VTF 2.3 crossover question

[diesel_dan]

I posted this Q in the general Hsu Speaker section by mistake so am reposting here:

Hi, I ordered a VTF-2 MK3 a few days ago (right when the sale started!) and it should be here Tuesday. I am replacing a Velodyne F1200R that bit the dust a few weeks ago and the cost to repair it helped justify to the spousel unit to buy a new sub. (I hope the VTF2.3 is an improvement to the Velo to boot!)

On to my question (I'm not very technical, so please keep it on my simple level):

I had my F1200 hooked up to the receiver via the high power speaker wires and then from the sub to the right and left main speakers. The velo has a variable low pass crossover I had set about at 80 and a fixed high pass crossover -- I'm not quite sure how these work other than when I bought the sub and my mains/center (M&K S-100Bs), I was told the set-up would keep the low-end sound from ever going to the M&Ks. I also have in-ceiling rears that are approx. 8" Sonance units, but I don't know the model (were in the house when I bought it).

The system sounded terrific to me, so my first thought is to try the VTF2.3 hooked up exactly like the velo was, and I just want to know if the VTF2.3's low pass filter will "strip" the lower signals out before my M&Ks see them?

I have a cheap-o Sony Digital Surround Receiver (STR-DE445) and it does have a sub-out RCA connector on the back, but I can't tell if I were to use that if the Sony would do this function (well) and the Velo manual recommended using the Velo to do the crosover work. (Due to economic constraints, the replacement of the Sony is far in the future)

by the way, 13 years ago when I bought the Velo, the Hsu "cylinder" sub was my #2 choice, but the WAF won out over better sound reviews the Hsu was getting back then...

I also did a search before asking and saw a very similar question was asked but not answered in the other general forum and I also read over the Hsu and Sony user manual, but it's just not clear-as-mud for this non-techy dude...

Thanks for your patience in my now long note, and I very much look forward to joining the Hsu "family" soon!

[john.]

Hi Dan, let me attempt to help ya out here. IIRC hooking up the hsu sub with the high level speaker input and output should cutout those low notes from your main speakers. I'm not positive on that, but I think I remember the hsu speaker level input and output working that way.

If this is not the case, however, most sony recievers have a way to set the front speakers to small, rather than large, which will cut out those low notes simliar to what your velodyne was doing. This will also allow you to run an rca cable to the sub, rather than routing your main speaker wires to the sub, then back to the speakers. IMO this is the optimal setup, seeing as how it would also be a dedicated channel for home theater use if hooked up that way.

On another note, I'm willing to bet you will enjoy the hsu VERY much. I'm a previous velo owner also, and my current HSU (sold the previous hsu to my dad) walks all over the velo with ease.

Hope to hear some feedback once you get the new toy. Enjoy!

[diesel_dan]

thanks for the help john.!

I had read posts about some digital surround receivers not putting out a signal to the sub in 2 channel mode when connected to the sub-out. I already have all the high level wires in place and the same location will be where the new VTF2.3 will go -- but I also have high quality rca cables from before I got the Sony for it's Digital Surround (it has no pre-outs like my Dennon AVR-2500 did). So based on the velo manual recommendation is the only reason I stuck with using the velo's crossovers.

I just didn't know what the high versus low x-over do -- as in does the low just limit what goes to the sub and the high does the signal stripping? Not easy info for this simpleton to find out there in internet land... :o

I'll just have to try the rca sub out when my new baby arrives today...

I'm jealous of your VTF3.3 -- I have a large room that is open to other large rooms (very open floorplan), so the 3.3 is probably at least what I really need, but again the ol' budget constraints... (Minister of Finance is what I refer to her as..:p ) -- the sale on the 2.3s was the clincher... I'm betting the VTF2.3 will kill the old velo's performance too, so it'll be an upgrade for me in any case.

I'll let you know how it works and probably be asking more set-up and placement Qs next...

[diesel_dan]

:D
I can't put enough smiley faces in here...

Just answered my own original question: the sub-out is the way to go and works great in 2 Channel, who cares about the crossover...

I haven't even got this bad dude in it's place yet :D

I may have to listen to this disc for a while -- I'm not sure I've ever heard it before.... Not like this anyway... :eek:

and did I mention how GOOD the Rosenut looks?! (I guess I did in another thread!)

Thanks Dr. Hsu for such a great sounding and looking piece of equipment -- what a value....

Think I better grab a beer and take this in... :D :D :D

I'll be back soon to ask more set-up/placement Qs

[john.]

Sounds like you are a long term member of the hsu family now, eh? Only takes one listen haha. To be honest, I'm not taking advantage of the 3.3's output capability in my small room. I would have been fine with a 2.3 like yours and probably not noticed a difference, I just have a tendency to go overkill haha.

And yes, the sub out is my preference also. I had a sony reciever before my current setup and had no issues with the sub out in 2 channel mode. Enjoy the sub and keep us updated!

[diesel_dan]

Well I was a little "quick on the trigger" on posting about the 2 channel working. My unit only uses the sub-out if it's in one of it's sound-mode settings (surround, Jazz, etc.). So the closest I can get to 2 channel is the Jazz selection, but it's still doing some EQ and doesn't sound flat, tho at least not the echo crud.

Another arrow in the quiver for justifying to "the Minister of Finance" an upgrade to the receiver :cool:

I need to diagram my room to get some placement help -- the WAF position is in between the side of a sofa and a built in entertainment center. Watched the 1st movie with the Hsu last night and it was pretty "hidden" sound wise -- will need to play with it a bunch more I'm sure... :)

[john.]

Yea placement can be tricky in some rooms. Make sure and experiment with the phase switch also. I've had to reverse the phase of my sub in its new current position in the room. It can have a dramatic effect on output.

I'm surprised to hear about the sub out only working with one of the preset eq modes on that sony. So if you turn all effects off it cuts the sub out off? Are you sure you haven't missed a setting on a menu somewhere? I remember my old sony receiver had a 2channel mode, and a 2 channel with sub out, plus all those pre set eq settings you mentioned.