Questions about receiver settings with RTi70's

jkratzer

Now that I have RTi70 towers up front, I'm setting my fronts to Large(with RTi38's I set them to Small) and leaving all other speakers as Small in the receiver. I set my receiver crossover to 60Hz(with RTi38's I used 80Hz). Now that I'm using Large for fronts, my Denon 3803 receiver has two new options, LFE and LFE+Main. I seem to get stronger bass using LFE+Main so that's what I'm using now. I have the following questions.

1. Is there bass on the surround channels, and if there is, am I overdriving the RTi28's using a crossover of 60Hz?

2. Should I use small or large for mains, and if large, do most of you use LFE or LFE+Main?

VR3

You could put the RTi70 on large, I would think. I do not think the surrounds are receiving to much bass at 60hz. Because, they go down to 50hz. The i28's can take it. But anyways, 60hz of crossover will not hurt the RTi28. Rock on and ENJOY DA SOUND! Awesome system! As long as you do not cross it below 50hz, you should be alright. That is their overall response. Just to play it safe. But right now your alright. Ohh yeah, the RTi70's overall response is like in the high 20's. So running the bass to them, shouldnt hurt them. I have done it to my RT35i, and they took it with ease. Just smelt like pot for like a week, pushed that new smell out of them. But no, it will not hurt them. Whatever sounds best to you, do it.

ChrisDurano

Do you have a calibration disc? If you do and have a SPL meter, you should do the subwoofer phase check and see how your mains and sub work together. Then you can play with the settings. I think if your mains don't have anything larger than a 10" woofer, you should always set them to small and have the receiver's bass out setting go exclusively to the sub.

VR3

Dude, He has a *13" woofer*, dual 6.5" woofers all da way. What are you smoking? LoL! So your saying, a RTi150 would need to be ran on small? It has...........4 6.5" woofers in it........Does that count for anything? My RT35i has handled bass before, and it did it good. I dont see the problem....

ChrisDurano

To each his own I guess. Like I said, use an SPL meter and a calibration disc. Find out which setting doesn't dip drastically on the SPL meter when you do the subwoofer phase test and go with it. Just trying to help

izafar

For main speakers, using "Small" or using "Large" with only "LFE" option is the same thing. The difference is between "Small" and "Large and LFE + Main" options, where the later will send the LFE frequencies to both mains and sub. Based on your room you can get better bass response with the later option. Just try both options and choose what ever sound best.

BeginnersLuck

Normally, I would recommend setting alll of your speakers to small and set the crossover to accommodate the weakest speaker in the setup, which looks to be the 28i's. I would shoot for a crossover point around (80-90)Hz.

However, your mains can probably out-perform you sub, so in this case you might consider running the fronts as large and seeing which sounds better to you.

VrMx....-
There is no *13" woofer* becasue the 6.5's your refering to are also acting as midrange drivers. They are not dedicated to pounding out the base like a dedicated woofer driver. That's why most here would not consider the a speaker with 2 6.5's a "large" speaker.

Later,
BL

dcarlson

I have the RT1000i and use LFE+Mains when listening to music and simply LFE when watching movies because they can't handle the extra bass.

With LFE+Mains, your RTi70s may be a little overwelmed on big explosions and such when watching movies. Keep em as large and if you want, you can switch in between LFE and LFE + Mains depending on what you're doing.

Derick.

faster100

I don't think the 70's out bass the psw202, i have had both and the 202 puts out nice bass, more then the 70's.. seems the 70's need alot of volume to start hitting any real bass.. I would set them to small and let the woofer do the rest.. or consider a better sub like the psw404.. I have one a few months old you can have for $300.00 + ship, LOL enjoy and try "all' the variations that what makes it fun/..

BeginnersLuck

Originally posted by faster100
I don't think the 70's out bass the psw202, i have had both and the 202 puts out nice bass, more then the 70's.. seems the 70's need alot of volume to start hitting any real bass..

Hmmm, this brings up an interesting point. I would say that my 800i's can easily compete with a low end sub. But then again, my 800's get all the power they could possibly want. Maybe the i70's are not as robust as the 800i's, but I thought they were very similar. The PSW202 may add SPL, but it can't go much lower, if at all lower than the i70's....But you can get some of that SPL back on the i70's by throwing them some more power. (I am assume the i70's are comparable to the 800i's.)

Well, that's the beauty of HT, you can't be wrong...Like faster100 says, just have fun with it!

-BL

faster100

They are the same you are correct, I just think my 202 i had was kinda wimpy but still hit lower then the 70's.. was awhile back i had it though so i don't really recall, I have the psw404 now and it is a run for the 70's money.. alot deeper bass.. seems i always have to turn up the volume even after calibration though to get that deep impact bass.. maybe my avr is getting weak.. The Integra is only bout a year old i guess

Dr. Spec

Ah, the evergreen small vs. large argument.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_9_3/feature-article-multiple-crossovers-9-2002.html

The RTi70 is flat to about 43 Hz, (-3 dB at 40 Hz) and it lacks both the extension and air moving capability to be run on large for HT.

Even for music, it lacks the extension to even hit low E on a bass guitar with true authority.

The high pass filter rate on small is 12 dB/octave on the 3803. As the above article states, you will hardly be wasting their lower bass capabilities on small.

I run my 800's on small at 80 Hz and it's surprising how much bass they still are allowed to play on small.

With the 202, the issue becomes less black and white because the 202 only extends to about 48 Hz flat (-3 dB 45 Hz), and can hardly be considered a true subwoofer. I would view the 202 as a powered woofer.

For now, you will probably be best running the 70's on large and using the LFE + Main setting.

That will send the 70's a full range signal for L/R, plus low passed bass from any speakers set to small, plus the ".1" LFE channel. The 202 will get the same exact signals.

Once you deep six the 202 in favor of a better sub, you will want to run all your speaks on small, per the above article.

Doc

faster100

I offered this gentlman a good deal on a decent upgrade from the 202. and i have the original box and papers for a safe shipment..:) going once, come on help finance my new SVpb1


By the way Doc,

did you get your pb2 yet??

Dr. Spec

Originally posted by faster100
I offered this gentlman a good deal on a decent upgrade from the 202. and i have the original box and papers for a safe shipment..:) going once, come on help finance my new SVpb1


By the way Doc,

did you get your pb2 yet??

Probably next week, late. Supposed to ship today/tomorrow, but you know how that goes.

Doc

VR3

Beginner, I know the 6.5" dual woofers are not like a one big woofer. I was honestly being sarcastic, note the **. My point is, I have ran my RT35i's on large, and they dont play frequencies they arnt supposed to, and they do the bass right. Tight, accurate, and punchy.

BeginnersLuck

Vr3MxStyler2k3-

Hey, it's no big deal, I figured you knew what you were talking about...it's just hard to determine a sarcastic remark in text. Very easy to take wrong, you know what I mean? My fault, I just need to start recognizing the sarcastic remarks a little better...but only time can help.

I think doc hit the nail on the head with his first post on this tread. That's what I was trying to say but I could not put it so elegantly...

Point well taken, catch you later!
-BL