NAD S170iAV - Manual (Page 17)

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17
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 setup item to “No.”
CONFIGURING SPEAKERS
From the OSD Main menu, select the item using the remote’s [Cursor
], and [Enter]
keys. Using the [Cursor ] keys, set
keys, set the
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 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.)