You're referring to the setting after the calibration function right (e.g. Audyssey)? What AVR are u using?

Normally "large" is for full range speakers. Meaning your speakers can go down to 20 Hz. If your speaker cannot do this then set to "small". Even if the system sets your speaker to "large" generally I see the recommendation to still set to "small" (especially if you have a sub).

This post has been edited by jchong: Jun 23 2009, 04:07 PM

Yup, it refers to speaker frequency not the size. So you are using the YPAO function on the Yammy.

Only very high end speakers can go down to 20Hz. Most people cannot afford speakers like that. So that's why sub became popular, the sub makes it affordable for people to get low bass.

So yup you should set your speakers to "small".

This post has been edited by jchong: Jun 23 2009, 04:34 PM

Yeah do try the different setting and let us know the result.

Setting to small simply means the low bass frequency is not sent to that speaker. Exactly how much low bass is cut out depends on your AVR. In my Onkyo the cross over is user selectable, so for my mains I set to small and cross over at 40 Hz, meaning only 40 Hz and above is sent to the mains.

As for my sub, the LFE is set to 100 Hz meaning sub will handle all low bass up to 100 Hz.

So, up to 40 Hz handled by sub exclusively. From 40 Hz - 100 Hz handled by sub and my mains. Above 100 Hz by mains only.

I hope the above example clarifies how the bass management works in an AVR.

This post has been edited by jchong: Jun 25 2009, 09:25 AM

There are 2 separate settings for bass management, one LFE for the sub and one for all the rest (main, center and surround). You might be confusing between the two. For the mains, if you set at 60Hz that means only 60Hz and above will be played by the mains. Then in the separate LFE setting for sub, if you set at 60 Hz that means only 60Hz and below will be played by the sub.




To some extent it makes sense that "when set to large, the sound was fuller compared to small." When set to large your AVR will send full range frequency to your bookshelf speakers. So the performance is only limited by your bookshelf potential. So if your bookshelf can play down to 50 Hz then it will reproduce down to 50 Hz as sent by the AVR. However, if you set to small then maybe your AVR cuts off at 80 Hz (this will depend on your AVR) which means your bookshelf only playing 80 Hz and above and won't sound as full.

As to what large and small means, I think it is just freq cutover. But exactly what is the freq it cuts over that will depend on your AVR.

This post has been edited by jchong: Jun 25 2009, 04:35 PM

Nope not the sub's crossover. In your AVR there should be another setting for LFE. If you use this, then in your sub's built in crossover you put to the max possible (usually 120 Hz, depending on sub model) or if there is a 'direct' setting then to 'direct'.

It might be AVR dependent.

So in your AVR can select speaker size for mains, center and surrounds only? No option related to subwoofer or LFE?

I read that article too, quite interesting. As for the double filtering, the article did say "Some subwoofers have LFE inputs that bypass the sub's filter. If you insist on using the sub out jack, you may want to use the sub's LFE input." I think if you connect to the LFE input then no issue.

No need to upgrade. AVR not having the LFE setting is not critical, because you can simply adjust using the sub's in built crossover.

You set this 150Hz cut off in the sub or in the AVR?

Anyway, might not be necessary to set so high because I read that in movies the bass track for sub only goes up to 120Hz.