initially use 80 Hz.

With just the single connection to the VTF-3, will I get anything from the sub while viewing analog TV or the Sirius music channels on Dish?

If you set your speakers to "Small", then you certainly will. With analog TV broadcasts, there aren't any shows with an LFE signal, so the sub would not come on if your speakers were set to "Large." For digital TV broadcasts, some of those are in Dolby Digital that can have an LFE signal, so the sub might still come on if your speakers were set to "Large." I can't say for the music stations.

Do you think the VTF-3 would benefit from using a Y-splitter to reach both low level inputs?

Based on statements in the owner's manual specifically stating that a y-splitter isn't necessary and to connect only to the "Sub In" jack, I'd say that there isn't any benefit to that.

Would you suggest keeping one of the ports plugged in the back of the VTF-3 or removing it?

That is part of calibrating the sub in your room. That's a little bit more involved than what we're discussing at the moment. It's not difficult, though. We'll be happy to help you out with that, too. A good place to start is the Audioholics Tips & Tricks section on Get Good Bass.

I was just duplicating the -80 hz sounds from the R speaker with the sub.
I was also processing the LFE, etc twice.
Right?

Yes, and no. You were duplicating the bass frequencies for the right speaker with that connection, but you weren't duplicating the LFE channel (because the LFE would only be going to the subwoofer and not to the right speaker).