A9 and DSW PRO 660 wi

CinderLyon

So the instructions for the DSW PRO 660 wi powered sub, say that if you use the LFE you should set your fronts to small. I am wondering if that is still recommended when used with a pair of A9's powered by a 2 channel Adcom gfa -555 amp?

nguyendot

It depends on your receiver. Personally I would run those small. Even with your adcom those A9s could take double the power.

CinderLyon

i have a dedicated amp for them.

nguyendot

I think you missed the part where I mentioned that. A9s can take 500w+ of power - your amp is not even remotely close to that. As such, I'd run them small unless you have more power to feed them. You can do them large and it will probably be fine except at the top 10% limit.

fokakis1

CinderLyon wrote: »

So the instructions for the DSW PRO 660 wi powered sub, say that if you use the LFE you should set your fronts to small. I am wondering if that is still recommended when used with a pair of A9's powered by a 2 channel Adcom gfa -555 amp?

Your amp/mains combo is quite capable. I find that I measure flatter freq. response in the bass region with my fronts set to large as compared to small. I would go with what sounds best. If you can, try to take some measurements to see if you can verify what you are hearing.

CinderLyon

fokakis is that with the double base set on or off with your receiver? Good idea I can test for base response.

fokakis1

CinderLyon wrote: »

fokakis is that with the double base set on or off with your receiver? Good idea I can test for base response.

Double bass set to On. In most cases I see smoother response with fronts set to small. However, in my current set-up my A9's are closer to the front corners than usual so I get flatter response (and better sound) when set to Large/Double Bass On. Your results may very well be different.

CinderLyon

ok, I will test both. I like both but get a bit bass spoiled after listening to double on. so testing will be a good way for me to see where the systems is.

2x svs 12's i am jealous.

Thorton

Placement, room design and personal preference in SQ factor in so much that you'll have to decide what you prefer. In my case, double bass muddied the sound so I have them set to small. I recommend experimenting with placement, crossover (40-80) and adjusting the output. An spl meter made my life easier with final adjustment by ear. I have mine set to small with the crossover at 60hz.

CinderLyon

What do you meant adjusting the output, volume? Yeah got a nice spl for that.

Geoff4rfc

nguyendot wrote: »

It depends on your receiver. Personally I would run those small. Even with your adcom those A9s could take double the power.

+1

After you've run Audyssey, your AVR should set your A9's around 40-50hz since you've got them amped. You have the ability to adjust it how your want after it's saved to play with the settings.

From what I've heard, your sub is a capable one. Let the sub do it's job and take advantage of the supreme midrange of the A9's.

CinderLyon

it does not even seem like audyseey chirps at the low ranges on fronts when i setup. For that matter it does not seem that it tests the full range of subs either. In any case it sets my fronts at 40hz which is pretty low anyways.

Your point about the combo of sub and a9 and mid ranges on them makes some sense.

Geoff4rfc

I have the older version of your AVR, the 807. If you listen to your music in "pure audio" mode, it automatically sets your mains to full band so the bass now comes from the A9's.

If you were to put a stronger amp on your 9's, you would get more bass from them in 2ch.

CinderLyon

ahh sure on pure audio and full ranged. I was wondering about that. makes sense. What amp would you suggest? I read good things about emotiva. and the price would have to be under $1000. I really like listening to music on pure audio. it has such a strong crisp image. Direct seems pretty tight as well. Hard to tell the difference for me.

Inspector 24

A9's with 220wpc Parasound HCA-2003a. Sound great. Plenty of bass to survive on their own for most music in my room, though the HSU fills in things below 40hz very nicely, I run them in large as well for everything, nothing muddy here.

Of course I should soon see what 350wpc from a HCA-3500 can do with them. Or more importantly going from 60a peak per channel to 120a, 'cause it's the current that matters, not the wattage as I've been advised.

Geoff4rfc

I can't speaker for any other amps than Emotiva. I've heard good reports about others such as Inspectors Parasound.

I'm using an XPA-2 (300wpc) with great results. I'll be getting a second one to run them as mono blocks, they yield 860wpc in bridged mode.

I got involved with Emotiva due to the low cost, turns out, contrary to some, it's a good quality amp. And before I get a knee jerk reaction from anyone, I didn't say "high" quality, just good quality.

fokakis1

CinderLyon wrote: »

ahh sure on pure audio and full ranged. I was wondering about that. makes sense. What amp would you suggest? I read good things about emotiva. and the price would have to be under $1000. I really like listening to music on pure audio. it has such a strong crisp image. Direct seems pretty tight as well. Hard to tell the difference for me.

I see you have started a new thread in search of another amp. Unless you have a small coliseum, your will not notice a $1000 sound improvement by upgrading your Adcom. Some suggestions to get you a little more bang for your $$ could be:

-A projector/screen (if you don't have one)
-A small external amp + speaker pair to add front heights or wides to upgrade to 9.2 with your Onkyo 818
-Acoustic panels/bass traps
-Sell the A9's and upgrade speakers

These are simply suggestions. I'm sure others can think of ways for you to spend your cash as well. Whatever you do... have fun with it! I know I do.

Inspector 24

I second acoustic panels. Well worth the money.

zingo

CinderLyon wrote: »

it does not even seem like audyseey chirps at the low ranges on fronts when i setup. For that matter it does not seem that it tests the full range of subs either. In any case it sets my fronts at 40hz which is pretty low anyways.

Not necessarily. Sometimes a subwoofer works best when you allow it to pick-up where your speakers drop off, even if that is only 10Hz.