speaker sub setup

[bruin62]

i have definitive speakers so all 3 fronts have subs. i have them set to large and run sub cables with splitters to the sub out on the reciever. i also have two SVS PB 3000 subs. should the subs be at the back of the room or should i reset my speakers to small and just connect them with only using speaker wire and move the PB 3000's back to the front of the room?

 

[lovinthehd]

They may have powered woofers but true subs not likely. There are a variety of opinions how to hook those speakers up, tho.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Might be one of the odd cases where lfe+mains is a good idea.
As far as front or back for the subs, I’d find where they perform best if possible. They’re much more capable than the def techs in low bass and trying to treat them as four subwoofers(front and back of the room)would be a fail due to phase issues, FR and output disparities.

 

[bruin62]

yeah i saw the vids but i talked to SVS today and he suggested just hook up the 3 front speakers using only the speaker wire and setting them to small and cross all 3 to 60Hz or 80Hz then move the 2 pb 3000's back up front. i had the 3 front speakers.set to large and hooked them up with sub cables. and the big subs at the back of the room. trying to figure out whats best

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

yeah i saw the vids but i talked to SVS today and he suggested just hook up the 3 front speakers using only the speaker wire and setting them to small and cross all 3 to 60Hz or 80Hz then move the 2 pb 3000's back up front. i had the 3 front speakers.set to large and hooked them up with sub cables. and the big subs at the back of the room. trying to figure out whats best

Well really the way to know for sure is REW. If you happen to like one setup vs another we’ll use that, but I personally like to see the graph. Saying for sure that front or back is better without measuring is just a guess.

As far as the LCR, I would definitely not use them for LFE. I think svs got it right with a small setting and lower XO. But it would be worth trying large and the LFE+ mains(but without sub cables)or double bass or extra bass or whatever your AVR uses.
If you don’t have rew, then I’d say experiment a little bit. Listen VERY carefully and see what you like. Might very well be small with a 60hz XO.

 

[bruin62]

so your saying just set the three fronts to small cross over around 60Hz and put the big subs back up front?

 

[lovinthehd]

so your saying just set the three fronts to small cross over around 60Hz and put the big subs back up front?

With subs I generally advocate all speakers set to small and finding a crossover that works well (may be 80 but I tend to 100-120 range even with fairly capable speakers in my rooms)

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

so your saying just set the three fronts to small cross over around 60Hz and put the big subs back up front?

If it sounds best yeah. Small might work best. Large(no lfe cable) might be best.
But where the big subs go should be determined by where they measure/sound best. Followed by where they sound best sans measurements. My point is that it seems you’re guessing.
There’s no way to know for sure unless you measure. Or try some things and listen very carefully for what you like.

 

[lovinthehd]

Sometimes one sub in front left corner combined with sub in rear right corner is an option. Sometimes you can experiment, probably better to measure.

 

[bruin62]

so to measure you need that REW?

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

so to measure you need that REW?

Yes. And a umik-1.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Sometimes one sub in front left corner combined with sub in rear right corner is an option. Sometimes you can experiment, probably better to measure.

This has definitely been effective. Ed from svs recommends this a lot. At least as a starting point.

 

[TLS Guy]

yeah i saw the vids but i talked to SVS today and he suggested just hook up the 3 front speakers using only the speaker wire and setting them to small and cross all 3 to 60Hz or 80Hz then move the 2 pb 3000's back up front. i had the 3 front speakers.set to large and hooked them up with sub cables. and the big subs at the back of the room. trying to figure out whats best

I think SVS probably gave you the best advice. Those Def Techs are a bit if a mess in my view.