Anything you would change about my sound settings?

[Warm Gun]

It's a Sony SACS9 subwoofer, right by one of two SSCS3 towers for the front, a SSCS8 center speaker, Pioneer SPFS52s to my left and right as surrounds and two Sony SSCSEs above the TV. 5.1.2.

I looked up what reversing the phase on subwoofers is and still don't really get it. I don't notice any difference with it reversed. I've always had the switch set to Normal. Does it partly depend on the size of the room? My towers are 77 inches apart and my ears are about 105 inches from them.

I have the Level wheel of the subwoofer at 2/3 and the Cut-off Frequency wheel at 100 Hz (half).

In the receiver, my crossovers are:

Front speakers: 50
Center: 50
Height: 90
Surround: 50
Subwoofer: 100

The subwoofer crossover goes up to 200, but I read somewhere that the closer you get to that the more it just sounds like a speaker. When I did the calibration test with the microphone I had the Cut-off Frequency wheel of the subwoofer set to about 120 Hz, and the test set it to exactly that. I think the test set the center and front speaker crossovers to 40 Hz, but I can't remember for sure. They're rated for 45 to 50 Hz.

I don't wanna raise the bass Level any higher than 2/3 because of where I live.

I find it extremely difficult to notice these types of differences, which is why I'm asking instead of just doing more tests.

[Warm Gun]

Also, one of my front speakers makes a kinda loud crackling sound every once in a while during use or within a few minutes of being turned off. Could it have been from running the crossover on them at 80 Hz for a long time in the beginning, and should I care? Already tried different speaker wire and separating them from any power sources. Edit: Actually, it might be the receiver. I vaguely remember switching the positions of the speakers and still getting the occasional crackling from the same side.

[Scarriere]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

It's a Sony SACS9 subwoofer, right by one of two SSCS3 towers for the front, a SSCS8 center speaker, Pioneer SPFS52s to my left and right as surrounds and two Sony SSCSEs above the TV. 5.1.2.

I looked up what reversing the phase on subwoofers is and still don't really get it. I don't notice any difference with it reversed. I've always had the switch set to Normal. Does it partly depend on the size of the room? My towers are 77 inches apart and my ears are about 105 inches from them.

I have the Level wheel of the subwoofer at 2/3 and the Cut-off Frequency wheel at 100 Hz (half).

In the receiver, my crossovers are:

Front speakers: 50
Center: 50
Height: 90
Surround: 50
Subwoofer: 100

The subwoofer crossover goes up to 200, but I read somewhere that the closer you get to that the more it just sounds like a speaker. When I did the calibration test with the microphone I had the Cut-off Frequency wheel of the subwoofer set to about 120 Hz, and the test set it to exactly that. I think the test set the center and front speaker crossovers to 40 Hz, but I can't remember for sure. They're rated for 45 to 50 Hz.

I don't wanna raise the bass Level any higher than 2/3 because of where I live.

I find it extremely difficult to notice these types of differences, which is why I'm asking instead of just doing more tests.

I have my subwoofer level at half. The cutoff freq is at max, which the avr then controls.

My crossovers are set to 80 for the front 3 and the 2 surrounds and 2 Atmos are at 100.

Would you consider having your heights closer to your mlp? Beside you but above? Just a thought.

[Warm Gun]

Originally Posted by Scarriere

Would you consider having your heights closer to your mlp? Beside you but above? Just a thought.

MLP? They're standing on a chair/box and I can't easily bring them higher. I wasn't able to find a good, cheap lift option for floor standing speakers last I checked.

[Show spoiler]

[Scarriere]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

MLP? They're standing on a chair/box and I can't easily bring them higher. I wasn't able to find a good, cheap lift option for floor standing speakers last I checked.

[Show spoiler]

Aren't those your surrounds?
It looked to me like you had the heights above your tv.

"Last I checked", haha.
Best of luck to you.

[Warm Gun]

Originally Posted by Scarriere

Aren't those your surrounds?
It looked to me like you had the heights above your tv.

"Last I checked", haha.
Best of luck to you.

