PSW110 output

mike44

Hi, I'm super new to this forum so any info would be great. I hooked this sub woofer up to my older Harmon Kardon AVR100 by digital audio cable(not sub cable) to LFE. I adjusted my avr settings, front speakers(small). The knob is turned to LFE, the volume is 3/4. I can hear the sub, makes a difference, but the WOW factor isn't there. I read several posts on this subject, but I'm still in the dark.

Thanks,

Mike

Serendipity

Is it lacking in output?

mike44

Output as in volume. I never owned a sub before, my friend has, and he feels I should be getting more noticable sound. Tech support sent me this email-
"A few things, first a digital audio cable is not the appropriate cable to use for a subwoofer. While it does not have to be specifically labeled "subwoofer", the subwoofer needs an "analog" cable. But, depending on the composition of that digital audio cable, it may function O- I'd still try a different cable.

The first thing- is there may be a setting on the receiver that is not set right. Try these settings in the receiver's setup menu:
Set all speakers to small
Make sure the subwoofer is set to "yes" or "on" or "present"
If you have bookshelf or tower speakers- use a crossover frequency of "80 Hz". If you have small satellite speakers, use "120 Hz". "

I have Wharfdale tower front speakers, not sure what he means about the crossover freq., but all other settings are correct. I'm out of town, won't be back to play with it til Friday.

packetjones

I have the 110 as well and am not impressed with the output. During "some" movie scenes it is decent, others it is not even noticible that i have a sub really. When i listen to music or just TV in general it is hard to tell that it is even turned on. I am currently looking to upgrade it to a better sub. Maybe I have unrealistic expectations for it, but overall i am not that happy with it. i got it cheap when all i had was the A3's and it was ok. Now that i have my A5's it does not really do a good job.

To see if you can get more output try to up the sub level from the AVR. Currently i have it at 1/2 on the sub gain and +10 in the AVR.

Mon40CSMM10

I also have a PSW 110 and that sub actually has plenty of bass drum response anywhere past the 9 0'clock position on the volume knob, so turning the knob halfway up is actually way too much bass for the 16 feet wide x 10 feet deep x 8 feet high room where the sub is located.

Specifically, dance music with a punchy/thumpy bass drum has more than enough punch and thump. Hip hop and rap music with the 909-type low hitting/low sustaining bass drum has more than enough low bass that sustains. Speed metal with its high pitched "tick" sounding drum still has more than enough low end to support each drum hit. Because of that, I know I don't have a defective subwoofer.

Where the PSW 110 seems to be lacking is in actual bass instrument output--For example: bass guitar, bass synth, string bass--these just don't have any real presence unless the subwoofer amp is really turned up, but then the drums are way too dominant. I've had to balance this out by setting the front main speakers to large--instead of small--and then adjusting the subwoofer to where it adds low end to the output of the front mains. I even tried using separate passive crossovers on the mains but just setting the crossover to 100 Hz instead of 80 Hz prevents the overall sound from being too bass heavy when setting the mains to large. Everything works out when I keep the subwoofer amp volume just below the 9 o'clock position to balance out with the front mains set as large--good bass instrument output from the front mains, good bass drum reinforcement from the subwoofer.

I'm using the LFE output from the receiver to connect to the sub, using the receiver's crossover setting, and the following channel levels:

Front Left: -3.5 dB.
Center: -2.5 dB.
Front Right: -2.0 dB
Right Surround: -9.5 dB.
Left Surround: -9.0 dB.
Subwoofer: +6.5 dB.

packetjones

i will have to try going back and setting the front speakers to large and see if there is a noticible improvement in bass. i will try that this weekend and see if i notice a difference. I am still looking to upgrade to a svs too though.

Mon40CSMM10

Another possible option is leaving all the speakers at the small setting, enabling a Loudness mode for music and a Midnight mode for movies.

When doing this, don't start at the recommended halfway volume setting on the subwoofer amp, instead just turn the volume all the way down. Pick a crossover setting (I still prefer 100 Hz) on the receiver. Play some music with decent bass drum and/or bass instrument presence. Very slowly turn up the subwoofer amplifier dial until the bass just begins to be heard from the sub. Check bass levels at the listening position, also at the corners of the room (to see if nearby neighbors might be disturbed by extra bass presence) and at even the ceiling (if applicable, to see if anyone upstairs might have their floor start to rumble). Adjust the subwoofer up or down as needed to avoid overpowering bass response.

I don't recommend front mains set to large plus midnight/loudness, based on non-musical and overpowering the bass sounded in the room.

Unfortunately, every adjustment seems to be a compromise when trying to get more than just bass drum response out of the PSW 110. Maybe I should not use the LFE out from the receiver to the LFE in of the sub? Maybe I should wire the front mains through the sub instead?