RTiA7 Crossover Question

Frank Savage
Frank Savage Posts: 4
edited December 2008 in Speakers
For now I am running a 3.1 system with all new equipment and speakers. I plan to listen to music and watch movies about equally. My reciever is a Denon AVR-2809. Until I go to a 5.1 or 6.1 set up the 2809 is only driving the center CSiA4. I selected the CSiA4 because the A6 would not fit in my cabinet. My front L & R are RTiA7's powered by an Emotiva amp. My sub is a Velodne SPL 1200R. After running Audesy at set up, the CSiA4 was set at small with a 60 Hz crossover. The mains were set at large with 60 Hz crossover. The Sub was set at 80 Hz.

My initial reaction is that the RTiA7's seem to be a bit base heavy, more than I would prefer. I reset them from large to small, and changed the crossover to 80 Hz for the fronts and center. This change seemed to be helpful in directing more base to what I believe is a very capable sub.

I would be interested in hearing from other RTiA7 owners about their crossover settings, and their opinions regarding how to best address what seems to be base heavy mains. Thanks in advance for suggestions and comments.
Post edited by Frank Savage on
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Comments

  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited December 2008
    Welcome to the forum. My RTiA7's were a little bass muddy (not really heavy) until I got them about a foot away from the rear and side walls. They still have lots of impact, just much cleaner now. I have them set to large and 80 Hz crossover.
    SDA-1C (full mods)
    Carver TFM-55
    NAD 1130 Pre-amp
    Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
    The Clamp
    Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
    Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
    Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
    Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
    Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
    ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
    Ben's IC's
    Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM
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  • Retro152
    Retro152 Posts: 985
    edited December 2008
    Hi Frank, I have a pair of 7s on order, and was pondering the same question. I have a brand new Klipsch sub-12, and im constantly tweaking crossover settings. I will try his advice, being im kinda green at home audio. But off subject, do you like the Emotiva amp? im seriously considering one.
    Receiver: Pioneer Elite SC-05
    Amp: Emotiva Xpa-3
    Front L/R: POLK Rti-a9s':D
    Center:POLK Csi-a6
    Rear surround's:POLK Rti-a1s'
    Sub: Klipsch Synergy sub-12
    Sony Kdl-46w4100 46" LCD
    PS3
    Audioquest type 4 wiring.
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  • Frank Savage
    Frank Savage Posts: 4
    edited December 2008
    Thanks for the reply Fongolio. I will try adjusting the location of the speakers and will try the crossover settings you mentioned. I would agree with your description of "muddy". I'm sure over time I will get things set up to my preference.

    Retro,
    I have the Emotiva 3 channel Amp. Dollar for dollar, it was a great buy. It is a beast and will drive the A7's and probably any other Polk speakers effortlessly. I ultimately plan to use the Emotiva to drive my front L R & C, and the 2809 to drive the rear three speakers in a 6.1 system. I only have about one week experience with all of my equipment, but so far so good. Hopefully I will get the crossover set properly with a bit of trial and error, and the muddy base issue will be resolved.
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  • Retro152
    Retro152 Posts: 985
    edited December 2008
    I was thinking of that exact setup. I have 6.1 surround now and wanted an amp for the fronts and center for the music end, and my yamaha for the rest. I have read awesome reviews about Emotiva. Did you have the music in mind by going with the 3 channel amp for your fronts? Im new at this so, the amp hookup makes me nervous.
    Receiver: Pioneer Elite SC-05
    Amp: Emotiva Xpa-3
    Front L/R: POLK Rti-a9s':D
    Center:POLK Csi-a6
    Rear surround's:POLK Rti-a1s'
    Sub: Klipsch Synergy sub-12
    Sony Kdl-46w4100 46" LCD
    PS3
    Audioquest type 4 wiring.
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  • Frank Savage
    Frank Savage Posts: 4
    edited December 2008
    Retro,
    I actually made the decision to buy the Emotivia when I decided to buy the RTiA7's. Consensus seems solid on the fact that the 7's and 9's perform better with more power. I bought the 3 channel amp specifically to drive my fronts, with the Denon 2809 driving the power for the rear three speakers. If you AVR has pre-outs, hooking up the amp is a snap, especially if your AVR has trigger out connections. Just be sure to use better quality RCA IC's. I never drove the front mains with the 2809 so I can't say how they would sound, but the 7's are amazing when driven hard by the Emotiva. Good luck in your decision.
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  • Retro152
    Retro152 Posts: 985
    edited December 2008
    Frank, Thanks a lot for the info. You have given me some great insight, and i feel better about my setup. I will let you know how i make out. Thanks again.
    Receiver: Pioneer Elite SC-05
    Amp: Emotiva Xpa-3
    Front L/R: POLK Rti-a9s':D
    Center:POLK Csi-a6
    Rear surround's:POLK Rti-a1s'
    Sub: Klipsch Synergy sub-12
    Sony Kdl-46w4100 46" LCD
    PS3
    Audioquest type 4 wiring.
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  • Frank Savage
    Frank Savage Posts: 4
    edited December 2008
    Bump - How about it RTiA7 owners. Comments most welcome.
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited December 2008
    Its not just the 7s. Any speaker's mids/highs (vocals/instruments) will come out cleaner with the 80hz setting. Deep bass coming from the same driver can sometimes distort the vocals. I run large towers for HT crossed over at 80hz. It will also allow you to run your system louder overall since the receiver's amp will not reach its limits trying to produce sub-bass.

