av1+s set to small or large? (1 Viewer)

[AlexKunec]

I am about to put to together some av1+s and an adire tempest sonotube. I have a yamaha rxv795 (85wpc 8ohm, about 100wpc into 4ohms) Many of you guys think it would be better to set my speakers to small to redirect the bass to the tempest, and to take a load off the amp.(which result in lower distortion). However many other people suggest that it would be the best to let the av1+s play down to 70hz and let the tempest takeover from there. By setting the speakers to small, everything under 100hz is redirected to the sub. What should i do?

 

[Wes Nance]

Alex,

I don't have AV-1's or +'s (yet) but Paradigm Atoms and CC for now, which aren't in the same league, but have a similar roll off.

I had been setting everything to small, per the advice from most posters here, but then read a post by Danny Richie about running bookshelf speakers (specifically the AV-1's) large, so the sub could do just the lower octave.

His reasoning, if I remember, was if the sub was having to covering the low stuff, there was no way it would sound clean and quick also on the higher stuff around 80 or 100hz. He said that no sub was a match for a 5 1/2" driver for stuff in the 55-100hz range.

So, after reading that, I set my fronts and center to large, and changed my sub crossover down to about 45hz, using test tones and a SPL meter to get the best blend into the mains.

I think my system sounds *much* better now, much cleaner, and I can't localize my sub anymore (another of Danny's points)

That said, try it both ways and see what you prefer. I think 100hz is going to be way too high of a crossover for your sub. Just for info, my sub is also a DIY, with a Stryke 12" (similar to PE DVC) with 2 15" PR's, pretty much flat down to 20hz, or so, so a real sub.

Hope this helps- let us know how it works- I plan to make AV1's for fronts and an AV1+ for center this summer.

Wes

 

[Danny Richie]

It is good to know that when I spend the time to share information here that people do read it.
I am glad to know someone actually tried what I recommended too.
Thanks for responding Wes, and I am glad your system now sounds much better as a result.
The post Wes referred to can be found here: http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=69197
Happy Listening.

 

[Wes Nance]

Danny,

Thanks for the good advice. I'll be in touch soon, as a friend and I plan to make AV1/1+ fronts and centers together. . .

Wes

 

[Martice]

Now that I've had the AV1+'s for a while now, I set my crossover at 60hz as opposed to the 80hz that I previously had it set. I first took the sub out of the chain and listened to the AV1+'s for an extended amount of time all by themselves. After wards I set the crossover at 80, 60 & 40hz and listened carefully without the sub being on. I wanted to see how the mid range changed as I used different crossover settings on my ICBM.

After switching between 80hz, 60hz, and 40hz and reinserting the sub back into the chain, I felt that the 60hz setting was best for me. The only other setting that was superior was the bypass setting which disallowed the use of the sub. This setting was not acceptable so the next best setting I found was with the setting at 60hz.

I get a more 'airy' and spacious sound field with the 60hz setting and the details are more evident with the sub not all up in the mid range areas. Experiment and see what settings best fit your room and speakers.

Good Luck