Question on crossover setting Monitor 70's and cs2

Charlie51

Home Theater question... Just replaced my old living room HT setup with a pair of monitor 70's and a cs2 and was wondering what the best amp crossover settings would be?

My old setup consisted of a pair of monitor 4.5's, csi3, and an Advent sub. My wife hated the low bass from the sub and consequently I rarely used it. The amp is Onkyo TX-SR502.

I realize I won't get a lot of bass from the new setup without a sub, however I would like to get the most I can without upsetting the wifey... I read something about connecting the 70's in a bi-amp mode but I'm not sure how that works. We use it for about 75% HT, 20% music, and 5% gaming. The room is about 17X20 with laminate floors and 14' ceilings.

I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks in advance...

falconcry72

If you're not using a sub, and you want to hear the bass, you'll need to set your fronts to full-range, meaning no crossover. If your wife is the limiting factor, then you'll have to get her to suggest the appropriate crossover point, since I can't help you there.

I read something about connecting the 70's in a bi-amp mode but I'm not sure how that works.

Don't bother.

cnh

Welcome to Club Polk!

Agreed, full range. The M-70s are rated to 40hz so they can go "low". The problem there? Pushing those towers to put out significant sound at their lower limit requires more power than you have, but you will get something at that level not just the authority you would have with an external power amp!

So your wife won't complain if you set them to full range!

cnh

tonyb

Is the sub going to be included in the mix ? If so, start at about 80 on the crossover and adjust down to relieve the bass comming out of the sub. If no sub in the mix, set the fronts to full range.

Charlie51

The sub is gone, just ahve the 2 70's and the cs2. I'll try the full range to the fronts. I really haven't had time to try any of the settings yet, just made the changeover last nite before hitting the sack.

hochpt21

I'm not trying to spend your money, and I am not the guy to just say add an amp for the heck of it.

But when I added an amp to my 70's I noticed a fairly substantial increase in the bass from them.

I would do what the other folks mentioned, see how you like it and go from there. Your Onkyo does have pre-outs if you decide you want more from the 70's and want to add an amp.

hochpt21

edit^^^^ I added an amp to the 70's when they were in my two channel.

Lietuvis91

Setting to full range is right in this case, however, if you begin to get unpleasant drone or boominess from the speakers you might want to try to toe them in and try changing the distance from the back wall to mitigate that. Also setting the m70s to small with a crossover point at 40 or 50 will help to clean any muddy low end if you get any of that, but it will also take some of the low end away too. Those are all symptoms of a receiver not really having adequate power to control the speakers well, which i suspect may happen with the receiver you have. Won't know till you actually set it up.

In the end, the settings here will depend on the music you listen to and your listening preferences.

Loud & Clear

Given your scenario, I'd just run the fronts "large" and let the wife control the volume on the remote. Maybe set the center to run hotter than the mains so that dialogue is clear even at lower volumes.

cnh

L-91. If he doesn't get those fairly close to walls with that Onkyo AVR, there is not going to be much in the way of bass coming out of the M-70s. Low powered receivers on M-70s necessitate, no require that you have some room boundary reinforcement of the bass. That's been my experience when I was running M-70s on a slightly more powerful Onkyo 605? No bass at all away from the walls.

cnh