Hello everyone!

After adding a sub into the mix, I ran the auto setup program. When completed, I checked the setup and was a bit surprised to see that my two main, left and right speakers were set to small, the same as my center and surround speakers. The thing is, my mains, as compared to my center and surround speakers are like Goliath to David (much larger, by comparison).

I checked the values and was surprised to discover that the db values were negative, for the center and surround speakers, as compared to positive, when the main, left and right speakers were set to Large. The main speakers, however, remained at the 0 db reference level. This seems to be right, but why the different approach?

thanks,

John

Check out the 990 postings for discussion about the bass management settings in the 990. The newest firmware version fixed most of them, but the previous firmware forced speakers to small whenever the sub was active. This was an assumption that if the sub was active then all LFE would be directed that way and the other speakers would get everything above the crossover. If you forced the system to Large front speakers then the sub was deactivated. The newest version lets the user configure the 990 anyway they want. I never updated mine because it worked great the way it was.

Just because the mains are big doesn't mean they will work best when set to "large." What speakers are you running for mains? Their "-3dB point" (the frequency at which their output is 3dB below the average output level) give us a good idea of what crossover point they should use, and unless the -3dB point is down into the 20Hz range (or maybe the low 30's) you are probably best having some sort of crossover engaged. To have a crossover applied, you need to have them set to "small." It's a widely-used terminology that often confuses people.

Hard to say, but it could be as simple as a variation in microphone placement when the two calibrations were run.

XenonMan, I have the newest firmware version.

Gonk, my mains are old Dahlquist DQ 10's. Where the -3db point is, I couldn't tell you. They bottom out at 35 hz. There are five drivers, in each speaker, with crossover points at: 400hz; 1000hz; 6000hz & 12,000hz. I'm sure that doesn't help much.

You are right, the microphone was place in a slightly different location, pointed more up, than forward.


thanks,

John

If they bottom out around 35Hz, that helps. It is probably close to the -3dB point. My Paradigm Studio60's were similar (went down to around 40Hz). I would recommend leaving all speakers set to small and experimenting a little with the front crossover. A 60Hz setting is technically the best bet (roughly double the -3dB point), but you may prefer a 40Hz point initially.

As always, thanks Gonk!

John

I'm using Dahlquist DQ-20i's for my mains and I always felt that it sounded better when they were set to "small" when using my subwoofer.

Thanks, Ritz2. So far, so good.