Crossover Question

MikeT66

Do not really understand what crossover means. Seems like all my bass is coming from my sub. Have crossover on sub and receiver at 80HZ. Can anyone explain crossover to me and what is a good setting to get good all around bass from you HT system. Equipment posted below. Thanks for any help you can provide. This is an excellent forum and I am learing alot being new to the HT theater experience.

Airplay355

a crossover is like a frequency filter. if the crossover is set at 80 hz then that means that frequencies below 80 hz are sent to the sub and frequencies higher then 80 hz are sent to the rest of the speakers.

Tour2ma

MikeT,
Side note:
You do not want both the AVR and the sub set at 80 Hz. This creates a double filtering situation. Put one or the other in control and get the other out of the way.

That said, if you are using your sub's LFE input, then its crossover control is most likely bypassed.

John K.

Mike, as airplay said, the crossover on the receiver is a frequency filter which rolls off the sub above the value set(e.g. 80Hz)at typically 24dB per octave and rolls off the speakers below that point, typically at 12dB per octave. If the speakers have good response to below that point, 80Hz is about the best compromise to use, since it's high enough to take a significant amount of the bass load off of the speakers and the receiver amps and give it to the sub and its amp, which hopefully are good enough to do a better job with it. Also 80Hz is generally not so high that the location of the sub is apparent when low bass sounds are played.

Since your 501 is handling the crossover, the internal crossover on the sub is unnecessary and is just interfering; if the KLH doesn't have a switch or input to completely bypass its crossover set the crossover control on the sub all the way up(not 80Hz)to get it as far out of the way of the 80Hz receiver crossover as possible.

As to almost all the bass seeming to come from the sub, double check your connections to your speakers for correct polarity(positive to positive, etc.) to make sure that they're not working against each other in the bass. The best sub location is generally the tighter corner(i.e. farther from a large opening)behind the main speakers. Another possible problem might be that the level of the sub is simply set too high; it should be adjusted by ear or preferably by sound meter so that it balances with the speakers. Although many want to "hear" the sub that they paid for and set it too loud, the impression should actually be that it isn't working but that the other speakers are putting out more bass.

MikeT66

John K
When you say set sub all the way up so I do not have double filtering you mean set it up to max level on sub?? Which is 150HZ.

MikeT66

Sorry for back to back replys. I must be dumb. Higher the crossover setting by number 150HZ compared to 80HZ means less bass is going to sub or more bass going to sub, if receiver is set at 80HZ. Have learned alot from the experts on this forum but crossover is really kicking my butt as far as understanding what a good setting on receiver/sub should be. Once again thanks for all your help. You guys are great.

John K.

Yes Mike, since the KLH doesn't have a provision to completely bypass its crossover, the next best thing is to set it at the maximum 150Hz marking, which will take it out of the picture to a considerable extent(the receiver's 80Hz crossover will have already rolled off the sub a lot by 150Hz, so the sub crossover will make little difference to the overall result).

Airplay355

the crossover on the sub is irrevalent. you would only use it if you hooked up your sub with speaker wire. that would mean connecting speaker wire from your receiver, to the subwoofer, and then to your speakers. since you are using the LFE connection ( which is the better way) the crossover that you are going to use is the one on your receiver. the reason you are turning the sub crossover all the way up to 150 hz is because the signal has already been filtered by the crossover in the receiver, you dont want to filter it again with the crossover in the sub.

the frequency 80 hz is used because most main speakers are capable of producing bass below that point and subwoofers are capable of producing bass higher then that. its a nice median that works for the majority of people. it isn't for everyone, but you would want to start there.

MikeT66

Appreciate all the help and quick responses. This is best forum I have ever seen. The people on here a very helpful to newbies like me who have many questions when it comes to HT. Thanks to you all for being so helpful. I have learned alot and will have many more questions in the future I am sure.