home theater setup for ther F3, especially the SUB-12

[nklipschh]

I am new to the home theater setup.

i have the F3 Home
Theater System (F3, C3, S3, Sub-12) with a Yamaha RX-V661 receiver
(http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=547398).

My room size is about 15x20 (but there is a stair case in it, so its a little smaller) and hardwood.

i am using Monster Ultra 600 Subwoofer Cable to connect to the 'LEFT/LFE' input on the sub and its located in the corner.

Using Saving Private Ryan and The Matrix as testers, and the DVD player is a Toshiba SD-3805 via digital coxial.

Originally
i set the gain to half way and the lowpass all the way up to 120hz and
let the Yamaha receiver do the auto calibration via a microphone, but
the bass wasn't boomy.

So then i turned the gain a notch up and did some manual calibration:

Front SP - large

Center SP - small

surround L/R Sp - small

LFE/BASS OUT - subwoofer

Crossover - freq 200hz

subwoofer phase - normal

Speaker
Level (Control Range: -10.0 to +10 dB | Control step: 0.5 dB | Initial
setting: 0.0 dB) - all of the speakers are around the middle, which i
am assuming is 0 dB and the subwoofer level is all the way towards the
right which is +9db

-__________+

FL --------|---------

FR ---------|--------

C --------||--------

SWFR -----------------|

SL ----------|-------

SR ---------|--------
*my room has a weird arrangement so the speakers aren't exactly even with each other

For the LFE Level: the 'SPEAKER' is -10dB

After manually setting up the calibration, the bass was better, but not great.

Whats the ideal way for setting up the sub-12?

I like to feel the bass when watching movies

Should i connect the Y-adapter to the 'LFE/LEFT' and 'RIGHT' input on the sub12?

Should i turn the Gain all the way up, even though the yamaha manual recommends it to be half way.

If i turn the gain all the way up, will it cause any harm towards the receiver or subwoofer?

And is the yamaha receiver good enough for these speakers, or is it underpowered?

any help is appreciated.

Thank you.

[sivadselim]

When you say you did a "manual calibration", did you use an SPL meter? [:^)]

[nklipschh]

i didn't use a SPL meter, just the manual calibration on the receiver which spits out tones and etc.

[HudsonValleyNoah]

Here is my .02

I ran RF-3's as front L&R w/RC-7 and a Sub-12 and SS.5's but saw some improvement by going to F1 surrounds.

All speakers set to "Large" in my Yamaha (once I took down the SS.5's)

Sub /LFE set to "Both".

Xover set to 80 Hz (THX) in Yamaha

Xover set to max on the Sub-12 (also Volume set to about 30% on Sub-12)

My RX-V1500 gives 120 Yammy Watts per channel and I'll tell you this setup ROCKED the house during Movie EFX.

YMMV, in fact it must...

~Noah

[tommyboy]

Definitley change your Xover from 200Hz. I have mine at 100, but I kind of have to due to my room size (14 * 10 feet)

[SilverSport]

Change those front Mains to "small"...I know it seems like you aren't getting what you paid for but give it a try...I had tried both my Quartets and Heresys as large and as small...you want the deep bass going to the Subwoofer and the nice clear mids and highs to the F3s and C3 Center...get that crossover to 120 or 100 I bet...

Bill

[Spkrdctr]

If you e-mail me at Spkrdctr@aol.com, I'll help you with your setup. Once set up correctly, it should knock you out of the room. You have all of the correct equipment, it is strictly the set up that matters.