Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater why does every say set to 'small'

I figured I'd chime in with my findings this weekend. I originally set my all my speakers to small on my Pioneer VSX74. I'm running M60s in the front, VP150 center, QS4 rears, and a SVS 25-31PCI sub. I calibrated with SPL and had the SVS running about 3db hot over the other speakers.

For some reason the sound just didn't seem to "right" to me. With 5.1 it was good, but any broadcast pro logic sounds, or 2 channel stereo was missing something. I recalibrated with the M60s as large and I feel it gave me a better overall sound across all listening options.

I agree that it is all about how it sounds. In your room, your ears work the best.

Another option I wish the Pioneer supported was different speakers setings per MCACC. I can have different MCACC presets but the speakers sizes are global across every preset.

I'm not exactly sure what happens between large/small when the crossover remains at 80hz. I'm assuming below 80hz is set to sub either way but for some reason it sounds different to me. Hopefully someone can explain this to me

When the mains are set to 80 then everyting below 80 is sent to the sub.

When the mains are set to large and the sub is set ON then the mains are getting the full bandwidth AND the full bandwith is sent to the sub (where it's LFPed at 80). On some receivers this option is called "Double Bass".

I prefer my mains reset to large when listening to 2 channel. I also prefer no sub for most music listening. Bach fugues and tocattas with the sub

Gena,

Thank you, perfect answer and explains why I prefer setting the M60s to large. I listen to a lot of 2 channel on the system and I was missing the "fullness" I wanted when they were set to small.

Now to get Pioneer to make individual MCACC speaker size settings!

So the the sub is still reciever all the bass from the fronts even if it's set to Large?

It depends on the receiver. My receiver, Onkyo 703, has two options for the sub when the mains set to Large:

(1) LFE effects only. That is all the regular audio is played full bandwidth by the mains and the sub is getting only the LFE channel, the .1 one, if you are listening to 5.1 disc. If it's a regular stereo, that is 2/0, the sub will be silent.

(2) Double bass. That is the sub is getting the same sound that goes to the mains. In addition to the LFE, of course.

Puff et al, this has gotten a bit tangled-up over the bass management settings. When the mains are set "large", they get the full-range, including all the bass that's in their channels. In the usually suggested subwoofer setting, which may be termed "SWFR", "LFE" or whatever, the sub gets none of the bass in the "large" main channels; it gets the low frequency effects(LFE)sometimes present in movies and also the low bass from speakers set "small". Receivers commonly have an optional subwoofer setting, generally not recommended in most cases, which may be termed "both". "double", "plus", etc. in which besides any LFE and bass from "small" speakers the sub also gets the low bass that the "large" mains also play.

Since I listen to alot of 5 ch stereo I'll bet the large setting is ok b/c my rears are set to small which means all the low bass is still getting to my subwoofer. I need to listen more when it comes to movies in dolby digital or DTS. That seems like what is being said. Small with movies-large with music depending on speakers and room too. In my case I think that's the way to go.