Oh, heights! Sorry, I thought back on your post a day later and typed that out without really reading it again properly. Yet I remember understanding what you meant the first time I read it. Wow.

I thought Atmos speakers were supposed to go in front or firing up from the front in a 5.1.2 configuration. To answer your question, no. The window to my right takes up most of that wall, so there's little space to keep the height from being almost right beside the back wall, and they can't be angled.

[Keungy]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

MLP?

MLP means "Main Listening Position"

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

It's a Sony SACS9 subwoofer, right by one of two SSCS3 towers for the front, a SSCS8 center speaker, Pioneer SPFS52s to my left and right as surrounds and two Sony SSCSEs above the TV. 5.1.2.

I looked up what reversing the phase on subwoofers is and still don't really get it. I don't notice any difference with it reversed. I've always had the switch set to Normal. Does it partly depend on the size of the room? My towers are 77 inches apart and my ears are about 105 inches from them.

I have the Level wheel of the subwoofer at 2/3 and the Cut-off Frequency wheel at 100 Hz (half).

In the receiver, my crossovers are:

Front speakers: 50
Center: 50
Height: 90
Surround: 50
Subwoofer: 100

The subwoofer crossover goes up to 200, but I read somewhere that the closer you get to that the more it just sounds like a speaker. When I did the calibration test with the microphone I had the Cut-off Frequency wheel of the subwoofer set to about 120 Hz, and the test set it to exactly that. I think the test set the center and front speaker crossovers to 40 Hz, but I can't remember for sure. They're rated for 45 to 50 Hz.

I don't wanna raise the bass Level any higher than 2/3 because of where I live.

I find it extremely difficult to notice these types of differences, which is why I'm asking instead of just doing more tests.

Phase adjustment on a sub is to ensure that the sub driver is working with the drivers on your main speakers at the same time. Placement in the room and settings in your AVR could cause them not to be aligned, so you have the chance to do a pretty simple test. Listen to a scene with a heavy bass track a few times with it in phase. Then flip the switch to out of phase to see which one is slightly louder or tighter. Sometimes there is not a difference depending on the equipment, but most of the time there is if you strictly focus on the notes they are producing in tandem.

With your crossover in the receiver, I would bump up anything that is set right at the listed frequency extension of the speaker. If you have the crossover set at 50 which is where your speaker's range is, you will still have frequencies hitting the speaker when it is not capable of reproducing the note because of the slope of the crossover. It does not simply stop notes below 50 hz, but has a gradual rolloff instead. This could be potentially damaging to the speaker and placing an unnecessary strain on your receiver and could also be the cause of the weird noise you occasionally hear.

I would also be careful with trusting everything that comes out of running calibration in the receiver. If it set the mains at 40hz, it is simply wrong based on your gear.

I am also curious of your source you use as that could also be the cause of the weird noise.

[Warm Gun]

Originally Posted by gotmule

I am also curious of your source you use as that could also be the cause of the weird noise.

A Windows computer, but I bitstream Dolby and DTS.

So, right now I have the Atmos speakers at 100 Hz and all other speakers at 80.

Why is that when I, a moment ago, turned the cut-off frequency wheel on my subwoofer to the max and changed the sub frequency in the settings back to 120 Hz, the Level of the subwoofer was changed from 0 to +10 dB? Not the upper wheel, but this:



So confused. What do I want the physical COF wheel, the sub frequency in the receiver and the Level in the photo to be at?

[Warm Gun]

Oh, I guess the receiver thinks it has to compensate if I set the wheel to 200 Hz and the sub crossover in the settings to only 100, and that's why it showed +10 dB. Then I'll just set the frequency on the wheel and in the settings at the same 100 or 120 Hz.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

Oh, I guess the receiver thinks it has to compensate if I set the wheel to 200 Hz and the sub crossover in the settings to only 100, and that's why it showed +10 dB. Then I'll just set the frequency on the wheel and in the settings at the same 100 or 120 Hz.

Eek no, on the subwoofer’s LPF/crossover dial, set it to max, and let the receiver do the work. Whatever else is going on, if both the sub and the receiver are fighting over the same setting you can get a cascade effect and cancel out parts of the audio.