    I will admit that for 2 channel music that doesn't contain digital sub bass content, I run my towers on large full range with no sub. This is where movies and music are different.
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • javygonx
    javygonx Posts: 70
    edited December 2008
    Hi to all:

    I have RTiA7s for fronts. Completly new with an Onkyo 706. Im going to uograde my Onkyo with Marantz SR6003. But the store are not shipping it yet, so maybe I can change it for a Denon 2809. Not sure. I need help in which receiver, please help!.. And about the crossover things, I have no idea what are the best settings for my speakers I want to learn more about the crossover thing but if someone can explain it for me will be great. And how can I get the most from my speakers. I want a rich punch bass for music. Any idea how can i set my RTiA7s for that using my Onkyo 706? Thanks.
    Panasonic 65" Plasma
    Pioneer SC81
    PS4 BluRay / Memorex BD-Player
    Polk RTiA7 Fronts
    Polk CS2 Center
    Polk RTi4 Surrounds
    Eomtiva XRef12
    Monster Power HtS 1600 Power Line Filter/Conditioner
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited December 2008
    javygonx wrote: »
    Hi to all:

    I have RTiA7s for fronts. Completly new with an Onkyo 706. Im going to uograde my Onkyo with Marantz SR6003. But the store are not shipping it yet, so maybe I can change it for a Denon 2809. Not sure. I need help in which receiver, please help!.. And about the crossover things, I have no idea what are the best settings for my speakers I want to learn more about the crossover thing but if someone can explain it for me will be great. And how can I get the most from my speakers. I want a rich punch bass for music. Any idea how can i set my RTiA7s for that using my Onkyo 706? Thanks.


    Keep the Onkyo and buy external amp. That will definately clean up your lower end. For the crssover setting best thing to do is play around with the crossover setting and see which sounds best.
    (Full range - 80hz no higher)
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  • javygonx
    javygonx Posts: 70
    edited December 2008
    Thanks. When you said "Full Range" its in all speakers? (Fronts, Center and Surrounds?).
    And about 80hz, settings on Sub? Because When I set to 80hz, the receiver says (80Hz THX). It doesnt matter to set it at 80hz even in the sub its not THX Certified?

    Thanks.
    Panasonic 65" Plasma
    Pioneer SC81
    PS4 BluRay / Memorex BD-Player
    Polk RTiA7 Fronts
    Polk CS2 Center
    Polk RTi4 Surrounds
    Eomtiva XRef12
    Monster Power HtS 1600 Power Line Filter/Conditioner
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited December 2008
    javygonx wrote: »
    Thanks. When you said "Full Range" its in all speakers? (Fronts, Center and Surrounds?).
    And about 80hz, settings on Sub? Because When I set to 80hz, the receiver says (80Hz THX). It doesnt matter to set it at 80hz even in the sub its not THX Certified?

    Thanks.



    I run my HT system all crossed at 80 hz and use full range for my fronts
    RTI A 9. I let the sub handle 80hz and below.
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