Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Some assistance please!

I am trying to determine the best way to connect a sub to my HT system. Currently, I have a Yamaha RX-V540 receiver, M22ti's for my main L/R speakers, and am ordering a Vance Titanic 10" sub kit.

If I select SMALL for the main speakers, the receiver will direct signals below 90Hz to the sub. This seems too high since the M22ti's go down to 60Hz. Should I keep the 'main speaker mode' set at LARGE, select BOTH for the 'bass out mode', connect a sub cable to the LFE output/input, and connect speaker wire from the receiver's main L/R speaker output to the sub?

Also, due to space restrictions, I cannot fit a center channel speaker greater than 8" high above my monitor. Do you recommend a VP100, or an M2i (positioned on it's side)?

I don't have a Yamaha, but generally you only need to connect either an RCA/RCA (sub cable) _or_ speaker cables. I've generally had more luck with the RCA/RCA cable. On my H/K, on the bass out mode, it automatically sends everything (ie, both) through the sub line level out. I can't really speak to the rest of the issue, although if I was going with the M2, I would not put it on its side. I'm sure johnk will weigh in on this one.

I've got M22tis and an SVS sub. You definitely want to set them to SMALL. There are a few reasons for this. If you set the M22s to LARGE, your receiver will send them a full-range signal with no crossover. This means that if you watch a DVD that contains bass below 60Hz in the L/R channels (many DVDs do), your speakers won't reproduce it well. Remember that the LFE channel is distinct and any material on that channel will go directly to the sub, regardless of its frequency. Program material on the other 5 channels of a 5.1 mix will be redirected to the sub depending on your size/crossover settings.

BR, connect a coaxial cable from the sub out on the 540 to the low level input(either one if that sub has two)on the Titanic and set all speakers "small". The most commonly suggested crossover is 80hz, but 90hz is okay. The idea isn't to set it as far down as the mains can possibly go, but to relieve the mains and the receiver from part of the low bass load and let them handle the higher frequencies while the sub and its amp handle what they do best.

Select SWFR(not BOTH)on the 540. No speaker wire goes to the sub, the coaxial cable supplies it.

If you have only 8" above your TV( consider if it's possible to put the center speaker below the screen)it wouldn't be the best idea to put an M2 down horizontally because of uneven output to the midwoofer side. So, it might be the lesser of evils to use a VP100. However, if you're of an experimental mind, it'd be interesting to use two horizontal M2s laid midwoofer end to end, creating a TMMT arrangement(possibly a poor man's VP150?). The M2s would be tilted downward to compensate for the slanted sides.

Yes, remember that the 90Hz (or whatever) bass crossover point is not like a brick wall. Depending on the "slope" of the crossover circuit, quite a lot of frequencies below 90Hz will still be directed to the M22's. That said, if your Yamaha has variable bass crossover frequencies, I would experiment with different frequency settings, with the M22's always set to SMALL.

Btw, I too realized that a pair of M2's are cheaper than one VP150. Hmm... US$100 more for one additional midwoofer driver on the VP150?!

That adds, at least when you're looking at the M22. $100/woofer, with free tweeters! It's a bargain!

Sushi

I believe it also takes more time to assemble a VP150 than it does two m2i's.

i might be wrong, but it looks harder to assemble.. there are no ports, and you need to shove enough stuff in there for 5 drivers, not two!

Tanks for all those who replied. In closure, I bought a sub over the weekend (PSB SubSonic 5i), and connected it as recommended in the above posts. After a little tweaking, I am very happy with the results!