Help to fix boomy bass

nm4710 · July 2008

Hi guys,
I'm running an RTi setup (10s for fronts, 6s for rear surrounds, FXi3s for surrounds and CSi5 for center) powered by an emotiva LPA-1 amp with Sony STR-DG1000 as pre-pro. Combo sounds great - only one problem. My room (see pic) requires that one of my RTi10s is in the corner. Both of the RTi10s are only ~2 feet from the wall.

What I have found is that my RTi10s (in this arrangement) create boomy bass that overpowers everything (the boomy bass is in the 60-80Hz region). I've run the auto-EQ correction in my receiver which has improved things but I feel that the correction takes away too much bass and seems to make the midrange thin out as well.

My ideas so far:
1) Put some sort of treatment in the corner of the room where the RTi10 is located (not sure what treatment or how to do it)
2) Stuff the powerports on the RTi10s.
3) Raise the crossover on the RTi10s (don't really want to do this -why pay for a full range speaker only to cut it short).

I'd appreciate anyone's input on any of these ideas or any other solutions to overpowering bass.

treitz3 · July 2008

Try stuffing the power ports. That should help a bit. Another suggestion, attenuate the bass a bit without any auto EQ feature running at all and see hoe that improves things.

xandra · July 2008

nm: Had the same prob - but it really wasn't location of the RTi10's.(they're nowhere's near a wall).
I used to have my sub across the room -I moved my sub between the speakers.BOOM GONE. If you can squeeze it in, give it a try. I sometimes wonder if all those layouts with sub away and in corner are for boom lovers...

Assuming that's a no go: I think your first idea, is the simplest and will likely have an impact. Personally I'd add some wall hanging behind the 10's to cancel reflective noise from speaker's rears - something heavy, wooly, weavy and thick would probably do a darn good job (cheaper and better looking than 'treatments' if not quite so effective).

ByetheBye: I'm a newbie, and tastes vary but you should probably also try varying the 10's crossover point. Although I have mine RTi10's set to 60. Crossover on My NAD SACD player is set to 80 (and it still sounds loverly). Although you COULD set 10's as large, sending the lowest stuff to the sub really seems to allow the speakers to focus better the mid and upper range (also decreasing the boom effect).

Again, 99% of the gang here has far more expertise, but this has been my experience with the 10's. YMMV

phuz · July 2008

Plug the ports.

Set them to small, or cutoff at 80hz if your receiver has a crossover.

steveinaz · July 2008

Towers in tight quarters sometimes benefit from from a solid plat form below, and raising them a bit. Maybe thick concrete pavers? Do you have slab construction or a wood sub-floor?

nm4710 · July 2008

Thanks for the advice guys.
Xandra - I find the speakers are actually that boomy even with the sub off. I will try to find something to hang behind/around them.

Phuz - My speakers are set to small; unfortunately I don't know the crossover frequency (it's determined by the receiver).

Steve - I believe I have slab construction (highrise apt building).

I'll try plugging the ports and seeing if that helps.