Newbie!! Polk T15's, T30 center and PSW505 Sub - Best Settings?
Polkergeistt
Posts: 3
Hi All - New to the forum so hoping I can get some basic advice. A friend of mine recently gave me his two T15 speakers which I'm using for my front L and R along with a Sony STR DH-540 receiver. Since I go overboard with everything I recently purchased a T30 center channel and a PSW505 sub. I just want to know generally the best settings for this to start as a baseline.
I set all the speakers distance from the listener so far in the receiver. I also set all those speakers (T15 and T30) to "Small" in the receiver settings and also set the crossover to 90 as I heard that was generally the "one stop shop" best listening experience.
The sub just got delivered today. Polk says to put it on the same side as the front speakers but I've also heard to put it behind you in a corner. Any advice on placement?
For the sub: I do not have the capability to use speaker wire due to limitations of the receiver. So I purchased a sub specific cable. The PSW 505 has Phase, Lowpass and volume knobs on the back. I did a little research (enough to make me more confused) and noticed that one connection is the LFE which makes all adjustments on the sub almost useless. I read if I use the "line in" ports I can use the adjustments on the back of the sub to adjust.
Without getting too crazy. Can anyone suggest general good settings for crossover frequencies for my setup as well as the best way to connect my sub (LFE or not) and how I should set the low pass, volume and phase on the sub?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
I set all the speakers distance from the listener so far in the receiver. I also set all those speakers (T15 and T30) to "Small" in the receiver settings and also set the crossover to 90 as I heard that was generally the "one stop shop" best listening experience.
The sub just got delivered today. Polk says to put it on the same side as the front speakers but I've also heard to put it behind you in a corner. Any advice on placement?
For the sub: I do not have the capability to use speaker wire due to limitations of the receiver. So I purchased a sub specific cable. The PSW 505 has Phase, Lowpass and volume knobs on the back. I did a little research (enough to make me more confused) and noticed that one connection is the LFE which makes all adjustments on the sub almost useless. I read if I use the "line in" ports I can use the adjustments on the back of the sub to adjust.
Without getting too crazy. Can anyone suggest general good settings for crossover frequencies for my setup as well as the best way to connect my sub (LFE or not) and how I should set the low pass, volume and phase on the sub?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Comments
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Speakers a good standard which seems to work in just about every room is 80hz small to all speakers and 120hz LFE IN on the subwoofer . Depending on where the sub is in the room , phase can be started at 0 in the front 90 own the side walls and 180 on the back wall. This also usually works in most rooms.Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
Thanks for the information. I have been reading about sub placement. Apparently its a myth that the sub needs to be put in the rear. On Polk's site they recommend to have the sub on the same side of the room as the speakers. Is there a "best practice" for this? Or is it completely reliant on the specifics of the room on where the sub should go.
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How is your room oriented with respect to dimensions, listening position, and system components? This is one of the first questions for determining sub placement.
@mantis - does LFE not defeat the crossover in the sub with the idea being that it is controlled by the AVR? Put another way, when using the LFE input, should that control knob just be set to max? or is its position defeated entirely? (guess it could be sub dependent)I disabled signatures. -
Cascading crossovers can be an issue.
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How is your room oriented with respect to dimensions, listening position, and system components? This is one of the first questions for determining sub placement.
@mantis - does LFE not defeat the crossover in the sub with the idea being that it is controlled by the AVR? Put another way, when using the LFE input, should that control knob just be set to max? or is its position defeated entirely? (guess it could be sub dependent)
Yes it does, on your Preamp or AVR is where you want to set LFE out to 120hz so you get the entire signal. Years ago we were taught to use 80 hz for speakers and subwoofer out but that was not correct especially for how LFE is re corded.
Some subwoofers need to be put to MAX as stated as the LFE IN does NOT defeat the internal crossover, very rare but I've seen some subwoofers like that where the internal crossover settings where still active when they should not have been. It was like that input was being treated as a INPUT not a LFE bypass input.Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
How is your room oriented with respect to dimensions, listening position, and system components? This is one of the first questions for determining sub placement.
I attached a picture of the room. 19 x13 that opens up into my dining room. all speakers (T 15's and T30 are on same side as the TV facing the couches. there is room behind the couches for the sub if needed.
