Help with UMC-1 Magnepans, and Velodyne!

[mchaves]

Here is my question
I have a new construction in which i am running the final wires for the ht system
My Home Theater system consists of the following

Center Channel: Magnepan MMG-C (5 ohm speaker)
Front Left and Right Speakers are Speakercraft Time 3 Speakers
Rear L & R are Speakercraft AIM8 Three
Velodyne dd-10 Subwoofer

Emotiva upa-7 amplifier
emotiva umc-1 receiver (which i just ordered and have not yet received)
most of the wiring and installation has been done, in regards to the speakers and hdmi cables

here is my questions

Velodyne says you can use the XLR input or preferred is the

"Establish the line-level connection (optional). Connect to a pre-amplifier’s main outputs and
returning them to your amplifier inputs. When installed in this fashion, your satellite speakers
will be crossed over at 80Hz, which removes the lower bass from your amplifier and
speakers, enabling them to do a better job reproducing high frequencies. By utilizing this
method, you will have a bi-amplified system, gaining improved power and headroom for
your system"

Emotiva states that their preferred method is the Sub out using the XLR connector

the cable run from the processor to the sub is about 20-25 feet)

the magnepan manual says the following
PROCESSOR SETTINGS
Set your receiver or processor on "small" speaker for the center channel, and "large" or
"full range" for the left/right speakers. (This does not apply if the MC1 or MMG W are
used as front left/right speakers.) Set the MMG C crossover point at 100Hz. Try higher
crossover points to achieve natural reproduction of male voice. Depending upon your
room conditions and the center channel placement, a different crossover point from
100Hz may be needed.
Even though you will probably be using a subwoofer, set your receiver or processor for
"no subwoofer." This may seem strange, but it is necessary for the proper integration
of the center channel bass. To drive your subwoofer, use a pre-amp output from the
front left/right of the processor or receiver. (It may be necessary to use Y adapters.)
How (and why) this setup works-normally, when "small" center speaker is specified,
the center channel bass is routed to the subwoofer. In reality, this doesn't work very
well, especially for Magneplanars. There is usually a frequency "hole" in the response
or the sonic integration is poor. When "no subwoofer" is specified, the processor
automatically routes the center channel bass to the front left/right "full range"
Magneplanars (because there is no alternative). The front left/right Magneplanars
provide the bass for the center channel speaker; and the integration is seamless,
having the same characteristics as the MMG C.
Since the signal from the front left/right pre-amp outputs is "full range," the subwoofer
receives all the bass information. The .1 channel (effects) is not needed. Adjust the
subwoofer crossover point so it does not overlap with the "full range" front left/right
Magneplanars.


and the speakercraft three in the rear allow you to adjust the ohm's from 8, 6 or 4)

(i built or used enclosures for the ceiling speakers)

HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS so i know how to finish running the wires and etc.

How should i connect the subwoofer ? using the XLR?
coax? rca? Should i use the sub out or feed the full range into the veolodyne? do i return the signal back to the umc-1 at 80hz?

and the magnepans. i know they are power hungry and how do i set them up!

i have different configurations and i'm not sure what to do! help!
help! was i foolish for getting the magnepans?

i also didn't want to leave out wiring in the walls. i want to make sure that i have to run xlr or coax or whatever, that it is done now before we drywall!

[matt]

Run XLR. By using 3 wires, XLR can reject noise introduced by AC wiring and RF noise. When running anything that caries a signal (audio, video, data), never run parallel to AC wiring. If you must cross AC wiring, do so at a 90 degree angle. Never run the cable anywhere near an electrical ballast, motor (such as a fan), or dimmer.

Running full range to the sub will only work if you needed the sub to deal with just a left and right channel. Even if your center channel did not need a sub crossover, your front L+R and rear L+R channels do, so it is best to let the UMC-1 crossover and mix the lower frequencies and send them to the sub.

All decent subs should have XLR. Most low end receivers do not have XLR. Should you or a future homeowner not use the XLR connection, you could technically put RCA connectors on your XLR wiring by using only 2 of the 3 XLR wires if you needed to. XLR to RCA adapters could also be used on both sides if someone does not want to switch out the wall plates.

For speakers, Magnepans are a good choice; speakers in the ceiling, not so much. If they are just the rear channels, than it might not mater as much, but the stereo effect relies on your head blocking sounds going to your ear that come from the opposite side of your head. With speakers in the ceiling, each ear can hear both left and right channels at an almost equal volume, which defeats the stereo effect.

The UPA-7 can supply enough power for the MMG C. I am not sure about the center channel model, but if you had the Magneplanar 1.7 or MG 20.1, I would recommend the XPA-1 to get the best performance out of them. The center channel is probably much less power hungry and is fine with any of the UPA amps.

I have a Velodyne DD-12. If you do not know already, it has built-in room correction. You can temporally connect the video output (s-video or composite) and EQ output (L and R RCAs) on the back of your Velodyne DD-10 to the UMC-1 to run the self-EQ feature. Using room correction features in both the DD-10 and UMC-1 at the same time while setting the crossovers for each speaker can be complicated. I will let someone else take a stab at that theory.