Crossover Point

[SumSuperman]

I have some RtiA1s and CsiA4 on the way that I will be using for my front speakers and center. I live in a townhome, so I don't have space for anything bigger like towers. My question concerns the crossover point I should set on my Yamaha RX-V663.

The lower frequency response of the RtiA1s goes down to 50Hz, but my surrounds speakers' lower frequency response is 110Hz. Should I set the crossover point for the sub to 80Hz or something higher like 125 Hz? Will it do any damage to the surrounds if the crossover is set that low? I feel like I'll be missing out on some midrange from the RtiA1s if the crossover is set too high.
I'm new to the home audio setup, so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[polky noob]

What kind of surrounds do you have?

[SumSuperman]

I will be using two JBL CS400 satellites. They are the speakers I was using before buying the RTiA4s. I know they don't match the Polks, but I was more concerned with matching the fronts and center.

[polky noob]

If your sub can go that high then you should cross it over at 120

[ShinAce]

I'd leave the sub at 80-90 Hz.

Surrounds are supposed to be full range in the first place.

[McLoki]

Not sure of what sub you are using, but here is an idea to try.....

Hook the right and left speaker output in your AVR to the right and left input on your sub.
Hook the right and left speaker output on your sub to your right and left speakers.
Hook all other speakers up as usual.

In your AVR,
set sub to off (or none)
set front speakers to large
set all other speakers to small with a 120hz crossover.

See how it sounds....

(I am really surprised the 663 only has one crossover setting - are you sure you cannot set different crossover points for each set of speakers?)

[SumSuperman]

Not sure of what sub you are using, but here is an idea to try.....

Hook the right and left speaker output in your AVR to the right and left input on your sub.
Hook the right and left speaker output on your sub to your right and left speakers.
Hook all other speakers up as usual.

In your AVR,
set sub to off (or none)
set front speakers to large
set all other speakers to small with a 120hz crossover.

See how it sounds....

(I am really surprised the 663 only has one crossover setting - are you sure you cannot set different crossover points for each set of speakers?)

McLoki, what would using the speaker output on the sub do? I'm new at this stuff, so any help is appreciated.

I haven't been able to find anything in the RX-V663 where the crossover can be changed for each speaker, but I'll keep looking in the manual.

[Kex]

McLoki, what would using the speaker output on the sub do? I'm new at this stuff, so any help is appreciated.

I haven't been able to find anything in the RX-V663 where the crossover can be changed for each speaker, but I'll keep looking in the manual.
It means you would be using the crossover setting on the subwoofer, not the receiver, so the mains, connected to the subwoofer directly, would have a different crossover from the surrounds. This is frequently referred to as the "Polk method", since Polk frequently recommended it in the past (not sure about now, since they released the new range of subwoofers).

It is almost shocking IMO that Yamaha can sell a receiver these days for $550 MSRP with only a global crossover setting, if it is indeed true.

[McLoki]

What it would buy you is you would set your front speakers to large, your sub to off and your crossover to 120 to match your rear speakers.

[SumSuperman]

It means you would be using the crossover setting on the subwoofer, not the receiver, so the mains, connected to the subwoofer directly, would have a different crossover from the surrounds. This is frequently referred to as the "Polk method", since Polk frequently recommended it in the past (not sure about now, since they released the new range of subwoofers).

It is almost shocking IMO that Yamaha can sell a receiver these days for $550 MSRP with only a global crossover setting, if it is indeed true.


What it would buy you is you would set your front speakers to large, your sub to off and your crossover to 120 to match your rear speakers.

Thank you both. That makes sense. I'll give that a shot. After reading up on it, the RX-V663 does only have a global crossover setting.