Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Sub or No Sub when listening to 2 channel cd music

A good sub calibrated well will not give someone the desire to turn it off for music, IMO, since you won't notice it's there - it'll sound like a natural extension of the main speakers. Like my STF-2.

I keep it on for music.. using the subs crossover set to 90 hz. All the graphs for the M22ti indicate steep rolloff from 90 hz.

In principle I agree 100%. In practice, I think some CDs are mixed with an artificially boosted bass to compensate for the poor bass response of most systems. If you combine the artificially boosted bass on the recording with a faithful, flat, accurate representation you end up with a heck of a lot of bass.

Just my theory, though

I listen to all music with the subwoofer on, but then the M22 needs some support for bass. I’m still deciding between my crossover choices of 80 Hz and 100 Hz.

Bridgman, have you tried to measure your in room bass response curve on the subwoofer? The reason I ask is my system just sounded wrong when I first installed my dual subwoofers and calibrated them using both the pink noise generator on the Denon 3805 and the Avia disk. It wasn’t until after I used one of these disks with individual frequency band pink noise and my SPL meter that I found my subwoofers had a 20 db room boost between 30-40 Hz. This caused my overall pink noise setting on the subwoofer to set the higher frequency bass way too low. I was able to adjust my problem using a parametric EQ built into the subwoofer, but moving the subwoofers could have been another option. The change made a very big improvement in sound. The experience has sold me on spending some time measuring and correcting in room bass frequency response.

I suspect this is something I need to do. With the PSB sub there was a blatant mid-bass boost which was much reduced with the SVS in the same location. It might be a result of the SVS ports being a few feet off the ground and not exciting the room modes as much.

When the mid-bass was reduced so much I stopped thinking about placement problems but maybe that was premature.

Denon 2805 80hz all speakers set to small. This 60's still rock fine with these settings. I've tried 60hz, mains to large, yada yada yada. 80hz and small is a great all around setting for music and movies.

60's 150 350 4-Qs8's
denon 2805
Sanyo Z2 projector
Panasonic S97S HDMI DVD

Rick and other ICBM users..

Ok this thing has got my attention..

Here is my setup: Onkyo 601 receiver (no preouts or ins) able to set overall crossover point and not individual speakers..

Sony 400 disc DVD changer (SACD and DVD-A capable)

Sony is connected to Onkyo with single digital cable as well as 6 channel inputs for SACD use

M60's, VP 150 and 3 QS8's

I also use a BFD unit on dual SVS 20-39 PC+ subs

The Sony only has the usual settings in it's setup for setting distance, speaker size (small, large) and levels.

So if I understand this correctly with the setup I have now the ICBM will go in between my Sony and Onkyo and will allow me to adjust crossover points for my Axioms when using my Sony only and later on should I ever upgrade to a receiver that has pre outs and ins I can move the ICBM to the ins/outs of the receiver and that will allow the crossover settings to be in place with ALL sources?

When I added my BFD unit it was the best $100 investment to tame my peaks and valleys and it sounds like the ICBM unit might be a nice finishing touch to give my Axioms more controlled range than what they have now..

Am I correct in all of my readings about the ICBM unit?

Thanks for the info about this unit..
Rick

P.S. I assume this unit is only sold thru the Outlaw website? I didn't see any other places that lists it for sale other than the manufacturer.

One other question I had was:

With the ICBM unit between the DVD player and receiver everyone speaks of using it mostly when playing an SACD or DVD-A. Wouldn't it also benefit when watching a regular movie (DTS or DD) through the 6 channel analog connections instead of the single digital link since this would send the same crossover signals to all your speakers as well. Wouldn't this be preferred because of this reason?

Thanks again for any input..
Rick

Rick, I took a look at the back of your 601:



And though they are not labeled as such, you DO have multichannel (pre) inputs, but they are only available for your DVD player. You probably already have your Sony plugged into them. And yes, the ICBM would go between your Sony and your Onkyo.

However, should you upgrade to a receiver with pre ins labeled as such, you still could only use the ICBM with one source. Receivers that have pre ins allow you to select which source uses them. Your 601 only allows the DVD to use them.

The ICBM has only one set of inputs and outputs. If you wanted to use the ICBM as a crossover for ALL sources, you would need to upgrade to separates, and install the ICBM between the preamp and the amp.

As for using the multichannel inputs for all movies, it would depend on whether the Onkyo or the Sony had superior DACs (digital to analog converters). If, in the receiver, you select the digital input coming from the Sony (see page 42 of your manual), then the Onkyo does the converting, and you are using the receiver's crossover. If you select the multichannel inputs in the Onkyo, then the Sony is doing the converting, and you'd be using the ICBM as your crossover. You would have to try both to see if you preferred one or the other.

Hope I haven't added to the confusion. I know I'M confused, and I wrote it.