Magnepan CCR - Manual (Page 6)

There is a lack of flexibility with the majority of processors on the market. In
the "small" center channel mode, most processors automatically route the
center channel bass to the subwoofer. This will not give satisfactory
performance with your CCR. The solution is simple; however, this part of the
setup has confused a lot of customers. Even if you don't understand initially,
go ahead and do as we instruct. And if you need some help, please call. Even
though you will probably be using a subwoofer, set your receiver or processor
for "no subwoofer." This may seem illogical, but it is necessary for the proper
integration of the center channel midrange and bass.
In case you missed it-- Set your processor for "no subwoofer" and leave your
subwoofer turned off until you have completed a successful test with the
Magnepan test disk.
Here is how it works -- If you set the processor for "no subwoofer," there is no
option for routing the center channel midbass and bass. The processor must
send the center channel midbass and bass to the "large" left/right
Magneplanars. That is exactly what we intend for you to get the best possible
performance from your CCR. Your full-range, left/right Magneplanars will
provide the center channel midbass and bass, thereby giving the illusion of a
large Magneplanar in the middle. The definition of your left/right
Magneplanar bass/midbass is vastly superior to the bass that can be achieved if
the center channel bass were routed to the subwoofer.
The usual practice of routing the bass to the subwoofer is less than satisfactory
in most installations with Magneplanar center channel speakers. Often there is
a significant "hole" in the center channel midbass response when higher
crossover points are used. In addition, subwoofers are best suited for
augmenting "large" speakers below 40 Hz and are considered "muddy" or of
poor quality when higher crossover points are used above 40-60 Hz. At a
crossover point of 150-250 Hz, the discontinuity between the CCR's "fast"
quasi ribbon midrange and the relatively "slow" subwoofer becomes very
obvious. Of course, you probably plan to use a subwoofer for home theater.
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