Crossover setting for 805D

[felitopaz]

I'd recently acquired a set of B&W 805D and I would like recommendations on crossover settings.
My equipment consists of the following:
Antem D2v
Anthem A2
Anthem A5
Oppo 105
Power Sound Audio Subwoofer S150


Thanks.

 

[thedudeabides]

Use your ears? On a more serious note, tune the 805's first without the sub. Xover. Activate sub. Once sub is close to optimal placement (lots of info on this elsewhere), try a 10HZ "gap" between speaker and sub. Xover 10 below low end speaker response.Check mid bass quickness and definition. Adjust volume and phase accordingly. Use acoustic bass in well recorded jazz music. Patricia Barber music is one good tool. Try "Nightclub". Well recorded bass. Voice should be well defined and crystal clear. Nice saturation with no overhang. Season to taste. Once all is set, sub should disappear in soundstage and not be heard. Remember excessive bass destroys "everything". Optimal enhances and compliments the "entire" sonic presentation.

Oh yeah. Try an Auralex "SubDude". For the price, it can do amazing things. Good luck. Have fun.

 

[felitopaz]

Thank you. I think the 805 D
lowest frequency is 49hz. If I understand correctly set the subwoofer crossover at 40?

 

[DonH50]

Which generation? 805D, D1, ...?

The current 805D4 lists -3 dB at 42 Hz and specifies distortion to 90 Hz. I prefer to let the sub woofer handle the deep bass as that reduces distortion in the smaller speakers and allows me to place the subwoofer in the room for the smoothest response. I cross over at an octave above the main speakers -3 dB frequency if possible, which would be around 80 Hz. This is pretty consistent with B&W's distortion specification, which implies they measure to 90 Hz. To prevent messing up the image by being able to localize the subwoofer (hear it as an independent source, rather than "feeling" the bass), a crossover at or below 80 Hz is normal. So I would set the crossover at 80 Hz and see how it sounds, then adjust from there. Much higher, and the sub will start to intrude into the higher frequencies where it is harder to blend well, and much lower will increase the distortion in the 805D's.

FWIWFM - Don

 

[felitopaz]

Thank you.
I have the first generation. I set all speakers to small and set the fronts, center and surrounds to 70hz. I set the subwoofer to 80hz and it sounds good to me. Does this makes sense?