What frequency do I crossover subs

Marty,

I confess to having used the SMS-1 auto mode, but I bought an articulated mic stand at a local music shop in anticipation of manual set up. I need to get to it. I think the SMS-1 sends video to the DVDO, so I should be able to use the small (30") TV to monitor adjustments. The SMS-1 sits on a shelf above the DVDO, so if it isn't already connected it should be easy to do.

db

Audionuts,

The OP asked for a "scientific" approach - which I took to mean he wanted an alternative to set-up by ear. I described one such "scientific" approach; set for flat FR at the listening position. In the end, he may prefer the "tune by ear" approach that you recommend, but now he has a different approach for comparison purposes.

BTW, my experience is that the "scientific" approach has yielded vastly preferable results, but that may only indicate my own shortcomings at setting up a sub by ear.

Marty

Weirdly, the point nobody ever seems to make regards the fact that recorded music has vastly disperate bass levels. I stuck a "chicken head" knob (left over from a guitar amp) on the gain pot on the back of my REL sub so I can (easily) adjust the level by feel without moving the sub away from the wall..this adjustment is to make things sound better...sort of the point of this hobby. I don't have tone controls on my preamp (because they're simply not cool) and absolutely do not need them...ever...and the crossover point stays the same...but the REL gain knob is needed often for small adjustment, otherwise I'd be stuck with anemic bass on old LPs or my walls would crumble when a large bass level kicks in on any number of recordings.

Wolf,

I don't think that your point is lost on most people. Lots of records suck in lots of ways - including too much/too little bass. Some folks tweak their systems for each record, but I'm probably just too lazy for that. Like the chicken head idea, though.

Marty

PS Even when the record has issues, there's always the purists's question of whether you want to hear what's on the record or whether you want to "fix" what's on the record by tweaking the system.

Personally, I'm already there with systems that correct for the room. When they start selling the system that can adjust itself for the recording flaws, I'll be first on line to sign up.

PS Even when the record has issues, there's always the purists's question of whether you want to hear what's on the record or whether you want to "fix" what's on the record by tweaking the system.

Personally, I'm already there with systems that correct for the room. When they start selling the system that can adjust itself for the recording flaws, I'll be first on line to sign up.

Marty I agree and it does take a while to come to a happy medium with all recordings. What worked best for me was to never move the x-over up once I started to hear too much bass.

That being said no one mentioned phasing/timing. The last thing you want is to have the sub either be ahead or behind the music. With my Rel B3 I had to move closer or farther but only by a inch or 2 at a time. BTW I just used my ears. I tried test cds with single frequency selections. For me when I had that (what I thought was dialed in w/the cd) it was way too much bass with music.

Again you have to listen with your ears. When I first had everything dialed in with my Dyn C1's I had my x-over set at 38 hz. The C1's are rated at 45hz. Then I upgraded to the C1 Signatures. Found the Rel to sound better at 34 hz. Next I upgraded my Frey Ic to the Tyr2. Here we go again - I had to reset the Rel again and now I have it at 32 hz. There are some recordings that don't go below 60hz. Don't try to fix that. Sounds like a pretty low x-over point but to me ALL my recordings sound good and balanced.