Frequency settings for the nSUB when using the nVi

If you are using it for 5.1 you want it on pass-through or whatever the highest setting is.
The idea behind this is that the .1-channel is an independent channel which carries information from ca. 20-200Hz. If you were to cut-off the LFE (.1) you would effectively lose information.

When using it as bass-support for the n-Sats for stereo music, you want to set it to around 50-60Hz.
Here you are not playing an independent channel but are merely trying to have the n-Sub play those frequencies your n-Sats can't handle. Hence you set it low as to get minimal overlap.

I am waiting for mine to arrive, so I am not sure which settings there are on the n-Sub, but in theory you would want to set your lo-level input to 250H/pass-through. In the n-Vi you would want to set your n-Sats to small and set the cut-off of the n-Vi to 60Hz.

That way your n-Sub will reproduce all of the bass below 60Hz for stereo music and 5.1 and in addition the n-Sub will play the full range of the .1-subwoofer channel on 5.1 sources.


An alternative would be to set different cut-offs for hi and lo-level inputs (not sure if that is possible) or use two presets. One for movies (250Hz) and one for stereo music (60Hz).

That is sound information, thanks GreenAlex!

I am curious though about the setting of the nSATs to small. Logically, I would agree with this, but I also read from james n that the nSATs should be delivered the setting on LARGE speaker.

This is apparently because by setting them on LARGE the speakers are receiving the full range of frequencies they can handle - and I guess that means going all the way down to 50Hz, which would be the overlap you mention with the nSUB.

I find setting the nSATs to LARGE as being paradoxical as they are only very small speakers, but following on from your knowledge shared about integrating the nSUB seamlessly, it kind of makes logical sense to have the nSATs provided with a full range of frequencies and their limitations are why the nSUB is necessary.

Many thanks for your information!

Jon

Jon,

there's no right or wrong setting here - at least not one that stands as a rule for any and all installations.

With the numerous different n-Vi/n-Sat/n-Sub installs I've done over the years I've always found it pays to experiment to get the best out it.

In general I have found that when you set the n-Sats to "small", you tend to hear music as a little more processed. However, it also increases the system headroom by lightening the burden on the n-Vi and n-Sats. For example, in larger rooms the n-Vi and n-Sats can tend to reach their limits quicker than you would ideally like. Changing them to "small" increased the headroom considerably although by putting more of a burden on the n-Sub it's really critical you get the placement spot-on. One of the most successful installs I did had the n-Sats set to "small"...

In some installs where the n-cent has had to be placed within some sort of cabinet, the facility to set it to "small" has been a real bonus, eliminating many of the nasty resonances and colouration that can emanate from such a position.

So my advice is to experiment with it. Oh, and best advice is to get the n-Sats set up right first (set to "large") before you start on the Sub.

As for the n-Sub, you'll definitely need at least two different settings - one for 5.1 and another for Stereo. In fact three is probably the minimum because I tend to find that I set the sub differently whether I'm listening to 5.1 movies or 5.1 music. Oh, and don't forget the phase invert feature too. Depending on where you site the Sub the phase should either be right or wrong. It's obvious when it's wrong because the bass disappears. For siting the Sub I usually start in the middle of a wall and then begin moving it towards a corner until I feel it's driving the room optimally for the general seating area.

Either way, a multi-channel system with a subwoofer takes time and patience to get right. Pick out a handful of discs to use as a reference and enjoy yourself. Don't be afraid to keep tweaking over a number of days until it's right and also don't be afraid to end up with a number of different Sub presets for the 5.1 music - the LFE mastering can be very variable from disc to disc so one setting is usually never enough to cover all eventualities. The beauty of the n-Sub is that it makes setting this up and selecting very easy.

Good luck!

What suprised me last night is, that you can't set the cut-off for the sub on the n-Vi!

Why not? This is the first av-preamp I have seen that does not allow this.

Where will small speakers be cut-off? Weird.