Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions setting crossover frequency on Main/Center/Rear

Hi,
I have sony receiver. based on the manual, I can only adjust the frequency of main in 30Hz steps from 60HZ-180Hz. As most of posts here stated that setting main speaker to SMALL and crossover is 80Hz.
1> My question is whether i can set either 60Hz or 90Hz instead of 80Hz? I'm a novice on this ...so please bear with me and help me out.
2> Also, Do i need to adjust frequency on Center and Rear speaker too , let say 60Hz or 90Hz that matches the main frequency? By the way, on my receiver, whenever i set main speaker level to SMALL, the Center and Rear speaker level are automatically set to SMALL.

thanks a lot.

What kind of speakers do you have? If you've got the towers, I'd go for the 60 Hz. If bookshelves, 90.

I don't know what to tell you on the second question...

I'd go with Ken's advice regarding the mains. Try one, listen, try the other, repeat till you're satisfied.

You should probably set the crossover frequency for the center and surrounds, too. The frequency does NOT have to be the same if your amp allows you to use different ones. It is probably better to set the crossover a bit higher for the center and surrounds, because those typically don't produce frequencies as low and as flat as your main speakers.

I am totally guessing here (since I know nothing about your particular receiver), but what SHOULD happen is that you set all your speakers to small. Then you set the mains to a 90Hz crossover; that will send all the low frequencies below that point to your sub. Set the other crossover at 120Hz - same deal; the center and surrounds will produce frequencies above that point and send the rest to the sub. You may want to use 60Hz and 90Hz or everything at 90Hz or whatever. Experiment and set it how it sounds good to you!

There are very few rules. You do this stuff to make you happy. Well, and to give Ray3 something to write about.

Thanks for fast replying.
I currently use sony speakers...but I will move up to either M22ti or M60ti and yes, i will upgrade my receiver to Denon 3805 once i save enough money...

audiofan,

I have a Sony receiver as well...I have the M60's with a VP150 center and M22's as rears.

I am still experimenting with my system but speakers set to small and everything set to 90 sounds excellent.

Set the front crossover to 60 if you want a bit more bass...

I will have to set my center and rears to 120 and see how that sounds...

It really comes down to what you like best. I know that if I am using the sub with my M60's for music (setting to small) I leave it set to 90...Sub off - 60.

M60's set to large for vinyl or CD direct...

Used to have a set of Sony HTIB speakers and they sounded best with the crossover set to 120 or higher...for all...

WhatFurrer

WhatFurrer,
what is the size of your listening room, if you don't mind? andh how does it sound with M22 as main, instead of M60?
I have 12x14 and really am interested in M60ti but i'm still concern about the room size to see if M60 does good for me. M22 is another alternative , but I don't really like the idea of stand...tough call. No matter what i will make my decision sometime next week once my room is finished .

thanks a buch.

Audiofan for a 12x14 room I'd recommend M22s plus a good sub. I formerly had M22s in a 22x16 room with a Hsu STF-2, and they were plenty, although my listening distance was about 12 feet. I upgraded to M60s and they were somewhat better, but the M22s were still very good. If I "only" had M22s, I'd still be happy with them. The speaker stand issue can be difficult -- some people just don't like them. Wall mounting the M22s with Axiom's Full Metal Bracket is another option.

audiofan,

My room is approximately 13 X 18 with a sloped ceiling from 10 to 8 ft... I have yet to try the M22's up front...will have to do that some time when the rest of the family is not home.

I have a bit of overkill as the left M60 is right next to a doorway and the music in the adjacent room is very good as well...

If you care to see what my set up looks like, look here.

I may just switch inputs around and see what the M22's sound like as fronts (from the back of the room of course)...may be easier...

Some have actually put the M22's on a shelf (far enough out from the wall) and they work very very well...

Hope this will help.

WhatFurrer