STRDG-720 - Small/Large speaker

[fsavoie]

I just got a sony STRDG-720 in which I have the option to select for my front speaker if they are small (satelite) or large one. My current setup is using a ps3 as the player (CD and Blu-ray/dvd) and my front speaker are infinity satelite speaker with a passive subwoofer (both front speaker wires goes from the receiver to the sub, and from the sub to the speakers). I also have a "real" subwoofer connected in the receiver's sub output. When I listen to a music CD, the sound is much better in my front speaker set on "large" in the receiver. Both subs are working great and the music is good. But if I watch a movie with that setting, its like if the receiver is almost ignoring my "real" sub and only using the passive one... so I have to change my option for "small" in the receiver to enjoy good bass as when I was listening a music CD. Is there something I don't get or is there a setting that I could modify that would allow both sub working fine during a movie like for music cd?

[masc360]

when you set your receiver to large for the speakers it sending all the all the low frequencys and highs to your front speakers, this is why you feel its ignoring your powered sub, because it is. some receivers do have the option to send the low frequencies to your fronts and sub. i dont have your receiver so i dont know if you can do this. i would just connect your fronts to the receiver and just use your powered sub. when your listening to music you should have some setting you can change on your receiver to give you better sound. hope this helps

[StimpsonJCat]

Try setting the fronts to small with a lower crossover. There really is no need for Large/Small settings when you can set the crossover.

What is the crossover set to for the fronts when they are set to small?

I wouldn't use a setting to send it to both because you can have lots of issues with double bass using that type of setting.

[aramis109]

You don't have full-range speakers, thus I wouldn't recommend setting your speakers to full band (or large). I'd recommend to set the speakers to small-look at your speaker stats. What is the low end cutoff? Whatever it is, add about 10-20hz and set that as your crossover. As an alternative, start with a crossover of 80hz. However, if they're satellites, you may need to set it to 120hz.

Definitely don't set them to full band though. The reason they sound good with 2ch music is because most music doesn't have the same low end that movies do.

[fsavoie]

Originally Posted by StimpsonJCat

What is the crossover set to for the fronts when they are set to small?
.

I'm not sure how to look for that. I'll check after work

[fsavoie]

Originally Posted by StimpsonJCat

I wouldn't use a setting to send it to both because you can have lots of issues with double bass using that type of setting.

But what I don't understand, is if I would have "normal" big colum speaker, when I would watch a movie, no basse would come from them?? Because the satellite speaker I'm using are meant to be use with the passive sub. Its like if they were just split apart for desing reason

[fsavoie]

Originally Posted by aramis109

You don't have full-range speakers, thus I wouldn't recommend setting your speakers to full band (or large). I'd recommend to set the speakers to small-look at your speaker stats. What is the low end cutoff? Whatever it is, add about 10-20hz and set that as your crossover. As an alternative, start with a crossover of 80hz. However, if they're satellites, you may need to set it to 120hz.

Definitely don't set them to full band though. The reason they sound good with 2ch music is because most music doesn't have the same low end that movies do.

I'll check about that. I don't have the manual anymore and I'm not too sure how I can select the cross over in the receiver, but I'll look into the receiver manual to find out.

Thanks for the help

[Semp1]

You can't you can just set the db level and the fronts stay even at 0 they are set fairly loud while the rears sub and center you can adjust. You can set one at a time to a higher or lower db...

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by Semp1

You can't you can just set the db level and the fronts stay even at 0 they are set fairly loud while the rears sub and center you can adjust. You can set one at a time to a higher or lower db...

Trim and boost settings are not the same as the crossover. While I don't own a Sony receiver, I have to think that it has settings to change the crossover. You're talking about something different.

[fsavoie]

Originally Posted by aramis109

Trim and boost settings are not the same as the crossover. While I don't own a Sony receiver, I have to think that it has settings to change the crossover. You're talking about something different.

I've just downloaded the manual on the web and I don't see anything about cross over... I have a cross over setting on my powered subwoofer.

Here is what it says about the large/small settings:

If the sound is distorted, or you feel a lack of surround effects when using multi channel surround sound, select "small" to activate the bass redirection circuitry and output the front channel bass frequencies from the subwoofer. When the front speakers are set to "mall", the center and surround speakers are also automatically set to "small". If you connect large speakers that will effectively reproduce bass frequencies, select "Large". Narmally, slect "large" when the there is no subwoofer

So If I understand that correct, there is no need for me to buy big column speakers since the woofer part of it will never be used if I have a good powered subwoofer. Is that right?

