Subwoofer Newbie: How to Setup Without Bass Management

[meringo]

Hi, Audioholics.

I decided to upgrade my main stereo this past year. I got the Cambridge CXA60 integrated amp paired with the ELAC B6 speakers in a 13(w) x15(l) x8(h) room. I like the setup a bunch, but want to beef up the low end... a subwoofer has been on my mind.

I narrowed down my search to the SVS SB12-NSD and ELAC S10EQ sub -- but just decided to pull the trigger on the SVS due to the glowing reviews. With this said, I am a little terrified about using it with my CXA60 without any sort of bass management. Should I have picked the weaker, but self EQ'ing ELAC sub? If not, what would be the best way to mix the SVS sub in with my speakers? SPL meter?

Thanks, in advance.

 

[shadyJ]

SB12 is a good choice for systems without bass management, because it has high-passed outputs. That is good if you are using analogue inputs or if the integrated amp has a loop back connection. You will want to read the manual for the SB12 for the connectivity.

 

[KEW]

Ultimately, it is your ears that decide what is best!

This is how I do it:

1. Set crossover to 60Hz. Use Merlin (tool from SVS) to determine where to set crossover on sub.
https://www.svsound.com/pages/merlin
Ignore which subs they recommend, that is more about how much they would like you to spend than anything else. Just look at recommended settings (which are the same for any model of sub). In your case (no bass management), they recommend a 60Hz roll-off with a 12dB per Octave slope (you sub has a 12 dB per octave slope by default); so set the crossover at 60Hz.

2. Adjust sub volume. Turn the sub volume down and play music with solid bass that you are familiar with and gradually turn the sub up. At some point, you will notice the bass of the speakers being deepened/supplemented by the sub, but it will sound as if the added bass is coming from the speakers. Obviously you are next to the sub since you are adjusting the volume. Continue increasing the volume until you sense the sound starting to come from the sub instead of your B6's. Stop here and back it off just a touch so the sub is no longer calling attention to itself. I find this to be a very good starting point.
As a point of reference, I do not want my subs to ever reveal their presence when listening to music, My ideal is for it to sound like the speakers just have good solid bass down to the lowest notes being played. Step 2 gets me close to this. If you are a bass-head, you will want more.

3.Tweak. Go to your listening position and decide if you want more or less bass and tweak as needed! Take your time. It should sound pretty good after step 2 and this process may take a while as you adjust to having a sub in your system! As a point of reference, I do not want my subs to ever reveal their presence when listening to music, My ideal is for it too sound like the speakers just have good solid bass down to the lowest notes being played. Step 2 gets me close to this.

Additional notes:
You just got a good subwoofer! Most people want to really experience it up front! After completing step 1, go ahead and turn the sub up loud and listen to some of you favorite bass lines, drums, etc in excess! Have fun! While you are doing this, pay attention to how the upper bass (above the sub) is getting obscured, recognize the liability of too much bass so you will know it when you are tweaking for real sound quality.
I find that for different music, the ideal sub volume setting varies slightly. I am generally too lazy to change the sub unique to each song, so settle on a "generally good" setting - Don't believe you are going to precisely home in on the perfect setting. Like hand grenades, close enough is close enough! Also, I occasionally go weeks with it deliberately (albeit slightly) tipped up or diminished just to hear a slightly different take on my favorite music.
Phase. IME, Phase adjustments have made little or no difference. However, you should at least check, because your situation should be different. SVS gives you a continuously variable knob, which is nice, but can be overwhelming. I would simply try it at 0, 90, and 180; if you don't detect a difference, leave it at 0. If you do detect a difference, put it in the position that sounds best then try plus 10 and minus 10 from there to see if you get improvement.

 

[meringo]

Ultimately, it is your ears that decide what is best!

This is how I do it:

1. Set crossover to 60Hz. Use Merlin (tool from SVS) to determine where to set crossover on sub.
https://www.svsound.com/pages/merlin
Ignore which subs they recommend, that is more about how much they would like you to spend than anything else. Just look at recommended settings (which are the same for any model of sub). In your case (no bass management), they recommend a 60Hz roll-off with a 12dB per Octave slope (you sub has a 12 dB per octave slope by default); so set the crossover at 60Hz.

2. Adjust sub volume. Turn the sub volume down and play music with solid bass that you are familiar with and gradually turn the sub up. At some point, you will notice the bass of the speakers being deepened/supplemented by the sub, but it will sound as if the added bass is coming from the speakers. Obviously you are next to the sub since you are adjusting the volume. Continue increasing the volume until you sense the sound starting to come from the sub instead of your B6's. Stop here and back it off just a touch so the sub is no longer calling attention to itself. I find this to be a very good starting point.
As a point of reference, I do not want my subs to ever reveal their presence when listening to music, My ideal is for it to sound like the speakers just have good solid bass down to the lowest notes being played. Step 2 gets me close to this. If you are a bass-head, you will want more.

3.Tweak. Go to your listening position and decide if you want more or less bass and tweak as needed! Take your time. It should sound pretty good after step 2 and this process may take a while as you adjust to having a sub in your system! As a point of reference, I do not want my subs to ever reveal their presence when listening to music, My ideal is for it too sound like the speakers just have good solid bass down to the lowest notes being played. Step 2 gets me close to this.

Additional notes:
You just got a good subwoofer! Most people want to really experience it up front! After completing step 1, go ahead and turn the sub up loud and listen to some of you favorite bass lines, drums, etc in excess! Have fun! While you are doing this, pay attention to how the upper bass (above the sub) is getting obscured, recognize the liability of too much bass so you will know it when you are tweaking for real sound quality.
I find that for different music, the ideal sub volume setting varies slightly. I am generally too lazy to change the sub unique to each song, so settle on a "generally good" setting - Don't believe you are going to precisely home in on the perfect setting. Like hand grenades, close enough is close enough! Also, I occasionally go weeks with it deliberately (albeit slightly) tipped up or diminished just to hear a slightly different take on my favorite music.
Phase. IME, Phase adjustments have made little or no difference. However, you should at least check, because your situation should be different. SVS gives you a continuously variable knob, which is nice, but can be overwhelming. I would simply try it at 0, 90, and 180; if you don't detect a difference, leave it at 0. If you do detect a difference, put it in the position that sounds best then try plus 10 and minus 10 from there to see if you get improvement.

This was super helpful! Thanks a bunch.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Another easy way to check phase is to play a tone at the XO frequency and adjust the phase until you have the most output (measured by spl meter). Since the XO tone plays from the speakers and sub at the same time, you can get a good idea for support in the XO range.