You likely will have to recalibrate. In fact, as I’m no stranger to as a fellow tinkerer, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. you’ve probably tinkered so much it’s all over the place. My advice would be to take what you’ve learned here, reset to factory settings and recalibrate. With the speaker crossovers, if autocal again sets any speaker crossover suspiciously low, bump them the crossover up 10-20dB. It’s often preferable to do this, but never to lower. Ideally the crossovers would be at least 10dB above the specified low point of the speakers range, for a smooth roll off onto the sub so you don’t get any holes or force the speakers to play frequencies they can’t do well. So to answer your original question, that’s what I’d do now.

[Warm Gun]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

Eek no, on the subwoofer’s LPF/crossover dial, set it to max, and let the receiver do the work. Whatever else is going on, if both the sub and the receiver are fighting over the same setting you can get a cascade effect and cancel out parts of the audio.

You likely will have to recalibrate. In fact, as I’m no stranger to as a fellow tinkerer, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. you’ve probably tinkered so much it’s all over the place. My advice would be to take what you’ve learned here, reset to factory settings and recalibrate. With the speaker crossovers, if autocal again sets any speaker crossover suspiciously low, bump them the crossover up 10-20dB. It’s often preferable to do this, but never to lower. Ideally the crossovers would be at least 10dB above the specified low point of the speakers range, for a smooth roll off onto the sub so you don’t get any holes or force the speakers to play frequencies they can’t do well. So to answer your original question, that’s what I’d do now.

Okay, I factory reset and did the mic setup again. Actually had it with the dome facing down and held it with my hand the last time, which I found from reading the online manual yesterday is wrong. So this time I stepped out of the room and left it on a box as high as my neck. Didn't wanna hear all that noise again anyway. Sorry. Rambling.

Frequency wheel was at max this time. The receiver chose 120 Hz for sub and set the sub Level at +10 dB again. All but Atmos speakers were set to 40 Hz again, but I upped them to 80 as suggested. It set the Atmos at 100 Hz.

Hopefully all good now. Thanks, fellows.

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

Okay, I factory reset and did the mic setup again. Actually had it with the dome facing down and held it with my hand the last time, which I found from reading the online manual yesterday is wrong. So this time I stepped out of the room and left it on a box as high as my neck. Didn't wanna hear all that noise again anyway. Sorry. Rambling.

Frequency wheel was at max this time. The receiver chose 120 Hz for sub and set the sub Level at +10 dB again. All but Atmos speakers were set to 40 Hz again, but I upped them to 80 as suggested. It set the Atmos at 100 Hz.

Hopefully all good now. Thanks, fellows.

+10db gain on the sub in the receiver is...something's not right. What is the gain on the subwoofer itself set at? In general, you should not set any of the levels in the receiver above 0db.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

+10db gain on the sub in the receiver is...something's not right. What is the gain on the subwoofer itself set at? In general, you should not set any of the levels in the receiver above 0db.

My thinking is it’s just like my issue. A boom box masquerading as a sub and was being set at +8.5. I get a SB1000 based on your recommendation and now it calibrates to -8.

[Warm Gun]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

+10db gain on the sub in the receiver is...something's not right. What is the gain on the subwoofer itself set at? In general, you should not set any of the levels in the receiver above 0db.

The gain on the physical sub?



These are the only controls, and they're set as pictured. They told me to max out the frequency and then set it in the receiver. The mic test set it to 120 Hz.

When I was watching The Last Stallion's stereo track two nights ago, I did notice that the tribal music (drums) was really deep, but I couldn't tell if it was supposed to be.

[CreasyBear]

Good time to grab a quality subwoofer before they run out of these. The PB-1000 Pro is $300 more, but this standard PB-1000 is an outstanding value. And they're not making them anymore so this is a good time to grab one if you are on a budget.

https://www.svsound.com/products/pb-1000

https://www.svsound.com/products/sb-1000-pro-subwoofer

[CreasyBear]

The sub level in the receiver. Depending on the sub, the gain on the sub itself should generally be around 50% or wherever it sounds best to you. The level in the receiver for any speaker shouldn't be above 0db.