Subwoofer sounds very weak.

[calnbs]

Receiver: Onkyo 506
Speaker: Insignia bookshelves
Subwoofer: 12" Dayton sub from partsexpress.com

Today, my subwoofer from partsexpress finally came. Hooked it up and feel disappointed at this time. I don't know what I am doing wrong. It's very faint...infact, my insignia throws a harder punch than my bass from the Dayton. Bass from my Dayton is very subtle, like an after thought. When I first calibrated, I had to set my volume on the Onkyo reciever to "40" just to be able to detect the volume from the subwoofer. Currently, both my MFW 15 and my Dayton are not at a coner. In the middle of the room by the wall...would that be the problem? I just can't see why it would cause such a big problem...?

My Reciever: All speakers set to "Small" and crossover at 80. "Yes" to subwoofer. My level calibration for sub is maxed at "+12". I maxed out on my bass in my receiver to "+10". My treble at "+8".

On my subwoofer:

Freq: 180
Gain: 1' o clock
Phase: normal


It seems that set up has been my biggest weakness and can't seem to get it right somehow. Even on my MFW 15 in my other room, I feel somehow I am not maximizing it as well. As others have stated, I can hear the bass in my MFW 15 but I DON'T FEEL IT. For my Dayton, I barely hear it, forget about feeling it.

The last time I really felt bass was with my car audio: 2 10 inch JL Audio subwoofers. I want that hard punch again. Can't seem to find it in home subwoofer, what am I doing wrong?

 

[Haoleb]

from what you have said your settings are, I dont see anything that seems obviously wrong.

You say the last time you felt real bass was in a car. Keep in mind that in most cases Car and Home subwoofer setups have very different objectives. Car subwoofers for most people are there for SPL. Most home subwoofers are there for sound quality, depth and spl. In most cases it is unrealistic to compare what you feel in a car to a house. The space that needs to be filled in increased by a huge margin.

 

[Sheep]

Your problem is the mid-wall placement. You need to put it in a corner to it can use the boundaries to help the gain. Also, your seating position would be in an unfavorable place. Seats should never be in the middle of a room.

You mentioned an MFW-15, running both subwoofers at the same time could cause phase issues. Having them in opposite corners should yield a flatter response and better output across the seating. Then you'll have to experiment with the phase until they're properly blended in.

SheepStar

 

[Warpdrv]

calnbs, what size is your room....

Maybe you could sketch out your room so as we could help with placement options..

Also have you tried running test tones and plotting out your FR, maybe you have a huge lull in your room which is causing problems...

Help us Help you... Nothing wrong with posting pics either, I would love to see what that Dayton looks like...

 

[zhimbo]

In the middle of the room by the wall...would that be the problem? I just can't see why it would cause such a big problem...?

Definitely can be a big problem. That's a likely "null" spot. You lose sound energy with that placement. If you have power to spare, multiple subs at mid-wall locations is one recommended arrangement for even bass throughout the room, but the expense of total sound output. If you only have 1 sub, or subs with modest output for the room size, it's not recommended, with good reason.

Definitely try a corner position, or at least not at mid-wall.

 

[croseiv]

Does your receiver have an auto room EQ? You may need to run that again (if you didn't) with the sub in place.

 

[davidtk]

I have this same problem. I don't think the placement of the sub is the issue, nor is where you are sitting in the room. The sub is simply not getting the correct signal.

I have a Pioneer VSX-1015TX and Yamaha YST-SW216. The sub is connected to the receiver using an rca cable through the 'sub pre-out'.

The settings are all correct. I've tried switching between large and small fronts and my receiver comes with the option yes/no/plus for the sub. I've messed with the crossover and nothing changes. If I turn my receiver all the way up to max, I can get some distorted rumble type bass which is what is to be expected at such a high outage.

I disconnected all my speakers and only plugged in the sub for testing. I plugged in my zune into the receiver and just set it on shuffle while I test everything out.

Also, I've plugged my sub into a different receiver (using speaker wires due to the type of receiver I was using) and it works brilliantly.

I'm starting to think that my sub is somehow not compatible with the sub pre-out connection, but if so, why does it have the plugs?

I've taken the receiver to a local expert store and they plugged it into one of their receivers and got the bass to work. And by work I mean the volume is about midway and the floor is shaking. Whereas with my midway at home, you can barely hear it as it sounds distant and weak.

Maybe the sub has a bad input? I guess I'll have to find another receiver with a sub pre-out and try it. That doesn't seem very likely though. Anybody have any ideas?

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum, David.

Three things come to mind:
1. Make sure that you have the subwoofer pre-out on the Pioneer connected to the "(L)/MONO" input on the sub. You almost surely already had it that way, but I wanted to make sure.
2. If #1 doesn't work, try getting a y-splitter and connecting the subwoofer pre-out on the Pioneer to both of the RCA inputs on the sub.
3. Probably doesn't matter, but make sure that the "HIGH CUT" switch is set to "LOW"

Adam

 

[davidtk]

Thanks

Yeah did all 3 except 2, which I'm still not convinced is the real issue. However, I am reading up on 'line level converters'. Maybe someone can shed some light on this and maybe that's the solution?

