NAD S170iAV owner manual Speaker Setup, Configuring Speakers, Level Setup, Using An Spl Meter

CONFIGURING THE S170i

SPEAKER SETUP

Every surround-sound system requires “bass-management” to direct low-frequency content from any or all channels to the speakers best able to reproduce it. In order for this function to operate correctly, it is very important that you correctly identify your speakers’ capabilities.

We use the terms “Small” and “Large” (and “No”), but note that physical size may be irrelevant.

•A “Small” speaker is any model without significant deep-bass response, that is, below about 80 Hz.

•A “Large” speaker is any full-range model, that is, one with deep-bass response

•A “No” speaker is one that is not present in your system. For example, you might not have any Back speakers installed; in that case, you would set the <Back speakers> setup item to “No.”

CONFIGURING SPEAKERS

From the OSD Main menu, select the <Speaker setup> item using the remote’s [Cursor ], and [Enter]

keys. Using the [Cursor ] keys, set <Main speakers> to “Large” or “Small.” Using the same remote keys, set the <Center speaker>, <Surround speakers>, and <Back speakers> to “Large,” “Small,” or “No,” according to your system’s loudspeaker population. Set <Subwoofer> to “Yes” only if you have a subwoofer connected to the S170i’s SUB preamp analog output jack.

NOTE

The S170i permits you to set Subwoofer to “Yes” even with “Large” front speakers: In this case, bass content from any channels you set to “Small” will be routed to both the subwoofer and to the front speakers. You might want to try this arrangement way if your front speakers roll off naturally at about the 80 Hz crossover frequency and can handle strong bass signals without distortion or damage. In most systems using a subwoofer, setting front speakers to “Small” is usually the best option.

There are three additional features in the <Speaker setup> menu:

•Adjustable Crossover Frequency selectable in 10 Hz increments from 40 Hz to 140 Hz. This adjusts both the High Pass (2nd order, 12 dB/octave) feed to the loudspeaker, and the Low Pass (4th order, 24dB/octave) feed to the subwoofer.

•Defeatable Subwoofer Filter. This allows you to use your powered subwoofer’s internal crossover. This can be beneficial to tame difficult room acoustics problems by setting the subwoofer crossover to a different frequency than the S170’s High Pass filter to create a notch or an overlap in the response.

•Enhanced Bass, when selected, always has the subwoofer active, regardless of speaker settings, for maximum boom.

LEVEL SETUP

Setting the relative balance of your system’s loudspeakers is perhaps the most important single function of setting up your S170i. First, this process ensures that surround-sound recordings, whether music or film soundtracks, will play back with the balance of effects, music, and dialog that the artists intended. Second, if your system incorporates a subwoofer, it establishes a correct relationship between the volume of the subwoofer and the other speakers, and thus of low-frequencies (bass) to other sonic elements.

USING AN SPL METER

It is perfectly possible to perform the S170i Level setup routines “by ear,” and an experienced ear will usually produce acceptably accurate results. However, the timbral differences among front, center, and surround speakers can make accurate level-matching difficult. Therefore, we strongly recommend the use of an inexpensive sound-pressure level (SPL) meter, such as Radio Shack part number 33-2050, for this task. It is quick, repeatable, and reliable. Ownership of such a meter may prove a very useful audio tool, or your NAD audio specialist may be able to help you with temporary use of a meter. Calibrating your system with an SPL meter also permits you to set its overall level so that, when the S170i’s Master Volume control is set to -0 (“reference level”), the playback in your home theater matches the loudness of the same film projected in a well-set-up commercial cinema. (Of course, you can still set the Master Volume wherever you like from day to day.)

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