Subwoofer/ Speakers setup

j.silva
j.silva Posts: 10
edited April 2012 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Hello. I recently purchased the Polk PSW10 powered sub-woofer. My concern is in regards to how can I setup my system if I want my main speakers to handle just the mid/hi frequencies and the bass to be handled (only) by the polk sub?

Stereo Receiver: Sherwood RX-4503
Main Speakers: Sony SS-B1000
Sub: Polk PSW10

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Post edited by j.silva on
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  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited April 2012
    two possible situations:

    1) either use an rca interconnect from your receiver subwoofer output to you subwoofers input and utilize the receiver's crossover, or

    2) run the line-level speaker wire from the receiver to the subwoofer line level inputs and then run speaker wire from the line-level outs to the speakers and use the subwoofers crossover.
    design is where science and art break even.
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  • j.silva
    j.silva Posts: 10
    edited April 2012
    newrival wrote: »
    two possible situations:

    1) either use an rca interconnect from your receiver subwoofer output to you subwoofers input and utilize the receiver's crossover, or

    2) run the line-level speaker wire from the receiver to the subwoofer line level inputs and then run speaker wire from the line-level outs to the speakers and use the subwoofers crossover.

    I will try both methods and see what happens. thank you so much.
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  • mben2979
    mben2979 Posts: 1
    edited April 2012
    j.silva wrote: »
    Hello. I recently purchased the Polk PSW10 powered sub-woofer. My concern is in regards to how can I setup my system if I want my main speakers to handle just the mid/hi frequencies and the bass to be handled (only) by the polk sub?

    Stereo Receiver: Sherwood RX-4503
    Main Speakers: Sony SS-B1000
    Sub: Polk PSW10

    Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

    I'm not familiar with your receiver but on the polk website faq's it instructs to go into your manual speaker set up and set your front speakers to SMALL even if they are large. What happens is that your speakers then handle the mids and highs while the sub handles the lows. I have Pioneer Elite SC-52 and this worked brilliantly with my POLK TSi300's.
    Good Luck.
    mike
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  • j.silva
    j.silva Posts: 10
    edited April 2012
    mben2979 wrote: »
    I'm not familiar with your receiver but on the polk website faq's it instructs to go into your manual speaker set up and set your front speakers to SMALL even if they are large. What happens is that your speakers then handle the mids and highs while the sub handles the lows. I have Pioneer Elite SC-52 and this worked brilliantly with my POLK TSi300's.
    Good Luck.
    mike

    Thanks for your reply. This receiver was given to me by a friend and I haven't mess with it yet, but I am pretty sure it doesn't have those small/large settings. It's a regular A/B stereo receiver. But it does have a SUB out.

    That its the reason I am asking the question in the first place since the receiver doesn't have a built in crossover (as far as I know).

    Since I am using this setup (for now) as a home studio monitoring system, its important for me that I can have the bass filtered out the main speakers.
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  • j.silva
    j.silva Posts: 10
    edited April 2012
    ....
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  • Syndil
    Syndil Posts: 1,582
    edited April 2012
    Just glanced through the manual for the Sherwood RX-4503, and it does not appear to have any sort of crossover on the subwoofer output. It says it is to emphasize bass, not to redirect it.

    So in your case, your only choice is to utilize the crossover provided by the PSW10 and use option 2.

    RT-12, CS350-LS, PSW-300, Infinity Overture 1, Monoprice RC-65i
    Adcom GFA-545II, GFA-6000, Outlaw Audio 990, Netgear NeoTV
    Denon DCM-460, DMD-1000, Sony BDP-360, Bravia KDL-40Z4100/S
    Monster AVL-300, HTS-2500 MKII
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  • j.silva
    j.silva Posts: 10
    edited April 2012
    Guys:

    I was doing some local research (craigslist) to see If I could get a better receiver for my needs and I got my hands on a BRAND NEW in box Insignia NS-R5101AHD-A. It has small-large settings and crossover settings of 40Hz, 50Hz, 60Hz, 80Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz, 150Hz, 200Hz in all speaker channels.

