well the only thing left to decide is the sub. I read great reviews of the Hsu VTF-2 sub but have not heard much about the Axiom EP175. Has anyone heard both that could comment?

I have a VTF-2 and I love it. I haven't heard any of the Axiom subs, so I can't compare them.

If I had to start over, I'd buy another Hsu without hesitation. IMHO, the only reason to get anything else is because you don't want to live with a big black box.

Have you ruled out the Rava?


http://www.adireaudio.com/home_audio/Loudspeakers/exact_series/rava.htm


Review:


http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/masterindex_toc_main.html

Thanks. I had not researched the Rava sub, looks good at a great price! My only concern is the review stated the sound gets a bit "boomy" with the crossover set above 50.

Now I am new at this and could be completely wrong, but the M22ti only go down to 60, so would'nt I have to set the crossover around 60-65?

Un,I'm not suggesting the Rava over say the VTF-2 or the Axiom EP350(factory outlet)which all have a similar cost as delivered, but I don't think you should be concerned about the "boomy" comment in the review. It appears that for some reason he was running the mains full-range and when he had the sub crossover around 100hz the combined bass in that area was causing some boominess which was removed by crossing the sub around 50hz.

The simplest and in most cases the best way to handle the bass division, whatever sub you get, is to set the speakers to small on your Marantz, which will then roll off the speakers below about 80-90hz and the sub above that frequency. That's all the bass blending that should be necessary, so the sub crossover would either be entirely bypassed(VTF-2)or turned up to the highest setting and left there(Rava, EP350)so as to minimize interference with the Marantz crossover.

Johnk,

thanks for the sub set-up info. It is a bit confusing to me since I have never had a sub so every bit of info helps! So I should set my M22ti & QS4 to small and the crossover on the sub to 80 or 90? Does that sound right?

Anyway, when everything gets here, hopefully in the next week, I will set it all up and tweak it from there.

No, when you set the speakers to small on the Marantz that automatically takes care of the crossover duties at about 80-90hz. The sub crossover then becomes unnecessary or even to a degree causes harmful interference with the receiver crossover. Therefore in that situation some subs(e.g.VTF-2)have provision to completely bypass their crossover, while with others you turn the sub crossover up to the max(e.g.150hz)to get it as far away as possible from the 80-90hz receiver cross.

so I will actually be using the crossover in the receiver, not the sub. I think I got it, thanks!

Johnk,

actually, one more question if you don't mind When I want to listen to two channel with the VTF-2 sub on will I have to change any settings or will the Marantz handle the crossover there as well?

Thanks again!

Un, I haven't read the Marantz owner's manual, but the usual situation in playing a stereo source is that the receiver should of course remain sub on and mains small to allow the sub to be primarily responsible for the bass. Read your owner's manual to verify that Marantz doesn't have some quirk in stereo operation.