Subwoofer Crossover Question

kberg · January 2003

Apologies in advance on this question which I am sure has been asked/answered in the past. I wanted to ask you experts out there about setting subwoofer crossover for best bass blending and performance.

Seems I read somewhere that unless you have very large mains and/or surrounds, the receiver crossover setting (given a choice of 80Hz, 100Hz and 120Hz on the receiver) should be set to 100Hz with the setting on the sub somewhat higher, say 110-120Hz. A setting of 80Hz on the receiver with say, 90-100Hz set on the sub would typically place too much bass demand on the mains (or at least the surrounds), yes? Or am I confused and getting this all wrong?!

Given my system in my profile below, can I solicit for some recommendations/advice from you folks?

Thanks,

Kevin

MxStYlEpOlKmAn · January 2003

Not sure this will help, I but I tend to keep mine right where the vioces freq. cuts off, around 70-60 hz. With your mains, I'd just put it around 80 or 70 hz, on the sub, or try around 50-80 hz..somewhere around in there and see what sounds best for you

Dr. Spec · January 2003

With your speaks - 80 Hz all day. No need to go higher - they can all take it.

kberg · January 2003

Sounds great - thanks for the fast reply!

thehalo8 · January 2003

I too have been questioning the Crossover Frequency that should be used on the sub. I used to be into car audio, and the subs were always set at or near 60Hz. I have the Polk PSW 350, and there is a white area on the Hz range, which looks like you are supposed to leave it within that certain range. However this range looks to be between 90-70Hz; the manual mentions nothing about this area. Should I leave in that whited area or put it down to the 60Hz?

Also, what is the 180 degree phase switch for? I currently have it set at the 0 degrees. Can someone explain to me what this does? Thanks in advance.

Mike

scottvamp · January 2003

OK - real quik. The phase is how your sub "responds". To make it simple if your sub is in the front of your HT near the mains set phase to 0 - if sub is farther towards the back of your HT set phase to 180. 0 "responds" directly with main speakers in "phase". 180 "responds" out of "phase" or opposite in back of room compensating for the sound to "travel" and match the frontstage speakers. Some subs have variable phase to exactly dial in what sounds best from YOUR sweetspot. Hope this helps!!!

TonyPTX · January 2003

Originally posted by thehalo8
I have the Polk PSW 350, and there is a white area on the Hz range, which looks like you are supposed to leave it within that certain range. However this range looks to be between 90-70Hz; the manual mentions nothing about this area. Should I leave in that whited area or put it down to the 60Hz?

I tend to believe that Polk has the "white" area on the sub for convience more than anything else. The "white" area is there I believe as a refference point to set the sub to when it is used as part of a Sat/Sub combo package such as the RM series of Sats with a PSW sub. Because of this, Polk put a "white" range on the low pass filter knowing that if someone purchased the sub with a RM series sat set, this is the range that would give the best blending for the sat/sub combo. Most sat's packages have a particular sub that goes with the combo and thus "the white marked area".

If this isn't that case with your system (sat/sub combo) then set the low pass x-over to whatever sounds best.

Subwoofer Crossover Question

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