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jeffslife
Joined: 17 Apr 2010
Posts: 4190
Location: ohio usa
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| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2022 8:14 pm Post subject: Why should I set my large speakers to small ? |
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So I am using polk rti a9 speakers. (7) They are towers. I know they dont compare to most people heres kit. But I like them
just fine. I am driving them with 4 yamaha m85 amps. They get all the power they need. I run them full range. I figure why
not they play full range just fine. I got 6 subs. All I ever read is that setting them to large is JUST PLAIN WRONG.
I dont understand why.
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kal
Forum Administrator
Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 18114
Location: Ottawa, Canada
TV/Projector: JVC DLA-NZ7
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| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2022 9:24 pm Post subject: |
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Given that you have subs (6!) you should definitely be setting your speakers to SMALL regardless of size.
It's one of the most misunderstood concepts in home theater. Google "Why should I set my large speakers to small ?" for a million different articles that explain why.
Here's one:
| Quote: | Which Setting is Right for My Speakers?
Even most physically large speakers can't reproduce low frequencies nearly as well as a dedicated subwoofer. When many large, so-called full-range speakers try to deliver deep bass, they can sound distorted and overworked. Even worse, attempting to reproduce those subterranean tones requires a huge amount of amplifier power. Asking an AV receiver to drive full-range speakers to play low frequencies with authority puts a real strain on the amps and robs the midrange drivers and tweeters of the power they need to create an expansive soundstage with massive dynamic impact.
To avoid this problem, it is far better to include a powered subwoofer in just about any home theater speaker system and, in most cases, designate all your main speakers as "small," regardless of their physical size. That way, all frequencies below the crossover point are sent to the subwoofer rather than the main speakers. (The crossover frequency is another parameter you can set in the AV receiver and normally defaults to 80 Hz.) The powered subwoofer has its own amplifier, so the amps in the AVR are free to give the midrange and high frequencies all the power they need to sound their best. |
My mains are Paradigm Signature S8 and the center is a C5. Pic here from my old house: http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/album_pic.php?pic_id=690
These would be considered fairly high end by most but I still run them all SMALL in order to offload them from trying to do any of the low bass. Better sound that way for the reasons stated above. Anything below 80Hz slowly rolls off to the powered sub to handle.
Kal
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garyfritz
Joined: 08 Apr 2006
Posts: 12088
Location: Fort Collins, CO
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| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2022 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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So setting the speakers to "small" just sets the subwoofer cutoff to a higher frequency ?? But that article talks about the crossover freq as a separate item...
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jeffslife
Joined: 17 Apr 2010
Posts: 4190
Location: ohio usa
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| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2022 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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My speakers dont have an issue with 80 hz. That is what they are set at. They can get all the power they need. The amps dont struggle to drive them
even a little bit. There is four amps driving 7 speakers. Headroom isnt an issue. I still cant understand what I gain by not allowing 80 hz to go to them
as long as they play it ok. They do.
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jeffslife
Joined: 17 Apr 2010
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Location: ohio usa
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| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2022 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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If they cant then why buy anything other than bookshelfs. Im confused.
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jeffslife
Joined: 17 Apr 2010
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Location: ohio usa
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| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2022 11:21 pm Post subject: |
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OK looking back I guess I confused full range with large. I am set at large but at 80 hz.
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kal
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Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 18114
Location: Ottawa, Canada
TV/Projector: JVC DLA-NZ7
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| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2022 11:59 pm Post subject: |
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| garyfritz wrote: | | So setting the speakers to "small" just sets the subwoofer cutoff to a higher frequency ?? But that article talks about the crossover freq as a separate item... |
Setting to small tends to actually USE the cutover frequency while setting to large means it isn't used.
In most cases:
Small = "use bass management" = redirect frequency content below the crossover frequency to the subwoofer. This is the way the vast majority of systems will sound best.
Large = "do NOT use bass management" = full-range signals go to any speaker designated as "large" (whether they can really handle it or not).
This is from the following thread if you want to read more: https://www.avsforum.com/threads/small-vs-large-why.2213810/
I remember getting into this back in the mid 90s when I bought my first surround sound receiver/preamp. The general consensus hasn't changed since then from what I understand.
YMMV. I haven't really looked much into this in over 20 years.
Kal
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jeffslife
Joined: 17 Apr 2010
Posts: 4190
Location: ohio usa
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| Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:12 am Post subject: |
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Thanks. I get why now. Im still not convinced it will sound better but at least when im trying to adjust it I have a handle on what does what and why.
That will give me more options to try.
Thanks.
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kal
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AnalogRocks
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Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 26706
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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| Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2022 5:41 am Post subject: |
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I played with that on my garage system last summer. I had some minie Pyramid book shelf speakers. Then upgraded to Cambridge Sound Works Ensamble v.1's. I played with the big small settings and found on that particular JVC BIG set full range to speakers and Small rolled off at 100Hz. Big sounded better as the Cambridge's were 2 piece with dual subs on the powered speaker outputs so NOT on the dedicated sub channel.
Fun times testing. Good garage speakers!
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Last edited by AnalogRocks on Thu Jan 05, 2023 10:30 pm; edited 1 time in total
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jeffslife
Joined: 17 Apr 2010
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Location: ohio usa
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| Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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well I still dont quite understand why but it sounds better. Now to figure out what to do with all these other settings.
Thanks
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