Yamaha RX-v2500 setup questions

[xboxweasel]

1) I can only configure my mains and centre channel as large. The surrounds can only be set to small. Let's say I don't have a sub, and set the mains to large. What is the crossover frequency for the signal going to the centre and surrounds? Is the Bass Cross Over still used? And would I have to set Bass Out to front? What if I left if set to Sub or Both?

2) Similar question...if all the speakers are set to small, does the receiver still use the Bass Cross Over setting? Or is there some other magic setting that gets used?

3) I thought there was a setting to tell the receiver that I had a sub. Or am I thinking about the RX-V1400? Did it have that option? I looked this one up. The 1400 does have a setting for the sub. Yes/None. The 2500 does not.

4) My speakers have the following specs: 37-20kHz (mains), 56-20kHz (centre), and 79-20kHz (surrounds). What should I set the Bass Cross Over to? 40Hz because my mains go that low? Or 60Hz because of my centre? Or 80Hz because of the surrounds? Too bad I cannot set this individually for each channel.

NOTE: I had it set to 80Hz. But after reading Axiom review here I started playing around. But honestly, I cannot hear any difference when changing the cross over setting between 40 and 80Hz. Same for changing the Subwoofer Phase from normal to reverse.

5)If I set my mains to small and the bass out to large, does if override the small setting?

Thanks. That all I can think of right now.

 

[MDS]

1) I can only configure my mains and centre channel as large. The surrounds can only be set to small. Let's say I don't have a sub, and set the mains to large. What is the crossover frequency for the signal going to the centre and surrounds? Is the Bass Cross Over still used? And would I have to set Bass Out to front? What if I left if set to Sub or Both?

On most receivers, if you tell it you do not have a sub, it will automatically set the mains to Large and you won't be able to change it. All of the other channels can be set to Small. In that case you won't be able to choose Sub as the bass out option because you told it you don't have one. All frequencies below the xover from the other channels set to Small will go to the Large fronts. Now if you tell it you do have a sub and set it to Both, the frequencies below the xover will go to both the sub and the Large speakers.

2) Similar question...if all the speakers are set to small, does the receiver still use the Bass Cross Over setting? Or is there some other magic setting that gets used?

The xover frequency you set is used for all channels set to Small. Where the bass below the xover is actually sent depends on the sub settings. If set to Sub, it goes to the sub; if set to Front, it goes to the front speakers (which implies that they are set to Large); if set to Both, it goes to both the sub and the Large speakers.

3) I thought there was a setting to tell the receiver that I had a sub. Or am I thinking about the RX-V1400? Did it have that option? I looked this one up. The 1400 does have a setting for the sub. Yes/None. The 2500 does not.

It sounds like the Sub options of Sub, Front, and Both covers the options. Front implies no sub and bass for the Small channels go to the Large fronts; Sub is equivalent to sub = yes and bass below the xover goes to the sub only; Both implies that the fronts are Large and bass below the xover will go to both the Large fronts and the sub.

4) My speakers have the following specs: 37-20kHz (mains), 56-20kHz (centre), and 79-20kHz (surrounds). What should I set the Bass Cross Over to? 40Hz because my mains go that low? Or 60Hz because of my centre? Or 80Hz because of the surrounds? Too bad I cannot set this individually for each channel.

In general you want the xover set to 1/2 to 1 octave above the - 3dB (F3) point of the least capable speaker. That rule breaks down if said speaker doesn't go very low; ie if the speaker is only capable to 100 Hz setting the xover to 150-200 Hz by the rule will be too high. In that case you want to pick the frequency nearest the least capable speaker's F3 point. 80 Hz is almost a universally good choice.

 

[xboxweasel]

Okay, after a bit more playing I fould the following...I'd like to get you inputs on this one.

I tried two configurations as follows:
1) 2.0 with fronts set to large
2) 2.1 with fronts set to small and bass cross over set to 40Hz. Bass out to sub only.

Both sound the same.
Both shake the room the same.

I cannot hear any difference playing back a few different CDs. This more or less tells me that my sub can't go any lower than my towers.

 

[JMO_PWR]

mmm to me thats a bit odd, you still should be able to hear some degree of more bass (louder) whilst the subwoofer is on. Even if it doesnt go down to a lower frequancy level.

Are you sure your subwoofer is on?! Might be an idea to read through your manual to ensure your not missing something even if its little or stupid. We've all done it.

 

[xboxweasel]

It's on alright.

 

[tomd51]

Listening Material? Equipment?

Okay, after a bit more playing I fould the following...I'd like to get you inputs on this one.

I tried two configurations as follows:
1) 2.0 with fronts set to large
2) 2.1 with fronts set to small and bass cross over set to 40Hz. Bass out to sub only.

Both sound the same.
Both shake the room the same.

I cannot hear any difference playing back a few different CDs. This more or less tells me that my sub can't go any lower than my towers.

Is it possible the source/CDs you're using doesn't have much (if any) material lower than 40Hz? If it's something like Crystal Method, Hip-Hop, something similar to this with some deep low-end, you should notice a difference. That is, of course, if you're subwoofer is capable of going lower than 40Hz, which is not always a given.

Can you give us a little detail on your equipment and the source you're using for the test quoted above? -TD

 

[xboxweasel]

The particular CD I was testing at the time was Paul Van Dyk - Reflections; Track 1; Crush. It is possible the recording does not extend much below 40Hz. I'll have to try Chemical Brothers - Surrender; Track 1; Music: Response (now that one goes low).

System is:
Yamaha RXV2500 as a pre pro
Anthem MCA amp
Paradigm PW2100 V2 sub
Klipsch RF-35 speakers