Calibrating a 2.1 setup using line levels on the sub

[autoboy]

Hi guys,

I've got a setup in my bedroom consisting of a 40" Sony TV, SageTV HD200 extender, 2 channel amp, Def Tech Mythos 2s, and a Monitor Audio R720 sub. It sits on a dresser with the speakers to the side and the sub on the floor beside the dresser.

The HD200 is connected to the TV via HDMI. The TV variable audio output is connected to the 2 channel amp, the line level outputs go to the sub, and then out to the speakers. A pretty standard bedroom setup.

I've tried calibrating the system by ear while listening to music but it never really sounds quite right. Is there some procedure, source content, or other methods of properly setting the crossover and level of the subwoofer? The sub is stuck in its position due to the layout of the room so I can't crawl for bass.

 

[bpape]

Have you tried Room EQ Wizard to get a better feel for what's actually happening? It has a real time analyzer function that lets you kind of see as you go.

Bryan

 

[nibhaz]

Well, according to the Def-tech website for the Mythos Two the recommended A/V receiver crossover setting should be 100Hz.

According to your sub’s webpage its Speaker-level stereo outputs have a built-in 100Hz high-pass filter. So I would set the low pass on the back of the sub to 100Hz.

As to the proper level settings, well you really need a SPL meter and test tones.

Bass frequencies above 80Hz can be localized, and thusly can cause a proper stereo image to collapse if the sub draws attention to it’s self. Which might be part of your problem…

 

[j_garcia]

Test tones from the receiver (or a disc) and an SPL meter should allow you to get calibrated in minutes.

 

[autoboy]

I have a SPL meter. I don't have the test tones. I've always used the ones built into my receiver. There is no receiver in this setup.

So, the subwoofer is only passing above 100hz to my speakers? I've set the Subwoofer to 80hz or so. It is really hard to know exactly because there are no numbers in between the 40 and 180hz settings. I was hoping that the speakers could fill in at least a little bit of bass down to 80hz because the sub starts to get localized if I turn the lowpass up higher than 80hz. But, it sounds like i'm losing everything between 80-100hz. This could be one of the issues with it. I thought I was just losing a few DB of upper bass and I was ok with that over localization.

 

[autoboy]

Ok, i downloaded the Real Traps CD. I'll use those test tones to figure this out. Thanks for the help.