LCE vs. RCA

DenonDandy1

Hi Guys -

I just got myself a MartinLogan Descent i subwoofer, for my Dali Ikon 6 5.1 setup. I also have a denon 4308 reciever and a denon 3800 blu ray player.

My question is, the Descent i has RCA and LPE connection possibleities. Which one should I use?

I read that for basic 2 channel stereo music, I should use RCA, but for blu rays and movies in general LCE. But what I havent heard, is why?

Thanks Guys. Much appreciated

EDIT: sorry I meant LPE

wutadumsn23

From my understanding (which is fairly limited, lol) in 2 chan mode you want it hooked up via RCA so it doesn't bypass the sub. Like Onkyo's Pure Audio setting on their AVR's, it bypasses the sub even if it is hooked up LPE/LFE (I think). Since for HT there is a LPE/LFE track "built into" the DVD/Blu-Ray's soundtrack and you want your sub handling this lower freq and that is why you have it hooked up LPE/LFE so that the sub does most of the dirty work. Welcome to Club Polk. Stand by for further words as I may be way off on this one, lol.



-Jeff

obieone

I don't know what LPE is, but LFE is the single subwoofer cable?
IF you're asking about that, then it's because the LFE application is for explosion's and stuff, in an HT set-up.
If you want to use the sub for increasing your bass extension for 2 channel listening, then you'd use the RCA inputs from an AVR/ Preamp, left/ right preouts.

Ofcourse, that answer is only valid if my assumption is correct:o

wutadumsn23

LPE/LFE same thing.

LFE- Low Frequency Effect
LPE- Low Pass E...... effect?

DenonDandy1

Thanks so much guys

yeah I meant LFE, sorry

So I guess ill just have to hook both LFE and RCA, and switch modes with my reciever depending on what im listening to.

Thanks alot once again

apphd

DD1 welcome to CP. Take a look at your manual, but I don't think you want to have them both hooked up. Unless when you said "and switch modes with my receiver depending on what im listening to" you mean switch the physical connection at your AVR. Another thing to remember when you use the LFE input you want the subs XO turned up to its highest point, and let your AVR handle the XO. When you use the speaker level inputs you will want to use the XO in the sub and adjust it at the sub to blend with your mains.

Most AVR manuals have a pretty good explanation of the units bass management options, but not all AVRs are the same so read your manual over good to understand how your AVR does it. Or maybe some other Denon owners can chime in, I use a Yammi so I can't give specifics.

Dawgfish

I'm not quite sure if this is true for your 4308, but for my 2809, I use the LFE output (marked by subwoofer out on the rear of the reciever) for both home theater and two channel listening. My 2809 has an option where you can turn the subwoofer off or on for two channel listening via the two channel setup function located in the manual setup portion of the menu. This also lets you set the crossover frequency for the sub and front mains at a different setting for two channel stereo than the typical home theater settings which I find vary handy. For example, most people set the crossover frequencies to 80HZ, and the speaker settings to small for all of their speakers for a home theater setup, and then setup the subwwofer crossover to 90HZ or thereabouts. If you have large, full range front speakers, you can set the speakers to large, the crossover setting to 40HZ (the lowest setting for my 2809, some AVRs allow you to set them to full range), the sub mode to LFE+front mains, and then set the subwoofer crossover level to whatever best blends in with your front mains. Don't forget as the others have mentioned to set the crossover setting on the back of your sub to the highest setting when using the LFE channel on your AVR. Hope this helps.

DenonDandy1

I just found out my Denon 4308 has no XLR connection. So how would I hook this up? Should I just use RCA on the SW PreOut? If so, How do I set this up "in" the receiver to still get the LPE/LFE in movie soundtracks, but when listening to 2 channel stereo or 5 channel stereo how do I set this up in the reveiver setup options.

In other words:


In the speaker configuration
-How should I set this up "in the Receiver's options" for listening to movies?
do i need to go back and forth changing these settings for 2 channel and movies?

in the 2 Ch Direct/Stereo setup
-How should I set this up "in the Receiver's options" for stereo?