Think, for the rears, if your choices are 'large' and 'normal', then use normal. If the choices are 'normal' and 'small', then use small. Normal is an arbitrary, relative term. (One systems normal may be large, while another's may be small.)

Correct in the second post. The 5.1 formats will send full-range (down to 20Hz) to any speaker not set to re-direct it to another output. Note that, unless you set your processor to 'no sub', this is independent of the LFE channel.

With 12's, you should try the 'no sub' setting. Your mains may indeed have better bass than your Aiwa sub. In fact, you might want to see if the Aiwa works as a rear woofer. (Don't forget to set the rear-outs to 'large') If it has speaker-level inputs and outputs, just wire it inline with the surround speakers.

If it has 2 RCA inputs, you can simply use two Y-connectors. Otherwise, you'll need to use a second DD decoder in the 3-channel mode to extract a mono (rear) center, and set the "mains" out to 'small', and the "center" out to 'large'.

(All of these RCA-type connections assume you have a separate pre-pro and amps, or that your receiver has 'pre-out' and 'amp-in' jacks for the rear channels.)

Confused yet?

Larry

This message was edited by Larry Fine on 11/24/01 09:41.06.

Progress report: Smokin'!

Primary amp: "No Sub," Mains "Large." Awesome bass and LFE from the two 15" woofers ;-) I was a little worried about the load on them now L+R+bass+LFE, so I ran the pre-out into the dedicated power amp I was using for the 10" unpowered sub. Now they've got 700 watts per channel available, and they didn't even blink at some THX reference level (115db) low signals! Side note: I had to get real creative with an SPL meter and a couple of equalizers before all the 80Hz and lower were 10db louder than the 81Hz and up at reference level... And if making one driver combine the L or R bass with the LFE signal "muddied" the sound, my old ears can't tell.

Rear Pro Logic amp: "3 Channel." No size options available on this older receiver, but my (unpowered) stereo 10" subwoofer has an optional pass-through for satellites. Wired it directly into the L and R and then attached the surrounds to it (saved a lot of wire this way, too :) Then wired up the center. Six channel surround, plus rear bass, perfect! Well, perfect after more SPL & EQ work. :)

As an added bonus, the equalizers have multiple memory settings and are remotely controlled (HTM MX-500). So it's simple to change to my preferred "music listening" settings when desired.

BTW: Thinkly, although I have not seen "normal" as a setting for the main speakers, I did find the term used in reference to the center channel yesterday. In that case there were three options: "Phantom" meant no speaker, "Normal" meant small, and "Wide" meant large.

Larry,

Thanks for the advice. The set-up I preffer is BP2600's without the subs hooked up and the 15 inch stand alone hooked up for lfe. I don't hear too much difference on DVD's but the difference is huge on regular music CD's. There was something lacking before, and now it sounds like I get a much fuller range.

Thinkly,

I finally found a reference to "normal" speakers yesterday while reading the literature on a Kenwood THX Select receiver. You experts please chime in if I get this wrong, please.

Apparently, the home THX standard (at least Select, I don't know about Ultra) calls for most if not all speakers to receive no frequencies below 80 MHz and for all low frequencies to go the subwoofer. Given the inability of many main speakers to cleanly drive 20Hz at the THX reference peak LFE level of 115db I suppose this makes sense, especially in a less-expensive THX Select system.

Therefore -- in Kenwood's eyes at least -- in a THX Select system what we have traditionally referred to as "small" is the "normal" setting for a THX speaker. So they only offer "normal/THX" and "large" options.

Bruce

The Yamaha Rx-V1 with all its settings & options seems
to solve a lot of this type of guess work & expands ones options with more available settings "both".
I just replaced my Kenwood THX (Pro-same as Utra? - when THX had only 1 standard)Recvr with the RX-V1 & it made things a lot easier.