Surroundbar and Onkyo 605

[beaglemg]

I just got this receiver and when I entered the set up menu to tweak the surroundbar settings, there are no 'Large' or 'Small' options. The tweaks are based on Hz. Any ideas on how to configure?

[dorokusai]

"Hello,
There are two main goals when setting up a satellite/sub-woofer system (the SurroundBar can be considered a satellite/sub-woofer system even though it is a single fairly large speaker). The first goal is to allow the sub-woofer play high enough, in frequency, to match the low frequency capability of the satellite speakers. This blending frequency is somewhere between 120Hz and 150Hz depending upon the height of the satellite speakers off of the floor and if they are wall mounted, or not. But, the easiest way to do that is to simply give the sub-woofer a full range audio signal and use the variable low pass filter, on the sub-woofer, to raise and lower the sub-woofer's low pass filter (it's upper frequency) to blend with the low frequency capability of the satellite speakers. Setting the receiver's front speakers to "large" gives a full range signal to the sub-woofer if it has been connected to the front channels.
The second goal is to not interfere with the built-in high pass filter that is part of the satellite speakers. The problem would be that if "small" were chosen, which means introducing a high pass filter, this filter frequency could be similar to the one built into the speakers, 120Hz. The result of this "double filtering" would be to push the high pass filter point, of the satellites, to 240Hz. So, now the sub-woofer would play up to 120 or 150Hz, but the satellites wouldn't play down to match them.
If you tend to be a moderate listener in terms of playing volumes leaving the center and surrounds set to "large" is fine. The built-in high pass filter should prevent any overdriving of the mid range driver. If, on the other hand, you tend to play your system at fairly high volumes you could choose the "small" setting and select the lowest offered frequency, say 40Hz to not interfere with the built-in high pass filter.
I hope this is helpful information.
Regards, Ken Swauger"

From the CS guru to you. Good luck.

[E-Male]

The only options supplied are "Normal" or "Bi Amp" there is no small or large to select from. So which should we choose? I got this receiver this weekend and ran into the same problem.

[izafar]

Select the Subwoofer as "NO". This will cause your fronts to be set as large. You can then change cutt off frequencies for the rest of the your speakers. The default on 605 is 100 Hz.

[Kenneth Swauger]

Hello,
Thanks for posting. I believe the "normal" and "bi-amp" are referring to how you configure amplifier channels "6" and "7". In a "bi-amp-able" speaker, such as the RTi6 you could have the main/front amplifier channels power the bass sections of the speakers and channels "6" and "7" provide the power to the tweeter sections of the speakers. But this isn't applicable to the SurroundBar.
The instructions you want to find in the receiver's setup are more dealing with whether or not you want a full range signal or a filtered signal to go to the SurroundBar. Sometimes this happens automatically when you don't turn on the sub-out setting. In other words, if the question given is "sub-woofer yes/no" you would choose "no" this would tell the receiver that there shouldn't be any signal going to a sub-woofer and that the signal given to the front channels should be full-range, no filtering. Since this is where you've connected the sub-woofer it will get the same audio signal as the two front speakers. You would use the variable low pass filter, on the sub-woofer, to set the low pass filter at 150Hz which blends with the SurroundBar's low frequency capability.
Regards, Ken

[E-Male]

Ok, I've done the above. I now find myself in a speaker setup that ask me input the frequency for all speakers. I believe the range goes from 80hz to 150hz. Where should these setting be for the surround bar?

BTW in yet another speaker menu I set the FT & CTR levels at 0 and raised the rears channels to +6.

[Kenneth Swauger]

Hello,
Usually when a receiver is asking for a frequency selection it is to set the "elbow" point of a filter. For example 80Hz as a high pass filter, meaning sounds below 80Hz wouldn't be received by the speaker. In the case of the SurroundBar and a sub-woofer connected to the front channels we don't want to introduce any filtering. This ties into telling the receiver not to filter the front channels. You want to convince your receiver that you have large front speakers, no filter and no frequency request. I think you're close in getting the receiver set correct. It might be worth a call to the receiver's help center. Make sure they understand you have large front speakers (don't mention the word "sub-woofer") that you want to give a full range signal. No filtering for the front channels. As to the other channels you can choose the lowest filter setting they give, 60 Hz, for example.
Ken

[E-Male]

Hello,
Usually when a receiver is asking for a frequency selection it is to set the "elbow" point of a filter. For example 80Hz as a high pass filter, meaning sounds below 80Hz wouldn't be received by the speaker. In the case of the SurroundBar and a sub-woofer connected to the front channels we don't want to introduce any filtering. This ties into telling the receiver not to filter the front channels. You want to convince your receiver that you have large front speakers, no filter and no frequency request. I think you're close in getting the receiver set correct. It might be worth a call to the receiver's help center. Make sure they understand you have large front speakers (don't mention the word "sub-woofer") that you want to give a full range signal. No filtering for the front channels. As to the other channels you can choose the lowest filter setting they give, 60 Hz, for example.
Ken

So what should the setting be for each speaker? Are you saying that I should set all to 0? Maybe I read your previous post wrong, but I thought you said it would be best to set them at 120.

[Kenneth Swauger]

Hello,
Sorry for the confusion. Here's what you want, assuming you are connecting the sub-woofer with the front right and left speaker wire method:
1). front left and right speaker, no high pass filter.
2). sub-woofer's variable low pass filter set somewhere between 120 and 150Hz depending upon placement and personal preference.
3). center and surrounds no high pass filter, unless you hear cone breakup, then select lowest high pass filter and increase it until you no longer hear cone breakup. Or, if you are a fairly loud listener in a fairly large room then go ahead and set a high pass filter at the lowest setting. The center and surrounds already have a built in high pass filter, but this might not be enough to prevent cone breakup (a sound that is best described as a lack of upper bass and lower mid range control) so engage the high pass filter and set it at the lowest setting and raise until no unwanted sounds.
Step three is actually a blend of recommendations from both Matthew Polk and Paul DiComo. Matthew recommends no high pass filter and Paul recommends using one and picking the lowest setting. So, I've blended them together and explaining how to choose.
Have fun.
Ken

[E-Male]

Thanks Ken for being so patient with me.

Just to make sure that I understand you:
FRT L&R speakers=FULL

Rears=Full; unless cone break up is detected.

Sub somewhere b/t 120 & 150.

[Kenneth Swauger]

Hello,
That is correct, don't forget the center channel is treated the same as the two surrounds. Set it to full range, unfiltered and listen for cone breakup. I think you've got it.
Take care, Ken