Hey folks,
Hats off and thanks to those of you who got me this far. I think I'm close to having a VERY nice and affordable upgrade to my home theater.
I have 5 questions, but I wanted to make sure you had all the info you needed so there is a lot more detail below.
QUESTION 1: Should I use LFE or LFE+Main? I assume it's LFE.
QUESTION 2: Should I set an LPF in the Denon, rely on the iNuke DSP, or both?
QUESTION 3: Do I need to set the crossover for the 215XLs in the Denon?
QUESTION 4: Do I need to set an output limit on the iNuke?
QUESTION 5: Is there anything else I absolutely must do (or avoid doing) to ensure I don't blow the subs or the other equipment?
Please note that I have been reading and searching these forums for answers. I'm only posting this because the answers I've already found weren't enough to make me feel confident that I'm making good decisions. I'm really hoping some of you brave souls will read this and offer some advice. Please don't be put off by the wall of text. A lot of it is quotes from manuals and specs.
My system includes:
- 21' x 12.5' room with furniture
- Denon S920W AVR
- 5 x Behringer 215XLs in a surround config (they sound amazing, btw)
- 2 x VP1900S subwoofers
- Behringer iNuke 3000DSP AMP
VP1800S Sub connections look like this:
Denon 920 Subwoofer Preamp Outputs (2 of them)
-- RCA to XLR --
iNuke 3000DSP Inputs A and B
-- iNuke internal --
iNuke 3000DSP Outputs A and B
-- Speakon to Speakon (12ga) --
Behringer VP1800S
215XL speaker connections look like this:
Denon 920 Speaker Outputs
-- Banana to Speakon (12ga) --
Behringer B215XL (FR, FL, C, RR, RL)
After some reading, here is what I'm thinking:
FOR THE SUB
1. Use the iNuke's DUAL mode which routes the identical signal from the Denon's 2 sub outputs to the Outputs A and B of iNuke. I don't think Bridge mode is needed with my small-ish (21' x 12.5') theater room.
2. I don't need a dedicated 20 AMP circuit for the iNuke3000DSP. I can use the same circuit as the Denon and my TV.
3. Setting the crossover for the subs should be done in the iNuke AMP, not in the Denon.
4. I should start with the 150 Hz crossover specified by Behringer, but I can move that if I feel it helps.
5. I don't need to do anything in the iNuke to support or protect the 215XLs.
6. Set the Denon's Subwoofer Mode to LFE (as opposed to LFE+Main which adds the main speaker signal to the sub mix.
FOR THE 215XLs
Under Denon Speaker Config, I need to set the speaker sizes to LARGE for the 215XLs as they do extend down to 55 Hz (Behringer tech support told me this).
My Questions:
QUESTION 1: Should I use LFE or LFE+Main? I assume it's LFE.
The Denon offers a few different options which I'm not sure about.
From the DENON Manual:
"SUBWOOFER MODE
- LFE (Default): The low range signal of the channel set to “Small” speaker size is added to the LFE signal output from the subwoofer.
- LFE+Main: The low range signal of all channels is added to the LFE signal output from the subwoofer.
If Front and Center are set to Large, and Subwoofer Mode is set to LFE, the subwoofers may not emit any sound depending on the input signal. Select LFE+Main if you want the bass signals to always be produced from the subwoofer."
QUESTION 2: Should I set an LPF in the Denon, rely on the iNuke DSP, or both?
From the DENON Manual:
"LPF for LFE - Set LFE signal playback range. Set this when you want to change the playback frequency (low pass filter point) of the subwoofer.
OPTIONS: 80Hz / 90Hz / 100Hz / 110Hz / 120Hz / 150Hz / 200Hz / 250Hz (Default: 120Hz)"
QUESTION 3: Do I need to set the crossover for the 215XLs in the Denon?
From the DENON Manual:
"Speaker Selection - Selects how to set the crossover frequency.
