Speaker frequency level

[kain]

I have a question to ask about my 5.1 speakers setup. I have a Harman kardon receiver avr-445, running paradigm studio 60, paradigm Studio ADP-590 for surrounds , the center are paradigm studio and a 10 inch subwoofer. What frequency should my speaker be at? Here is how I have it setup so far.


Front L/R 60hz Set to small

Center 80hz set to small

Surrounds L/R 80z set to small

Subwoofer 40hz set to 10inch

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

The one that I have a question about is the 40Hz on the sub. Is there actually a setting on the receiver for that, or is that just what you have set the crossover dial on the sub to?

Here's some input (pending your response):
1. 80Hz for a crossover point between speakers and a sub is a good start. In general, you'd want to send the frequencies to the components that can handle them the best. If you sub is better between 60 and 80Hz than your front speakers, then you'd want to set those to 80Hz as well. However, the true thing, to me, is to set it where you think it sounds the best.

2. If 40Hz is where you've set the crossover on the dial on the sub itself, you'd want to change that (unless you've used an input on the sub that bypasses the crossover). You want to set the crossover on the sub to the highest possible frequency setting (hopefully above the crossover that you set on your receiver - currently 60 and 80Hz). When you set the frequencies for your speakers in your receiver, your receiver is going to send everything below those frequencies to your sub. Your sub, on the other hand, is not going to play anything above the frequency that you set on the dial on the sub. So, if your receiver sends everything below 80Hz to the sub, but your sub won't play anything above 40Hz, then you won't get anything between 40 and 80Hz.

Does that make sense?

Adam

 

[kain]

Welcome to the forum!

The one that I have a question about is the 40Hz on the sub. Is there actually a setting on the receiver for that, or is that just what you have set the crossover dial on the sub to?

Here's some input (pending your response):
1. 80Hz for a crossover point between speakers and a sub is a good start. In general, you'd want to send the frequencies to the components that can handle them the best. If you sub is better between 60 and 80Hz than your front speakers, then you'd want to set those to 80Hz as well. However, the true thing, to me, is to set it where you think it sounds the best.

2. If 40Hz is where you've set the crossover on the dial on the sub itself, you'd want to change that (unless you've used an input on the sub that bypasses the crossover). You want to set the crossover on the sub to the highest possible frequency setting (hopefully above the crossover that you set on your receiver - currently 60 and 80Hz). When you set the frequencies for your speakers in your receiver, your receiver is going to send everything below those frequencies to your sub. Your sub, on the other hand, is not going to play anything above the frequency that you set on the dial on the sub. So, if your receiver sends everything below 80Hz to the sub, but your sub won't play anything above 40Hz, then you won't get anything between 40 and 80Hz.

Does that make sense?

Adam

Hi Adam, I’m using the receiver to do the cross over. The input I use to the sub is LFE, not too sure if this help but the frequencies on my sub are set to the highest setting. Can you recommend a setting base on my setup above? Thanks a bunch.

 

[Adam]

I'm not familiar with those Paradigms, so my recommendation would still be to start at 80Hz. Others here might have some better suggestions for you on your specific speakers.

To help the others give you better suggestions, please let us know which subwoofer you are using. Thanks.

 

[kain]

I'm not familiar with those Paradigms, so my recommendation would still be to start at 80Hz. Others here might have some better suggestions for you on your specific speakers.

To help the others give you better suggestions, please let us know which subwoofer you are using. Thanks.

if I set all speaker to 80hz should the sub be set to 40hz?? or should I set the sub to 80hz as well? oh my sub are made by polkaudio PSW404

 

[Adam]

I don't know what you mean by setting the sub to 40Hz. Is that in the receiver set up menu? I can download the owner's manual later, but I figured that I'd ask you first.

 

[kain]

I don't know what you mean by setting the sub to 40Hz. Is that in the receiver set up menu? I can download the owner's manual later, but I figured that I'd ask you first.

Its the cross over frequency for the sub in the receiver setup menu. hope this help.

 

[Adam]

Interesting. I just downloaded your owner's manual.

Is the setting that you are talking about called "LFE LP FLT" in the menu? If so, that is the LFE low-pass-filter setting. I can understand your confusion. It isn't very clear in the manual (at least during a quick skimming) what you should set that to.

My recommendation: set it to the highest level. That setting is saying which frequencies from an LFE track should be sent to the sub. It is NOT saying which frequencies in general should be sent to the sub. That is specified by the settings that you made for your speakers (i.e. 60 and 80Hz). I'd have it send everything from that track to the sub if it were me. The LFE track is a separate audio track in movies that contains low frequency effects (hence, "LFE").

BTW, read the section (if you haven't) about the setting for the size of your sub. When you set that, you are specifying a lower frequency limit. With a 10in sub setting, frequencies below 30Hz will not be sent to your sub.

 

[kain]

Interesting. I just downloaded your owner's manual.

Is the setting that you are talking about called "LFE LP FLT" in the menu? If so, that is the LFE low-pass-filter setting. I can understand your confusion. It isn't very clear in the manual (at least during a quick skimming) what you should set that to.

My recommendation: set it to the highest level. That setting is saying which frequencies from an LFE track should be sent to the sub. It is NOT saying which frequencies in general should be sent to the sub. That is specified by the settings that you made for your speakers (i.e. 60 and 80Hz). I'd have it send everything from that track to the sub if it were me. The LFE track is a separate audio track in movies that contains low frequency effects (hence, "LFE").

BTW, read the section (if you haven't) about the setting for the size of your sub. When you set that, you are specifying a lower frequency limit. With a 10in sub setting, frequencies below 30Hz will not be sent to your sub.

First thanks for the research. What you are saying is to set the LFE track frequency to the highest setting which is 40hz right? Or is it the 200hz.

 

[Adam]

I'd go with 200Hz.

 

[kain]

I'd go with 200Hz.

Thanks Adam, you been a great help to me.