BK XLS200 and YPAO on Yamaha DSP-Z7

[Ruby]

I just took delivery of my BK XLS200 today. The rest of my 5.1 set up consists of:

Yamaha DSP-Z7 amp
Kef iQ70s for the fronts
Kef iQ50s for the rears
Kef iQ60c for the centre

I plan to run the amp's YPAO feature over the weekend in order to optimize the set up's performance. However there are some things that I am unclear about:

1) The amp's manual states that the volume of the sub should be set to about half way when I run YPAO. Is the gain feature of my sub the same as volume (because at the moment I have it set to its minimum level)?

2) The sub's manual says that I should start by setting the phase control to position 1. I have taken that to mean turning the phase control up 1 position from the 0 degree position - is this correct? My amp's phase control is currently set to reverse - does this matter?

 

[clear and blue]

1) The gain control is the sub's volume knob, turn this just under half way

2) You should start the set up with the phase at 0 degrees. If your amp is set to reverse then I guess that you should also reverse the phase of the sub (i.e. 180 degrees)

 

[Desmoboy]

Hi Ruby
I would be very interested to know how much benefit you get from this sub, i have started to look for a sub as i dont have one today, bk 200 is on the short list.

I have a yamaha amp ( dsp ax763)
Kef front floor standers and
Kef IQ60 centre

This is quite similar to your set up.
Regards
keith

 

[Ruby]

Hi Ruby
I would be very interested to know how much benefit you get from this sub, i have started to look for a sub as i dont have one today, bk 200 is on the short list.

I have a yamaha amp ( dsp ax763)
Kef front floor standers and
Kef IQ60 centre

This is quite similar to your set up.
Regards
keith

I'll let you know once I've run YPAO over the weekend. So far using the settings mentioned in my first post, I've been fairly impressed. I haven't yet tested anything with earth shaking bass, but I could immediately notice the difference with the DD5.1 tracks from the Sky HD showings of Stargate Universe and Fringe.

 

[Ruby]

Hi Ruby
I would be very interested to know how much benefit you get from this sub, i have started to look for a sub as i dont have one today, bk 200 is on the short list.

I have a yamaha amp ( dsp ax763)
Kef front floor standers and
Kef IQ60 centre

This is quite similar to your set up.
Regards
keith

I've had the BK XLS200 for a few days now. I still haven't run YPAO with the new sub, and have just basically connected it to my current system and continue to use the amp's previous settings. I've got to say that at the moment I am very impressed. This is more than powerful enough to handle my needs. If you decide to go with the XLS200, I doubt you'll regret it.

 

[swiftpete]

I don't know how you're managing to hold off on running the YPAO setup. If it were me I'd be itching to hear how it sounds when it's been set up, rather than just making do with how it sounds when it's just been plugged in.

 

[Ruby]

I don't know how you're managing to hold off on running the YPAO setup. If it were me I'd be itching to hear how it sounds when it's been set up, rather than just making do with how it sounds when it's just been plugged in.

I've run the YPAO now and I'm not sure how I feel about the results. Using the Prince of Persia blu ray as a test, the sound quality was good with some absolutely thunderous bass. However, I think the thunderous nature of the bass caused me to feel nauseous after the movie ended. Is this just because I have to get used to the sound or is it more likely that something is wrong with my amp settings? The amp's PEQ is currently set to Flat and the sub is a downward facing model, and it is on carpet (I haven't yet used the spikes as I didn't think I needed them in my particular case).

 

[clear and blue]

I have a Marantz amp so things are different with their MRAC probably; after doing the auto setup it put the fronts and centre at 40Hz. What I found interesting was that I had the gain on the sub at almost halfway and the amp didn't try to reduce the level at all in the channel levels. When dialling it in for music I had the gain set quite a bit lower.

My suggestion would be either go the scientific route with a Radioshack SPL meter (available from BK) and REW, or the old hifi way of adjusting it by ear with music playing. If it sounds fine for music, it is unlikely to be fatiguing for watching films.