Edit : I've find something :

CRS. Freq (Speaker crossover frequency) Lets you set the bass crossover frequency of the speakers that have been set to "small" on the system menu.

So I'll try to play with it tonight.

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by fsavoie

I've just downloaded the manual on the web and I don't see anything about cross over... I have a cross over setting on my powered subwoofer.

Here is what it says about the large/small settings:


So If I understand that correct, there is no need for me to buy big column speakers since the woofer part of it will never be used if I have a good powered subwoofer. Is that right?

The setting on your subwoofer isn't a crossover setting- it's the low pass frequency. They're not the same. Set it all the way up and use your receiver to set the cutoff.

And no, I didn't say you shouldn't purchase tower speakers because they're unnecessary. Towers typically have better bass extension than bookshelf speakers, but no tower without a built-in sub is going to be able to produce in the truly low-end (40hz and below) as good as a subwoofer can. Also, putting those frequencies to your fronts means your receiver is working much harder in producing those frequencies and thus you can end up with distortion, clipping, muddy sound, or overall lessened performance as compared to when they're properly crossed over. Your sub has it's own amplifier (typically) and you may as well use it.

*Edit* Your edit is just what I'm talking about. Set 'em to small and you can then set the crossovers. When they're at large/full band, that menu is closed off to you.

[fsavoie]

Originally Posted by aramis109

And no, I didn't say you shouldn't purchase tower speakers because they're unnecessary. Towers typically have better bass extension than bookshelf speakers, but no tower without a built-in sub is going to be able to produce in the truly low-end (40hz and below) as good as a subwoofer can. Also, putting those frequencies to your fronts means your receiver is working much harder in producing those frequencies and thus you can end up with distortion, clipping, muddy sound, or overall lessened performance as compared to when they're properly crossed over. Your sub has it's own amplifier (typically) and you may as well use it.

*Edit* Your edit is just what I'm talking about. Set 'em to small and you can then set the crossovers. When they're at large/full band, that menu is closed off to you.

Ok thank you verrry much for all the information! I'll try that setting after work!

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by fsavoie

Ok thank you verrry much for all the information! I'll try that setting after work!

No problem. Let us know how you get on.

[fsavoie]

Originally Posted by aramis109

No problem. Let us know how you get on.

I haven't got much chance to try settings much last night, but the default cross over value is 100Hz on the receiver. I don't have the specks of my speaker anymore (and there is no information at all at the back of them) so I'll have to try what sounds the best for me, but like you've suggested I'll start at 80Hz and see (or hear) the results from there. But also, I've looked closer on my powered sub, and there is a cross over filter setting that goes up to 200Hz and there is an on-off cross over filter button. Should I just turn the filter off since its best that the receiver is doing the cut-off? Or is it better to have it on and set at 200Hz?

[Chaco]

set your powered sub to about 100-120hz

then set your speakers to SMALL that way they dont get any BASS

on the settings make the crossover for speakers the same frequency you did on the sub


the receiver will turn off the SUB OUT when LARGE is selected.

[Audiophile_At_Birth]

Originally Posted by fsavoie

I haven't got much chance to try settings much last night, but the default cross over value is 100Hz on the receiver. I don't have the specks of my speaker anymore (and there is no information at all at the back of them) so I'll have to try what sounds the best for me, but like you've suggested I'll start at 80Hz and see (or hear) the results from there. But also, I've looked closer on my powered sub, and there is a cross over filter setting that goes up to 200Hz and there is an on-off cross over filter button. Should I just turn the filter off since its best that the receiver is doing the cut-off? Or is it better to have it on and set at 200Hz?

Turn it off and let the receiver do the bass management

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by Audiophile_At_Birth

Turn it off and let the receiver do the bass management

Agreed. If you can turn off the LPF filter on the sub, do so. If you can't, turn the filter all the way to the right. Set that in the receiver. Otherwise you can end up with audio holes as the receiver tries to send something to the sub that is caught by the sub's filter.

It's recommend to set the LPF of LFE either at your crossover point (such as 80hz) or at 120hz. I have mine set at 120hz and feel that it gives me the best sound without excluding anything. I suggest to try the LPF of LFE at 120hz to start with. If you feel there's too much bass in dialog and things like that, back it off to 80hz/your crossover setting.

[fsavoie]

Ok thank you everyone!