[redsierra]

Hello.

I have recently purchased a Vandersteen 2WQ subwoofer to use with my Vandy 3A Sig main speakers.  I now have the front speakers set to "large" on the SP1.7 as per Richard Vandersteens advise.  I also use a Vandersteen V2W for the LFE channel.  (FYI, I also have the Vandy VSM 1s for the surround speakers and the VCC 5 for the center channel.)

The hook up for the 2WQ utilizes a high pass crossover between the SP1.7 and the Bryston 9B SST.  The powered 2WQ then uses the output of the 9B to get its input signal (but not using the main amps power) and apparantly therefore takes on the amps sonic characteristics.  The sub takes care of the low pass.  The end result is that you are supposed to get a better sub integration.  (Pardon some of my terminology if it is incorrect - not a full time audiophile.)

I have Bryston balanced interconnents for all of my channels but have to temporarily used cheap single ended cables for the sub crossover.  Vandersteen supplies a temporary adjustable crossover for the sub which will be replaced with a permanent one when it is decided which crossover is required. At that time I will replace the it with the balanced version of the crossover.

When I hooked the sub up the as noted above, the levels for the main speakers and the sub were way out and had to be readjusted on the SP1.7.  Why?

The big concern is that the 2WQ that is being run with my main speakers (3A Sigs) was bottoming out with some movies which I really think that it shouldn't do.  Right or wrong, many people that are more into music than movies have chosen to use a pair of these 2WQs rather than going with the V2W with no issues.

When the speakers are set to "large" on the SP1.7 does it send LFE info to them as well even though the processor is set with a LFE sub active?

I used Digital Video essentials to set the levels.  When I did so, with the setting as described above, the sub pink noise went to both the V2W (LFE sub) and the 2WQ.

When  I use the SP.1.7 pink noise it only appears on the LFE sub.

When I turn up the level for the LFE it appears that not only does the V2W (LFE sub) get louder but so does the 2WQ that is being used with my main speakers.

Your help would be appreciated.

[jethro]

redsierra,

I'm a little bit confused about your setup. Usually when one uses speaker-level inputs on a powered sub, the front L&R speaker wires from the amp (9B) feed into the sub, then from the sub to the L&R speakers. The sub has a cross-over which sends the highpass signal on to the L&R speaker. I'm confused about "The hook up for the 2WQ utilizes a high pass crossover between the SP1.7 and the Bryston 9B SST."

You probably had to adjust your sub and main speaker levels because you introduced the crossover which must have had some attenuation. (Experts please chime in here).

I'm pretty sure some of the LFE test signals on DVE actually assume that everybody uses small speaker settings and therefore sends a test tone to the mains and the LFE to see how they integrate.  Since you have your mains set to large, your are getting the signal in both subs. I'm pretty sure there is an LFE only test tone in one of the advanced menus.

It's been a while since I have used a powered sub but I think this explains  what you have heard.