The Academy has a frequency response of 65Hz to 20kHz. Dual 8" woofers.

How should it be set for size and crossover?

I'd definitely set it small. Many people recommend using a crossover as much as an octave about the -3dB point, which would be around 120Hz or 130Hz in your case. I'd probably try using a crossover between 80Hz and 120Hz and see what sounds best.

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gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

An octave above? I wonder how that applies to the Forte (my mains) that are 3db down at 32Hz. I've got them set at 40Hz crossover, but I'm not sure I want to go higher than that since the sub isn't all that great (and they really do have superb bass).

As to the center, I'm having to become re-acquainted with it. It's been too loud since I got it, but I've avoided getting inside the DSL to set the level, since I knew it wasn't long for my stack. Set the SPL last night, and it makes a HUGE difference. (This is also where I found out about how lightweight the subW is - it was bottoming the voice coil trying to pump the test tone at reference level. (Not all that bad since reference level is just too loud for listening.))

Had to bring the surrounds up 6db, too. What a difference!

[This message has been edited by DMF (edited November 18, 2003).]

The theory as I understand it is to allow "room" for the crossover slopes to blend together rather than assume a straight-line cutoff at the crossover point. On the other hand, my Studio/60's are 3dB down at around 37Hz or 39Hz, and I have them crossed over at 40Hz because it sounds best to my ear (possibly due to relying solely on them for a couple years before ever getting a sub -- but, particularly for music, I preferred the 40Hz point to higher crossovers). That's why I suggest experimenting a bit. For the center, I'd obviously not go below 80Hz (since 60Hz would create a hole). You might see if the center blends with the sub better at 100Hz or 120Hz, just for kicks.

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gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

I'd also suggest lots of experimentation - and don't rule out the possibility of setting any speaker whose bass holds up down into the low 30's to LARGE. Back in the days of stereo and no subs (gosh that was long ago!) that's how I ran my current mains - and that's how they are running in a multi-channel, multi-sub environment today - because that's how, to my ears, it sounds best. There's no harm in playing around with it.

Jeff Mackwood

I noticed that you have your mains set as "Small"? Maybe I'm a little unclear on the concept here. I understand crossover (I think). That means the 950 won't send anything to the speaker below that frequency.

But then, what does "small" and "large" mean in terms of bass management?

I think of "small" and "large" as "on" and "off" for bass management. If it's a small speaker, bass management is on and the crossover redirects information below the crossover point from the speaker to the sub. If it's a large speaker, bass management is off and the signal goes to the speaker without tinkering -- nothing is redirected to the sub or taken away from the speaker. (In some cases, mains set to "large" will actually receive additional low frequency information -- redirected LF from small speakers and the .1 LFE channel -- if there is no subwoofer.)

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gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

Which makes sense. But then what does the Crossover Freq mean for a "Large" speaker?

Absolutely nothing. The preamp ignores the crossover point for large speakers.

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gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

Ah!

That's why one would set big mains to "Small", even with a response down to 38Hz or so. The 40Hz crossover acts like a subsonic filter. hhmmm..

Thanks!