 

[Adam]

David, we're highjacking calnbs thread, which is still going. I suggest that you start a new thread on this topic, and we'll try to get you all set up. Hopefully that's cool with you. Thanks.

As a final remark from me here, if you haven't already, try adjusting the subwoofer output level on your Pioneer and/or try a different RCA cable.

 

[newaudiofile]

This might be completely wrong. But speaker level for the sub in the amp could also be a factor.
If the level is on the low side it might be difficult for the sub to reproduce it well. I could hear my first sub well, but when I replaced it, I was disappointed. I run YPAO again but still nothing. Later on when I checked the sub speaker level later on it was very low.

I'm not familiar with you sub or amp but you could check this out. these are somethings that can easily be over looked cause we assume the auto calibration should do everything or atleast most things right.

 

[Midcow2]

You need to send the Dayton SUB-120 HT back and get a BIGGER sub

Does you MFW 15 sub work okay? Normally if people get two subs they get the same kind ,like a second MFW 15. You are taking $699 AV123 MFW sub with a 15 inch subwoofer and adding a and adding $155 the Dayton 12' SUB-120 HT ( I checked back through your previous posts). Okay the two subs should work together, but they seem kind of a mismatch to start with!

Have you checked the phasing? Instead of 180 try 0. Have you tried the Dayton SUB-120 by itself ?

You mentioned that you can hear the MFW-15 but cannot feel it. Your expectations might be more than can be provided with the subs you have. Since you are comparing to a pretty stout car system that had two 10: JL subwoofers probably in very close proximity too you.

Okay looking at your AVR Onkyo TX-SR506.
You have a sub woofer pre-out whcih is conenct via RCA to your subwoofers (page 15) , probably via a Y splitter cable which is okay.

Audyssey EQ2 ( starting page 36) may not detect the subwoofer


After running go to Advanced speaker set-up (page 67)
make sure number 4, subwoofer= yes step 5, front speakers = small, step 10, cross fequecny defualt -110 Hz ( you can change of leave at default).

If you want more bass ommp you can set step 11 (page 69), double bass = on

On page 70 you can set the subwoofer and other speaker levels. page 65 subwoofer level from -15dB to +12dB You should be able to hear the test tone through the sub. Set to the level you desire.

On page 75 I would not connect to the "MULTI CH SUBWOOFER" jack and if you do make sure it is set at 0 dB. The higher setting 5db, 10dB, 15db cause attentuation, not gain. Since the sub out is a pre-out signal use a Y-cable to connnect to two subs.

=================

My summary:

(1) Earlier in another thread, you asked for an inexpensive $100 sub and the Dayton 12" sub was recommended.
(2) you paired it with a more powerful AV123 MFW 15 sub which you were not satisfied with to start.
(3) My conclusion is you will never be satisfied with the Dayton 12" SUB-12 HT and that if you were not satisfied with one MFW15 sub you should have considered a second MFW 15 sub or upgraded to a larger sub altogether, such as a SVS PB13-Ultra or a JL Audio FATHOM f113.
(4) Return the Dayton 12" SUB-12 HT.


Last of all Good Luck in getting the sub pounding sub fell you want

 

[calnbs]

Sorry for the confusion guys. I was just rambling on in my first post. My Dayton and MFW 15 are in two seperate systems. They are not together. My Dayton is connected to my HTPC and Onkyo 506 along with the Insignia speaker. My MFW 15 is connected to my Onkyo 805 and Rocket speakers in my living room.

I was just reading so much about people feeling the MFW 15 in their guts but I have yet to feel that experience. I was just wondering if I was doing something wrong. I can hear it just fine, just can't feel what every other MFW15 owner out there was talking about. Still a good subwoofer.

My room where my Dayton subwoofer is in: 11 ft X 20 ft. I don't have anything to upload any pictures at this time.

I was able to move things around and moved my sub from the front middle wall to the back coner of my room behind me. The sub is facing me from behind and it seems that it's an improvement. Will continue to test it out in other locations and re-callibrate everything to see if I can maximize this sub. I didn't think that location would that "BIG" of a deal.

I can't help to think that my car audio experience have influence me to the point that thinking thats how bass should sound like.

Thanks to everyone for chipping in.

 

[Midcow2]

Sorry for the confusion guys. I was just rambling on in my first post. My Dayton and MFW 15 are in two seperate systems. They are not together. My Dayton is connected to my HTPC and Onkyo 506 along with the Insignia speaker. My MFW 15 is connected to my Onkyo 805 and Rocket speakers in my living room.

I was just reading so much about people feeling the MFW 15 in their guts but I have yet to feel that experience. I was just wondering if I was doing something wrong. I can hear it just fine, just can't feel what every other MFW15 owner out there was talking about. Still a good subwoofer.

My room where my Dayton subwoofer is in: 11 ft X 20 ft. I don't have anything to upload any pictures at this time.

I was able to move things around and moved my sub from the front middle wall to the back coner of my room behind me. The sub is facing me from behind and it seems that it's an improvement. Will continue to test it out in other locations and re-callibrate everything to see if I can maximize this sub. I didn't think that location would that "BIG" of a deal.

