Crossover Questions, Answers, Subs and Slopes

[annunaki]

If my speakers were rated at 60Hz,i'd set my receiver at 80Hz and of course set all speakers to small. This would be running the single cable from reciever to sub. The lower your speaker goes,the less db its going to play clean. Your speaker rated down to 60 might only be good for 75-80db clean where a sub at 60Hz might be good for 100Hz or more clean db. Rated down to a certain Hz and playing it loud enough to be usefull is another thing.

I do not agree here. If a speaker is good down to 60hz +/-3db it should be fine at 60 hz and still be clean. That is the point of the +/-3db specification. If you are playing pink noise for instance at 110db the sound will not vary more than +/-3db from 60hz-20khz. If they were not able to play cleanly down to 60hz, I do not think it would be rated to play down into that range.

The only way to find out how your speakers will perform in that range is to listen and try it out. Start with 60 hz. Listen to familiar music and movies, then try 80hz. What would be even better, would be to have someone else randomly set the crossover at 60hz or 80hz (without you knowing which setting you are listening to) and you pick the one that sounds best.

 

[Audioholics]

If I had speakers rated down to 60Hz (+/-3dB) I'd probably go for an 80Hz crossover first (on the receiver - bypass the xover on the sub).

If you do try an A-B, make sure you reset all your levels in between with an SPL meter. Just switching the crossover will likely throw off your levels.

 

[annunaki]

Clint, you're right. I forgot about that. However, even without calibration, you may be able to note some differences.

i have a feeling that 80hz may indeed win out here in this instance. However, in other systems with speakers capable of lower responses (say mid 50hz or so) a 60 hz x-over would be my sure choice. It cannot be completely overlooked though in this situation.

 

[supervij]

You made a great point there, Clint. I did go back and adjust the levels with my SPL meter after switching the crossover. The final result is far more pleasing to my now-happy ears than before.

I never get around to mentioning it, but the people are on Audioholics are awesome. I love that this forum is filled with such knowledgeable and (more importantly) helpful people. You guys rock.

cheers,
supervij

 

[Reorx]

What if you have a passive sub? Of which has zero adjustment controls.

Should you just leave the receiver to handle to crossover? or buy a seperate electronic crossover?

Reorx

 

[mulester7]

What if you have a passive sub? Of which has zero adjustment controls.

Should you just leave the receiver to handle to crossover? or buy a seperate electronic crossover?

Reorx

.....I would, for sure, first, try to keep costs down, and let the receiver send either 80 down, or 60 down.....

.....second....you could choose one of the first two in this link....they'll take the sub signal sent out of the receiver, do what you want to with the signal, literally, top or bottom, roll-offs even adjustable, and send the signal on to the amp section powering the sub, be it powered onboard or outboard.....

.....rain comin'....had to suggest the Behringer for guys who are considering building a sub....guys who have a surround receiver "OR" stereo two-channel receiver....yes, you two-channel receiver guys without any bass management, take the full-range stereo signal from the L+R "out", of a a tape monitor to the Behringer....goneded.....

http://www.zzounds.com/prodsearch?form=prodsearch&q=Behringer+2496&submit.x=6&submit.y=4

 

[Audioholics]

However, even without calibration, you may be able to note some differences.

Absolutely - there just might be more differences than if you had the levels set, meaning that you would potentially perceive excess/not enough bass than if the system were leveled out.

But just flipping the xover is not a bad first step - just double check with the SPL meter shortly thereafter to see how much you had to tweak levels. If it's a lot then pretty much disregard what you just heard.

 

[annunaki]

Quite true Clint!

 

[annunaki]

What if you have a passive sub? Of which has zero adjustment controls.

Should you just leave the receiver to handle to crossover? or buy a seperate electronic crossover?

Reorx

First off, if your sub is passive, are you using an external amplifier? If yes, then by all means use the receiver's crossover and subwoofer output connection. If not, well... lets's hope you are not using this option.