PSW110 - Not Impressed Yet - Are my Settings Off?

seadoons

I finally received my system and set it up yesterday. I am going to be primarily listening to music. So far, the sub hasn't impressed me.

This is my system:

Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR607
Fronts: Polk RTi4
Center: Polk CSi3
Rears: Polk RC85i (not installed yet)
Sub: Polk PSW110

I have the sub volume knob all the way up. Shouldn't it be rattling the walls? I think something is not right.

1. I am using a standard RCA cable. I have a "sub" cable on order - will this make a difference?

2. Is there some setting on my receiver that I am missing? I feel like I have gone through all the settings but maybe I am missing something.

Any suggestions you can offer are appreciated. I just thought that this 10" sub would rattle the walls but it isn't doing that. The manual says to start at 50% volume when making adjustments and at that volume I couldn't even tell if it was on or not! Help!

kawizx9r

Considering you just purchased it, I'd say let it break in properly before cranking it the hell up.

Another thing is, you're only half way done now that you've purchased a subwoofer. Placement is extremely critical so please play around with placement before passing off any judgement on any subwoofer. You'd be surprised to find out how well it plays once you've found a proper spot to put it in.

You also have to dial it in correctly in terms of volume, crossover, and phase settings. Do all that correctly and you'll have a sub that blends in perfectly with your speakers but gives you the 'oomph' you're looking for.

-Freddy

concealer404

I believe your reciever has a feature called "Double Bass" or something like that.

I had to use it to get any noticeable activity on my old Omni S8s when i was using an Onkyo TX-SR503.

seadoons

Thanks for your responses. I am 100% not passing judgement on this thing yet as I know there is a setting off somewhere.

Right after I started this thread I figured out that the receiver had adjusted the sub volume way down. I guess with the auto-calibration it can control the volume of each individual speaker and it had turned all of them way down based on the listening positions I had established. No wonder I had to turn the receiver up to 50 to get volume out of it. I have it at 30 now and the volume is perfect!

So - long story short, I found an adjustment for the sub volume (you can take it down -15DB or up to 15DB) and I turned it up to around 9 or so (it was at -1).

You can definitely hear it now...I don't want it to literally shake the walls but I want know it is there.

seadoons

Regarding placement - I am really confined to one space with it. It is inside my entertainment center cabinet (it is enclosed). I do seem to notice the bass more in other rooms that I do in the den where it is but it still sounds good in there too.

TECHNOKID

seadoons wrote: »

Regarding placement - I am really confined to one space with it. It is inside my entertainment center cabinet (it is enclosed). I do seem to notice the bass more in other rooms that I do in the den where it is but it still sounds good in there too.

Enclosing a subwoofer is never a good idea. This specific one is down vented (not as bad as if it were rear vented) and you will NOT get the best results if you enclose it (not to count your entertainment unit may/will even rattlea decent bass level).

Serendipity

concealer404 wrote: »

I believe your reciever has a feature called "Double Bass" or something like that.

I had to use it to get any noticeable activity on my old Omni S8s when i was using an Onkyo TX-SR503.

I wouldn't use this feature as it really taxes the receiver. At least on mine, when driving 4-ohm DefTech towers because it ignores the crossover and essentially sends the bass to the front speakers LF + sub.

KASR

You might also consider rising the subwoofer (you can get manufactured sub risers are embark on a slick DIY) and that can improve your bass response considerably. For a standard 8ft high room, lifting the sub 15-24inches is ideal.

And I totally agree with Techno - don't enclose the sub. Good luck on getting it completely calibrated and setup!

concealer404

Serendipity wrote: »

I wouldn't use this feature as it really taxes the receiver. At least on mine, when driving 4-ohm DefTech towers because it ignores the crossover and essentially sends the bass to the front speakers LF + sub.

Hrmmm... i didn't notice that on mine... Are you sure it's sending it out to the mains?

Even when just running test tones, it made no difference in the mains on mine, it just did exactly as advertised, increased the LFE signal...

Kona0915

I just got an onkyo reciever and some polk surrounds and sub to go with my S10 front towers. I found the audessy eq thing in onkyo to be well not so good. I've been tweaking the settings myself and getting a much nicer more round sound out of it. I did as recommended on here and set the crossover on the back of the sub all the way up and the volume on the back of it to 12:00 position. Still adjusting settings in the reciever and getting everything broken in.

sandworms

op, what size room are you trying to fill with that sub?

seadoons

The room is 18 x 20. I am much happier with it now that I have made several adjustments. The receiver had adjusted the sub volume down so I bumped that up and then also adjusted the crossover point for the fronts to 40 so they aren't pushing as much bass (although they sounded surprisingly good on their own).

I plan on installing the two in-ceiling rear speakers next week and will continue to make tweaks to it but right now I am happy...even with it inside the entertainment center!

bigaudiofanatic

seadoons wrote: »

The room is 18 x 20. I am much happier with it now that I have made several adjustments. The receiver had adjusted the sub volume down so I bumped that up and then also adjusted the crossover point for the fronts to 40 so they aren't pushing as much bass (although they sounded surprisingly good on their own).

I plan on installing the two in-ceiling rear speakers next week and will continue to make tweaks to it but right now I am happy...even with it inside the entertainment center!

THERE IS YOUR PROBLEM :rolleyes:

seadoons

Ah yes, I have heard this a few times now. I don't really have much choice as this was the deal that I worked out with my other half before buying it all. My 25 foot sub cable arrives today...I am going to try putting the sub in other places in the room to see how much of a difference it really makes. It if is a HUGE difference I will work on keeping it there...

bigaudiofanatic

Trust me it will be a huge difference.

TECHNOKID

bigaudiofanatic wrote: »

THERE IS YOUR PROBLEM :rolleyes:

Big time (must be boomy as hell)!!!

bigaudiofanatic

And probably chocking itself in there. LET IT BREATHE MAN!