I can't help to think that my car audio experience have influence me to the point that thinking thats how bass should sound like.

Thanks to everyone for chipping in.

Calnbs, Sorry I was confused; didn't realize you had two subs, with two systems, in two rooms. Glad you got it working to your satisfaction, but with you previous car experience I can see a "big boy" sub upgrade or two in your future

Best of Luck MidCow2

 

[Sheep]

Sorry for the confusion guys. I was just rambling on in my first post. My Dayton and MFW 15 are in two seperate systems. They are not together. My Dayton is connected to my HTPC and Onkyo 506 along with the Insignia speaker. My MFW 15 is connected to my Onkyo 805 and Rocket speakers in my living room.

I was just reading so much about people feeling the MFW 15 in their guts but I have yet to feel that experience. I was just wondering if I was doing something wrong. I can hear it just fine, just can't feel what every other MFW15 owner out there was talking about. Still a good subwoofer.

My room where my Dayton subwoofer is in: 11 ft X 20 ft. I don't have anything to upload any pictures at this time.

I was able to move things around and moved my sub from the front middle wall to the back coner of my room behind me. The sub is facing me from behind and it seems that it's an improvement. Will continue to test it out in other locations and re-callibrate everything to see if I can maximize this sub. I didn't think that location would that "BIG" of a deal.

I can't help to think that my car audio experience have influence me to the point that thinking thats how bass should sound like.

Thanks to everyone for chipping in.

What you sit in plays a big part too. My couch that is on a wooden riser shakes and is much more tactile then my couch in the first row. I also have a chair that is a floating design, and it isn't very good at transmitting much tactile bass either.

Food For Thought.

SheepStar

 

[bikdav]

Yep. I have an Onkyo 503 with the very same problem. I also had an Onkyo 600 with that same problem. Before the Onkyos, I had a Kenwood 1070VR and its sub out was so gang busters that no matter what subwoofer I had connected to it, I couldn't turn it up past 3 without it being too loud. In other words, I believe the fault to be with the Onkyo sub out. They are very weak performers. My 503 is now dying prematurely with other problems, so I'm once again in the market for another receiver.

 

[caper26]

I had that problem with my yamaha and I re-wrote firmware and it fixed it. Also, connect one of your mains to your sub and see if that makes a difference. I was able to get house shaking bass this way, but almost non detectable bass from the pre-out prior to the firmware update...

 

[bikdav]

You May Want To Try This

I just investigated this weak subwoofer output problem on an old Kenwood that I have on another system. This system was doing the same thing. What I discovered was that my main speakers [left, right, center, surrounds] were all cranked too high in the receivers level adjustments and were "drowning out" the subwoofer. In my case, what I ended up doing was turning down the main speakers quite a few notches [I don't remember the exact numbers and your results might be different from mine anyways] and in my case, it obliterated the weak subwoofer output problem. In fact, I also ended up turn down the subwoofer level a couple of notches just to quickly "tweak" things to my liking. To my surprise, a very slight distortion that I thought I was hearing from the subwoofer also vanished. So, before you ditch the subwoofer or receiver, experiment with the channel levels. In this case, make sure that the mains are not overpowering the subwoofer to the place where it sounds non-functional even though the subwoofer is working fine. Tell us what happens in your case.

 

[bikdav]

I Think I Found Something

Receiver: Onkyo 506
Speaker: Insignia bookshelves
Subwoofer: 12" Dayton sub from partsexpress.com

Today, my subwoofer from partsexpress finally came. Hooked it up and feel disappointed at this time. I don't know what I am doing wrong. It's very faint...infact, my insignia throws a harder punch than my bass from the Dayton. Bass from my Dayton is very subtle, like an after thought. When I first calibrated, I had to set my volume on the Onkyo reciever to "40" just to be able to detect the volume from the subwoofer. Currently, both my MFW 15 and my Dayton are not at a coner. In the middle of the room by the wall...would that be the problem? I just can't see why it would cause such a big problem...?

My Reciever: All speakers set to "Small" and crossover at 80. "Yes" to subwoofer. My level calibration for sub is maxed at "+12". I maxed out on my bass in my receiver to "+10". My treble at "+8".

On my subwoofer:

Freq: 180
Gain: 1' o clock
Phase: normal


It seems that set up has been my biggest weakness and can't seem to get it right somehow. Even on my MFW 15 in my other room, I feel somehow I am not maximizing it as well. As others have stated, I can hear the bass in my MFW 15 but I DON'T FEEL IT. For my Dayton, I barely hear it, forget about feeling it.

The last time I really felt bass was with my car audio: 2 10 inch JL Audio subwoofers. I want that hard punch again. Can't seem to find it in home subwoofer, what am I doing wrong?

Hi Calnbs:

You may want to check out my response titled "You May Want To Try This". As I stated, I played with the channel levels on my older system and fixed the weak subwoofer output problem big time. I was pleasantly surprised.

 

[pock3trock3t35]

are u hookin via rca or speaker cable