All (Default): Sets the same crossover fre*quency for all speak*ers.
Individual: Selects the crossover points for each speaker individually.
OPTIONS: 40Hz / 60Hz / 80Hz / 90Hz / 100Hz / 110Hz / 120Hz / 150Hz / 200Hz / 250Hz (Default: 80Hz)"
The manual for the 215XLs lists the crossover as 2 KHz. The Denon only allows up to 250Hz and only if I'm running in LFE+Main mode or for speakers listed as Small.
QUESTION 4: Do I need to set an output limit on the iNuke?
From the iNuke 3000 DSP Manual:
"LIMIT - The LIMIT DSP module controls the unit’s output limiter, with programmable
parameters for threshold (Thresh), release (Rtime), and hold (Hold).
To program the output limiter:
1. Choose between signal paths (A#1, B#1).
2. Choose a threshold (Thres) setting.
3. Choose a release time (Rtime).
4. Choose a hold (Hold) setting."
QUESTION 5: Is there anything else I absolutely must do (or avoid doing) to ensure I don't blow the subs or the other equipment?
EQUIPMENT SPECS
Behringer B215XL
Range: 55 Hz to 20 KHz
Power: 1000 W Peak / 250 W Continuous
Impedance: 8 Ohms
Sensitivity (1 W @ 1 m): 96 dB (Full Space)
Crossover: 2 kHz
Behringer VP1800S
Range: 35 Hz to 250 Hz
Power: 1600 W Peak
1500 W Continuous in Bridged Mode
440 W Continuous normal mode
Impedance: 8 Ohms
SPL: 100 dB (Half Space, 1 W @ 1 m)
Crossover: LP 150 Hz
iNuke 3000DSP
Power: 8 Ω per channel, stereo 1600 W
Input impedance 10 kΩ unbalanced, 20 kΩ balanced
Output circuit type Class D
Frequency response 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0 / -2 dB
Damping factor >140 @ 8 Ω
Signal-to-noise >98 dB
Hats off and thanks to those of you who got me this far. I think I'm close to having a VERY nice and affordable upgrade to my home theater.
I have 5 questions, but I wanted to make sure you had all the info you needed so there is a lot more detail below.
QUESTION 1: Should I use LFE or LFE+Main? I assume it's LFE.
QUESTION 2: Should I set an LPF in the Denon, rely on the iNuke DSP, or both?
QUESTION 3: Do I need to set the crossover for the 215XLs in the Denon?
QUESTION 4: Do I need to set an output limit on the iNuke?
QUESTION 5: Is there anything else I absolutely must do (or avoid doing) to ensure I don't blow the subs or the other equipment?
Please note that I have been reading and searching these forums for answers. I'm only posting this because the answers I've already found weren't enough to make me feel confident that I'm making good decisions. I'm really hoping some of you brave souls will read this and offer some advice. Please don't be put off by the wall of text. A lot of it is quotes from manuals and specs.
My system includes:
- 21' x 12.5' room with furniture
- Denon S920W AVR
- 5 x Behringer 215XLs in a surround config (they sound amazing, btw)
- 2 x VP1900S subwoofers
- Behringer iNuke 3000DSP AMP
VP1800S Sub connections look like this:
Denon 920 Subwoofer Preamp Outputs (2 of them)
-- RCA to XLR --
iNuke 3000DSP Inputs A and B
-- iNuke internal --
iNuke 3000DSP Outputs A and B
-- Speakon to Speakon (12ga) --
Behringer VP1800S
215XL speaker connections look like this:
Denon 920 Speaker Outputs
-- Banana to Speakon (12ga) --
Behringer B215XL (FR, FL, C, RR, RL)
After some reading, here is what I'm thinking:
FOR THE SUB
1. Use the iNuke's DUAL mode which routes the identical signal from the Denon's 2 sub outputs to the Outputs A and B of iNuke. I don't think Bridge mode is needed with my small-ish (21' x 12.5') theater room.
