System setup question

[wxiao]

I need some advice on how to correctly set up my audio system. Thanks in advance.

I just purchased the Onkyo TX-NR 809 receiver, five infinity speakers, and an outlaw LFM plus subwoofer. I used Onkyo's automatic calibration system, Audessey, to set up the system. This involves moving a microphone around the room, and the let the system decide on important parameters.

After setting it up, I found that the cross-over frequency was set at 40hz for all five speakers. Since I did some reading (I am a newbie, but I tried to learn), I started to wonder if 40hz is too low. My understanding is that the speakers are handling a lot of low frequency jobs at this frequency. So I went into the setup menu and manually set all crossover frequencies at 80hz.

What do you think? Am I on the right track? What else should I do? Thanks.

 

[markw]

Reading is all well and good but sometimes your ears have the final say.

How did it sound when you let the receiver set it up?

Now, how did it sound when you set up the way you thought it should be?

Think carefully and take your time: Did it sound better, or just different? Some fine minds went into desigining these auto calibration systems but they don't have your ears.

Our opinions notwithstanding, which sounded better to you? After all, you've got to live with it, nobody else. For some speakers, 40 hz might be a very valid option and you don't really provide too much information on what you have. What you say is like saying you have a Ford.

 

[agarwalro]

I need some advice on how to correctly set up my audio system.

To get good sound you must place the speakers and sub in their optimal locations. Speaker guidelines can be found here and for the sub go here. For truly Audioholic level tweaking, you will need to buy/acquire a SPL meter and follow these guidelines.

What do you think? Am I on the right track? What else should I do?

Like Mark said, we need more details.

 

[derrickdj1]

System setup

First, what is the least capable speaker in your system were it concern the frequency response. Check the spec's on your speakers. Set the crossover 10 higher. Turn the crossover on the sub all the way up or turn is to zero. Remember the LFE channel carries information up 120 Hz. So, think of the .1 channel as a production channel for movies engineers and think of the sub as a playback channel. Turning the sub all the way up allows the sub to get all the .1 information, a lower setting than 120, will loose some of the .1 material. Set all speaker to small, even if they are tower speakers and let the sub do what subs do best, handle the low frequencies. For 2 channel listening the tower can be changed to large. I hope this is of some help. Very few tower speaker can handle the lower frequencies as well as a good sub! I know, but I paid good money for my towers, sob, sob. lol.

 

[wxiao]

First, what is the least capable speaker in your system were it concern the frequency response. Check the spec's on your speakers. Set the crossover 10 higher. Turn the crossover on the sub all the way up or turn is to zero. Remember the LFE channel carries information up 120 Hz. So, think of the .1 channel as a production channel for movies engineers and think of the sub as a playback channel. Turning the sub all the way up allows the sub to get all the .1 information, a lower setting than 120, will loose some of the .1 material. Set all speaker to small, even if they are tower speakers and let the sub do what subs do best, handle the low frequencies. For 2 channel listening the tower can be changed to large. I hope this is of some help. Very few tower speaker can handle the lower frequencies as well as a good sub! I know, but I paid good money for my towers, sob, sob. lol.

Thanks for the response. I did a few things you said. For example, I set the Sub's crossover mode to "pass through" instead of "active", which I think is equivalent to turning the frequency all the way up; I also try to set all speakers to small, but here I have some questions:
When you said "set the crossover 10 higher than the least capable speaker", what do you exactly mean? My center speaker is the least capable speaker. It can only handle 80 hz and up. My tower speakers can handle 38 and up. Surround speakers can handle 49hz and up. So should I set all speakers at 90, or should I set them at 90, 50 and 60? Also, 80 is required for THX to work, should I set all of them at 80 to take advantage of the THX features?

 

[derrickdj1]

X-over settings

Yes, set the x-over to 90 and you should be good to go. Even if your avr allows for setting crossovers individually for speaker, one global x-over is better for most systems. Multiple x-overs can lead to phase problems. If you don't have THX speakers, no problem with using 90. You center speaker does not sound like it is THX.