Need Help with Adjusting Subwoofer Crossover

[ashleylaborde@c]

I have a 5.1 surround system with a Sony Receiver (STR-DE595) and a Sony Active Subwoofer (SA-WM200). The receiver has a preset crossover frequency of 80Hz. The subwoofer's high frequency cut-off frequency is 50Hz - 200Hz (there is a knob on the back where I can adjust). The sub also has a phase selector and a volume control. I have my front, center and rear speakers all set to small within my receiver’s menu, so all of the low frequencies are diverted to my sub. Since I cannot adjust my receiver’s crossover frequency, because it is preset to 80Hz, at what frequency do I adjust the sub's high frequency cut-off frequency? I have read many articles on how to do this and they are only confusing me. Do I set it below 80Hz or above 80Hz? Some articles even stated to set it to the maximum setting. Please help. Thank you.

 

[annunaki]

If your receiver is doing the bass management, which it would appear it is, set the crossover on the sub to it's highest setting. In this case that would be 200 hz.

 

[zumbo]

Yep Yep!

 

[WooHoo]

I second that, assuming you are using the LFE input and not the speaker level inputs.

 

[slopoke]

I'd suggest...

What everyone above has said is true. Set the sub to it's highest setting. But... you're confused! Go out and buy a good HT tune up DVD (Avia, Sound and Vision, or Digital Video Essentials) It will not only walk you through how to set your sub up but explain why you should do it that way.

 

[ashleylaborde@c]

I do have the Avia DVD, but I wasn't happy with the results of my sub after the test. All of my other speakers sound wonderful since I used Avia (it is like night and day). After I finished the entire test, there was hardly any base what so ever. Last night I adjust the sub's cut off to its max (like you guys stated above) and played around with the volume to get it to match the volume of my other speakers and it sounds a lot better (very smooth). My subs adjustments came no where near to the adjustments that I made with the Avia DVD. That is why I was confused, I was doing everything right (I think) when I was using Avia and wasn't getting hardly any bass. Avia says to make the dB of your sub match the dB of the rest of your speakers. Well, when I did that, I had to set the volume of my sub almost to zero. Very little bass comes out of the sub when the volume is set that low, but it does match the dB of the rest of my speakers.

Is there something that I am overlooking or has anyone had the same problems with the bass calibration when using Avia?

And yes, I am using the LFE output for my sub.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Tex-amp]

Try redoing it and using the receiver to control the sub's volume. Start with the sub's volume at halfway up and play with it from there.

 

[ashleylaborde@c]

I have tried that and I still have the same results.

 

[shokhead]

I second that, assuming you are using the LFE input and not the speaker level inputs.

Thats what i was going to ask. I also set the volume almost max on sub and adjust as needed through the reciever.

 

[annunaki]

Some people just prefer their music bass heavy. I usually set my sub with a reference of 85db and the rest of the system at 75db. It seems to be the best blend without overpowering the rest of the system. Do not feel as though you have to have you sub volume set to the DVD's liking. Enjoy YOUR system. Set the bass level to where you will most enjoy it. Calibration is definitely nice and recommended, but some of us like a bit more bass than others. It can always be turned down as well.

 

[ashleylaborde@c]

Thanks for all the information. This is a very helpful forum. A++++

 

[80'sPolk]

Quote by annunaki :If your receiver is doing the bass management, which it would appear it is, set the crossover on the sub to it's highest setting. In this case that would be 200 hz.

My Yamaha AVR has bass management and the LFE jack already has a frequency cut off of 90 Hz. Most people don't know that the jack itself is already being filtered and a good sub woofer will have a, "filtered" frequency RCA jack and an, "unfiltered" RCA jack. If this person did what you suggested
that would mean that he would have his sub through the, "filtered" RCA because the, "filtered" RCA lets you control the frequency through the crossover on the sub. If the LFE is already filtering the frequency and you have your sub hooked up to the, "filtered" RCA of the sub the sound is being
filtered twice and will make the sub sound horrorable and muffled!!! Everyone
should check their owners manual to make sure their LFE isn't already filtered. If the LFE is, "filtered" they should hook the cable to the , "unfiltered"
RCA of the sub and the frequency will be controlled by the AVR.
I also corrected you on another post and didn't hear a reply, but I made some mistakes in that post that I just fixed. There is a lot of error in the info going around this website. It needs to be delt with. Thanks for listening, 80's
Polk.

 

[shokhead]

I belive when you use the LFE out from the reciever to the sub,that bypasses the subs filter. Running your speakers through the sub and then back to the reciever,you would be using the subs x over.

 

[80'sPolk]

I think you should read my post again because I pointed out that the, "unfiltered" RCA would bypass the filter of the sub and you could then
control the frequency through the AVR. Here is a quote from my post:

If the LFE is, "filtered" they should hook the cable to the , "unfiltered"
RCA of the sub and the frequency will be controlled by the AVR.

Cheers!

 

[shokhead]

I'm glad we are good.