    PLUS:
    * 5.1 Channels
    * 450 watts total power 90 watts x 5 @ 8 ohms for powerful sound.
    * Discrete amps per channel
    * Rocketboost expandable wireless audio technology. (Rocketboost Receiver included)
    * Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Audyssey 2EQ, Audyssey Dynamic Volume. (Calibration Mic included)
    * Surround sound decoders. Include DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DSD, DTS Neo:6, DTS 96/24, Dolby Pro Logic II and Multi-CH PCM.
    * Wireless Multiroom capability allows you to stream audio to different rooms in your home.
    * HDMI blah blah.....and more stuff I don't care about....for now ;)

    The beauty of it is that I didn't had to pay a dime for it. I exchange it for some dj stuff I had laying around for ages that I almost gave away at some point. Thank god I didn't. :)

    NS5101_pic1.jpg
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  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited April 2012
    now just replace those Sony's with some Polk's and you'll be in business :wink:
    design is where science and art break even.
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  • j.silva
    j.silva Posts: 10
    edited April 2012
    newrival wrote: »
    now just replace those Sony's with some Polk's and you'll be in business :wink:

    I see what you did there. :)

    Actually I am thinking of adding another pair of speakers for a 4.1 setup. Lets see how much I can get for the Sherwood receiver, which its in mint condition. At least $40-$50 will do. That will go towards the speakers. :)
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  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited April 2012
    I say that all in fun, but the truth is there's a reason theres such a passionate community hear at club polk. We have probably the strongest community based solely on one specific brand, and it's more than just because Polk has an incredible product. They offer people an opportunity to possess better audio per dollar than most anyone out there, and they offer value like no one else. Their customer service is second to none when you consider the volume they are doing. If you're considering picking up a pair of speakers in the entry level price range, I submit you should make sure you have a pair of Polk's on your short list.

    Take a look at these Polk Direct offers:

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/CS1-BLACK-Center-Channel-Speaker-Polk-Audio-/230598119681?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item35b0b81101

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/PAIR-Polk-Monitor-50-Cherry-High-Performance-Towers-/230613773837?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item35b1a6ee0d

    for ~$200 you can have awesome sound. $200 anywher else is not going to sound as good and these are straight from polk (just through ebay at a discount). So you still get the killer Polk Customer service and warranty. Not saying go buy right now, but if you know you're going to expand, save up a couple bucks and do yourself a favor. :cheesygrin:
    design is where science and art break even.
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  • j.silva
    j.silva Posts: 10
    edited April 2012
    No problem man, thanks for the suggestions. Actually I was thinking about getting something a little more -compact- like this to pair with the Sony's and the Polk sub.

    http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-AM3025-A-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B0002ZSFTG/ref=pd_sim_e_2

    or this

    http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Bookshelf-Speakers-Black/dp/B002RJLHB8/ref=sr_1_14?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1334422308&sr=1-14
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  • j.silva
    j.silva Posts: 10
    edited April 2012
    Hey anybody out there, I have a question about the Polk sub. (actually I have a few but I'll just ask this one for now :cheesygrin:)

    My apartment has carpeted floors. I've read online that carpet floors are not ideal for subwoofers. Would it help (sound/performance) if I make a wood base for it and then place the sub on top of it? For example, cut a 14" square of plywood 3/4" or 1" thick and use it as a base?
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  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited April 2012
    i don't know that the plywood would help but maybe someone else can give you a better answer. Carpet isn't ideal but you could put spikes on it and probably be just fine.
    design is where science and art break even.
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  • j.silva
    j.silva Posts: 10
    edited April 2012
    newrival wrote: »
    i don't know that the plywood would help but maybe someone else can give you a better answer. Carpet isn't ideal but you could put spikes on it and probably be just fine.

    are these spikes just "plug and play" or do I have to make any mods to install them? any links for cheap ones? :mrgreen:
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  • j.silva
    j.silva Posts: 10
    edited April 2012
    guys...a little update just to let you know that getting this receiver was the best move ever. I just finished setting up my speakers. I was able to get a balanced/flat response from the speakers and sub (what I wanted) using the crossover and the speaker distance, size and position settings.

    I just need to get used to the lack of "overpowered bass" I was getting when I was using my KRK Rokit 5 studio monitors.

    Can't wait to add the 2nd set of speakers to the surround channel to get a fuller sound. :)
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