Hi:

Currently I have a 5.1 setup, and I do not plan to upgrade with additional speakers. I need help with the best way to hook up all the components I have when I receive my 950. I also plan to add SACD to the setup in the near future. I am listing my components below. Thank you in advance for your help.

Amp Outlaw Model 750
DVD Pana RP-91 (DVD-Audio)
ICBM ICBM-1
Mini Disc Sony MDS-JB920
CD Denon DCM-370
EQ Yamaha EQ-50 (10 band x 2)
Cassette Yamaha K-31
Sub Cambridge BassCube 12 (Self-powered)

Future upgrade multi-channel SACD

Currently I have the ICBM connected between the 5.1 output from my Yamaha RX-V795 and
the 750.

isn't the main feature of the icbm to provide proper bass management for 5.1 analogue input (e.g., from a multichannel sacd or from a dvd-a)?

the 950 has this built in. of course, the icbm is far more flexible -- so ideally, you would turn off the bass management feature in the 950 and continue to use the icbm. i would install it between the sacd player and the 950.

I think we established in prior threads that you cannot turn off the bass management on the 5.1 inputs. The dreaded "double-bass" issue.

There are certain configuration where this is ok, like having small mains or no sub. With small mains, you probably don't even need the ICBM. With no sub, I believe you could use the ICBM to take the .1 channel and roll it into the mains. If you large mains and a sub, I doubt thr ICBM will be an improvement over the 950 since the 5.1 inputs on the 950 are not completely passive.

aj -- wouldn't the icbm (when properly set up) take the low frequencies out of the 5 channels and only leave it in the .1 channel? in that case, there would be no "double base" issue for the 950, as there would be no 5 channel low frequencies to be added to the .1 channel.

or am i missing something?

My question was precisely to get advise on the best way to make use of the ICBM given 950's peremanent 80Hz cross-over. BTW, my left and right main speakers are NHT 1.5s.

The 950 takes all bass below 80hz from all the 5 channles and sends it to the .1 sub regardless of how the analog switch is set. The analog crossover on the 5.1 inputs only determines if everything below 80hz is also sent to the 5 channels. Therefore, the IcBM cannot be used effectively between a DVD-A/SACD player and the 950. It can be used between the 950 and the power amps, however then it would need to be turned off or tweaked for HT use.

let's see...there are two possible cases:
1) where there is useful bass information in the .1 channel that you want to preserve (and you don't want to muck it up with bass from the other channels -- the double bass issue); and
2) where there is no useful bass information in the .1 channel (the producer might have used the .1 channel for something other than bass frequencies) -- so the only deep bass comes in the other 5 channels.

in case 1, couldn't you use the icbm to remove all of the below 80 hz frequency information in the 5 channels before it even got to the 950 -- hence the 950 couldn't add it to the .1 channel, because the icbm would have removed it in the first place?

in case 2, you'd want the under 80 hz informaton in the 5 channels to be sent to the .1 channel, so you'd let the 950 do its thing.

i understand that you really can't turn off the bass management feature of the 950 -- all you can do is decide whether you keep it in the 5 channels (and the .1) or just send it to the .1

as long as the icbm can take the sub-80 hz information out of the 5 channels before it gets to the 950, there should be no problem.

right?

What if you want to cross over your fronts at 40Hz, your center at 60Hz, and your rears at 80Hz? With the 950 you are out of luck.

------------------
Matthew J. Hill
matt@idsi.net

IMO, here is the best way to incorporate an ICBM and 950 into a HT/5.1 analog music system.
1. Buy a Sony P9K 5.1 preamp($450)
2. Hook them up like this. RP-91-->ICBM-->P9K-->750-->Speakers
3. Hook your 950 into the P9K's 5.1 bypass input.
This setup allows you to use the triple crossover on the 950 for movies, and the ICBM crossovers for SACD/DVD-A music.

Once you also buy an SACD player, you will either need to buy another ICBM, or hook your stuff up like this:RP-91&SACD-->P9K-->ICBM-->Speakers. Hook your 950 into the P9K's 5.1 bypass input as before. In this setup, you will need to switch your ICBM's crossovers to bypass when you want to watch movies through your 950 using its' triple crossover.

------------------
Take Care,
merc

[This message has been edited by merc (edited July 08, 2002).]

Heh. Good idea, I never thought of that. I guess any analog preamp with multiple 5.1 inputs would do the trick.

Now, if the ICBM had a second set of inputs and a master volume control, it would REALLY rock. You wouldn't need the extra preamp.

------------------
Matthew J. Hill
matt@idsi.net

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think for the time being I will hook up the RP91 -> ICBM -> 950, and bypass ICBM for non DVD-Audio material. In the long run it may be more economical to get a SACD+DVD-A combi player.

On a different subject, I have been considering getting a power line filter with sequential power on. I have two questions on the subject:

1) What are some good choices for ~$250?
2) What is the proper sequence of power on and power off?

Thanks.