Yamaha RX-V1500 Setup Question

[Azz123]

Hello People...
This seems to be the Forum for me to get a response on this one...

I’ve recently purchased (very happily I may add) A Yami RX-V1500 Receiver and am fine tuning to the best of my novice ability...
Anyway...
My question relates to LFE/Bass output.

Some additional relevant specs.
Front Speakers - AAD C600i Floor Standers.
Range 32Hz-20kHz, 180watt RMS, 91dB @ 6ohms.
(Yes I set the amp to 6ohm minimum)
Bi-Wired the fronts using Speaker A&B output from amp to independent posts on speakers.

Sub
Velodyne CHT-10R
Range 28Hz-120Hz (+/-3dB)

Centre - Wharfedale Valdus Centre
Rear Surrounds - Wharfedale Valdus 100's

The HT room is a whole 4.1m wide by 4.3 long with 3.1m ceilings. The floor is timber in an elevated house.
Due to Aesthetics within the room (my wife keeps reminding me that this room is actually the lounge room) I’ve had to place the sub at the rear of the room basically under the left rear surround speaker.
The above speaker combo provides more than enough "oomph" as you can imagine rattling windows, near remove pictures off walls and letting my neighbours share any sound effects and dialogue verbatim when played at 0dB.
Movie viewing with the wife (AKA - Sound Nazi "Turn It down - The Neighbours!") is done at -13dB, though with a couple of mates and I who regularly enjoy a DVD at -3dB when the Sound Nazi - I mean my wife is not home.

AMP/Room Setup
Sub was set to about 40% volume with low pass crossover set to "Direct" for Yami YPOV setup.
Post YPOV, I manually changed the settings for Front Speaker size to "small" (per THX reccommendation) from large and moved the sub crossover setting in the amp from 120Hz to 80Hz (THX).
After playing a DTS test DVD I have a few times, I then set the volume of the amp to 0dB and put an SPL Meter on the tripod in the same listening position I had the YPOV mic and ran the amps test tones. All speakers registered 97dB with the sub at 96. I lowered the sub output to 94dB to reduce the "Boom" effect in the room a little.

Query 1
One asked by many over the years - I understand that the volume level does not work in a linear curve relative to the "numbers on the dial" with today's amps, however - Am I pushing the friendship (apart from that of my neighbours) and life of my amp playing at volumes close to or at the 0dB?

Query 2
Within the Amp's setup under the following:
Manual Setup\Sound Menu\Speaker Set\
There is a setting for LFE/BASS out.
I have the option to choose "Sub" or "Both".

If I choose "Both", I assume that the AMP is sending the same Bass signals to the Front speakers and the Bass is played to the front’s lowest range?
However with me having changed Front Speaker size to small has this setting been overridden?
The reason I'm contemplating this setting is due to the "not so ideal" position of the sub. I feel it's not energising the room as much as it could be. I do love physically feeling audio as well as hearing it.
When sending the LFE/Bass to "Both" the room does seem (I could be dreaming this) to have a greater spread of the Bass signal aiding in the removal of the directional feel that bass from the Sub alone gives in the position its confined to without getting all boomy due to increasing the volume of the sub.
However - ramifications of the above??
Am I sacrificing power from the amp sending bass signals to the fronts that would be better sent to the Sub? This power could be better spent sending more power to the 80Hz+ frequencies to the fronts?
If I do choose to run the above, should scenario (LFE/Bass to Fronts&Sub) should I change the speaker size back to Large?
Is their a requirement to set the Low-Pass crossover on the sub to 80Hz or leave it at "DIRECT" as the amp is stoping all 80Hz + frequencies anyway?

Some would say that I'm perhaps over analysing settings, though I consider myself to have a fairly untrained ear when it comes to what I should be listening to. Appart from customising to get room optimums, I'd like to have things set as they should be and come to appreciate what IS correct.
I do remember years ago setting up my Vega TV per the settings of the Video Essentials DVD. It took a good couple of days to appreciate the more detailed "Blacker than Black" the picture now displays and reduction in colour saturation I was previously viewing. Now when I visit friends and view their CRT's and Plasma screens, I can see faults in picture straight up.

Any feedback and advice appreciated.

Aaron

 

[MDS]

Query 1
One asked by many over the years - I understand that the volume level does not work in a linear curve relative to the "numbers on the dial" with today's amps, however - Am I pushing the friendship (apart from that of my neighbours) and life of my amp playing at volumes close to or at the 0dB?

In general NO. 0dB is not the maximum volume setting. The max volume setting will go into the +dB range, but how far depends on the level of the channel trims. If you are curious as to what it is (and the manual doesn't say) set all the channel trims to zero and select an unused input and turn up the volume until it hits max - will probably be +10dB or so if it's like most receivers. So if you've done the calibration, and it sounds like you have, then there is still some headroom above 0dB.

The only caveat is that at 0dB the receiver is nearing its max power and at that level it may get warm or fairly hot. It won't hurt the receiver, but how long can your ears stand that volume?

Query 2
Within the Amp's setup under the following:
Manual Setup\Sound Menu\Speaker Set\
There is a setting for LFE/BASS out.
I have the option to choose "Sub" or "Both".

The manual actually does explain it but it is confusing if you aren't familiar with bass management.

If front speakers are set to Large:
Front speakers get a full-range signal (that is the definition of Large).

- If Bass Out is set to Sub, then the Sub gets the LFE (the .1 in DD or DTS tracks). All channels set to Small have their bass (below the xover you set) sent to the Sub.
B. If Bass Out is set to Both, then LFE goes to the Sub AND the front speakers. All channels set to Small have their bass (below the xover you set) sent to the Sub AND the front speakers.

If front speakers are set to Small:
- if Bass Out is set to Sub, the LFE goes the Sub. Bass below the xover goes to the Sub (same as all other channels set to Small).
- Bass Out set to Both is non-sensical. The fronts are set to Small so they will not get any bass below the xover nor get the LFE. LFE and bass below the xover go to the Sub. In effect the receiver ignores the fact that you set Both and acts as if you set it to Sub (because Small speakers by definition do not get LFE or bass below the xover). The manual does mention this fact.

If you don't have a Sub, set Bass Out to Front. LFE and all bass below the xover from channels set to Small go to the Front speakers. Thus, the front speakers are considered Large, regardless of whether or not you set it to Small. Most receivers will not let you set the fronts to Small if you indicate you don't have a Sub.

 

[WooHoo]

If you are forced to keep your sub at the back of the room, be sure your sub is "in phase" or you could be defeating a lot of the bass output if you are going to go "large" with your mains.

 

[larry7995]

My 1500 is set up so that the on screen display shows a bunch of bars across the bottom for level when I change volume as well as the db level, and I like seeing the bar volume thing, I understand it better than telling me in decibels. I also have been too chicken to go much louder than -10 db which the bars indicate is less than 50% max volume level. I blew up a new 750 cranking it too loud and got the 1500 to replace it. I know I get some ear ringing at -10db though after I shut it off

 

[Azz123]

The best way to check phase is???

Any mechanical way apart from the untrained ear?

 

[MDS]

The best way to check phase is???

Any mechanical way apart from the untrained ear?

Use AVIA or DVE setup discs. They both have phase tests that are easy to use.