2. I don't need a dedicated 20 AMP circuit for the iNuke3000DSP. I can use the same circuit as the Denon and my TV.
3. Setting the crossover for the subs should be done in the iNuke AMP, not in the Denon.
4. I should start with the 150 Hz crossover specified by Behringer, but I can move that if I feel it helps.
5. I don't need to do anything in the iNuke to support or protect the 215XLs.
6. Set the Denon's Subwoofer Mode to LFE (as opposed to LFE+Main which adds the main speaker signal to the sub mix.
FOR THE 215XLs
Under Denon Speaker Config, I need to set the speaker sizes to LARGE for the 215XLs as they do extend down to 55 Hz (Behringer tech support told me this).
My Questions:
QUESTION 1: Should I use LFE or LFE+Main? I assume it's LFE.
The Denon offers a few different options which I'm not sure about.
From the DENON Manual:
"SUBWOOFER MODE
- LFE (Default): The low range signal of the channel set to “Small” speaker size is added to the LFE signal output from the subwoofer.
- LFE+Main: The low range signal of all channels is added to the LFE signal output from the subwoofer.
If Front and Center are set to Large, and Subwoofer Mode is set to LFE, the subwoofers may not emit any sound depending on the input signal. Select LFE+Main if you want the bass signals to always be produced from the subwoofer."
QUESTION 2: Should I set an LPF in the Denon, rely on the iNuke DSP, or both?
From the DENON Manual:
"LPF for LFE - Set LFE signal playback range. Set this when you want to change the playback frequency (low pass filter point) of the subwoofer.
OPTIONS: 80Hz / 90Hz / 100Hz / 110Hz / 120Hz / 150Hz / 200Hz / 250Hz (Default: 120Hz)"
QUESTION 3: Do I need to set the crossover for the 215XLs in the Denon?
From the DENON Manual:
"Speaker Selection - Selects how to set the crossover frequency.
All (Default): Sets the same crossover fre*quency for all speak*ers.
Individual: Selects the crossover points for each speaker individually.
OPTIONS: 40Hz / 60Hz / 80Hz / 90Hz / 100Hz / 110Hz / 120Hz / 150Hz / 200Hz / 250Hz (Default: 80Hz)"
The manual for the 215XLs lists the crossover as 2 KHz. The Denon only allows up to 250Hz and only if I'm running in LFE+Main mode or for speakers listed as Small.
QUESTION 4: Do I need to set an output limit on the iNuke?
From the iNuke 3000 DSP Manual:
"LIMIT - The LIMIT DSP module controls the unit’s output limiter, with programmable
parameters for threshold (Thresh), release (Rtime), and hold (Hold).
To program the output limiter:
1. Choose between signal paths (A#1, B#1).
2. Choose a threshold (Thres) setting.
3. Choose a release time (Rtime).
4. Choose a hold (Hold) setting."
QUESTION 5: Is there anything else I absolutely must do (or avoid doing) to ensure I don't blow the subs or the other equipment?
EQUIPMENT SPECS
Behringer B215XL
Range: 55 Hz to 20 KHz
Power: 1000 W Peak / 250 W Continuous
Impedance: 8 Ohms
Sensitivity (1 W @ 1 m): 96 dB (Full Space)
Crossover: 2 kHz
Behringer VP1800S
Range: 35 Hz to 250 Hz
Power: 1600 W Peak
1500 W Continuous in Bridged Mode
440 W Continuous normal mode
Impedance: 8 Ohms
SPL: 100 dB (Half Space, 1 W @ 1 m)
Crossover: LP 150 Hz
iNuke 3000DSP
Power: 8 Ω per channel, stereo 1600 W
Input impedance 10 kΩ unbalanced, 20 kΩ balanced
Output circuit type Class D
Frequency response 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0 / -2 dB
Damping factor >140 @ 8 Ω
Signal-to-noise >98 dB