Not happy with my sub after I moved

[Mudfrog]

I recently moved and I went from loving my sub to hating it. I'm using a BIC F-12 and it was getting the job done without any issues at my old place. The odd part is that the old room was much much larger. The room itself was around 2,000 sq ft with 12 ft ceilings. It was in a carpeted basement. Since I moved it is in the main living room which is probably a 12x20 room with hardwood floors and 8 ft ceilings. I ran Audyssey and in order to set the sub to 75db like it instructs you to I had to put the subs volume knob to 1 (out of 10). Audyssey then set the sub to +1db. When I watch movies I can barely hear the sub at all, I can feel it shaking the floor under my feet but the sound coming from the sub is to low and it doesn't match the rest of the audio's volume. It kind of sounds hollow at times if that makes any sense.

I plan on upgrading to a better sub in the near future but for now I'd like to enjoy what I have. Should I ignore what Audyssey recommends and increase the sound until I'm happy with it? I mean I know I can do that but from a technical aspect is there a better solution?

[JimShaw]

Originally Posted by Mudfrog

I recently moved and I went from loving my sub to hating it. I'm using a BIC F-12 and it was getting the job done without any issues at my old place. The odd part is that the old room was much much larger. The room itself was around 2,000 sq ft with 12 ft ceilings. It was in a carpeted basement. Since I moved it is in the main living room which is probably a 12x20 room with hardwood floors and 8 ft ceilings. I ran Audyssey and in order to set the sub to 75db like it instructs you to I had to put the subs volume knob to 1 (out of 10). Audyssey then set the sub to +1db. When I watch movies I can barely hear the sub at all, I can feel it shaking the floor under my feet but the sound coming from the sub is to low and it doesn't match the rest of the audio's volume. It kind of sounds hollow at times if that makes any sense.

I plan on upgrading to a better sub in the near future but for now I'd like to enjoy what I have. Should I ignore what Audyssey recommends and increase the sound until I'm happy with it? I mean I know I can do that but from a technical aspect is there a better solution?

After I run Audyssey, I always re-adjust to my liking

I turn the sub up
I turn the Mids down
I turn the Center Channel up

The changes do not take away from Audyssey's filtering

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by JimShaw

After I run Audyssey, I always re-adjust to my liking

I turn the sub up
I turn the Mids down
I turn the Center Channel up

The changes do not take away from Audyssey's filtering

Ok, I was under the impression if you adjust the settings then Audyssey's filtering will not sound the same. I usually add +1 to the sub but that's about it.

[JimShaw]

Originally Posted by Mudfrog

Ok, I was under the impression if you adjust the settings then Audyssey's filtering will not sound the same. I usually add +1 to the sub but that's about it.

Center speakers, I'll add 3 points
Sub, I'll add 3-4
Mids, I cut back by 4 or so

After Audyssey's calibration, there is only one item that can't be changed and I really apologize, I can't not remember what Audyssey calls it.

I am leaving for Las Vegas right now. So, I don't have time to go into Audyseey and take a look.

Sorry

[cisco kid]

Originally Posted by JimShaw

Center speakers, I'll add 3 points
Sub, I'll add 3-4
Mids, I cut back by 4 or so

After Audyssey's calibration, there is only one item that can't be changed and I really apologize, I can't not remember what Audyssey calls it.

I am leaving for Las Vegas right now. So, I don't have time to go into Audyseey and take a look.

Sorry

they got snow recently, hope it gone for your trip

[zebracatzebra]

One of my receivers has Audyseey and the other has MCACC and I always have to make adjustments on both after being run to get things to sound how I like them. I've even experimented with no Audyssey or MCACC adjustments, just default "straight out of the box" settings, and especially on music I like the sound a lot better than after all their fancy EQ and level adjustments...

[Canada]

Originally Posted by Mudfrog

I recently moved and I went from loving my sub to hating it. I'm using a BIC F-12 and it was getting the job done without any issues at my old place. The odd part is that the old room was much much larger. The room itself was around 2,000 sq ft with 12 ft ceilings. It was in a carpeted basement. Since I moved it is in the main living room which is probably a 12x20 room with hardwood floors and 8 ft ceilings. I ran Audyssey and in order to set the sub to 75db like it instructs you to I had to put the subs volume knob to 1 (out of 10). Audyssey then set the sub to +1db. When I watch movies I can barely hear the sub at all, I can feel it shaking the floor under my feet but the sound coming from the sub is to low and it doesn't match the rest of the audio's volume. It kind of sounds hollow at times if that makes any sense.

I plan on upgrading to a better sub in the near future but for now I'd like to enjoy what I have. Should I ignore what Audyssey recommends and increase the sound until I'm happy with it? I mean I know I can do that but from a technical aspect is there a better solution?

Have you thought about a subwoofer riser there supposed to help sub performance? You can buy one or DIY.

Thanks to Big Daddy for starting the thread.

[Mudfrog]

One thing I have noticed is that when I do make a change it defaults back to the way that Audyssey set it (after a power cycle). How do I make it save the changes that I make? Working with an Onkyo 809.

[LMN8R]

Sounds like a placement issue to me. Placement is critical especially for a single sub, you may be listening from a null area. Try moving it around a little bit. Could make a huge difference.

[Mudfrog]

I turned the volume knob from 1 to 3-4 and it made a tremendous difference.

Glad I found out that you need to tweak what audyssey configures.

[JimShaw]

Originally Posted by Mudfrog

I turned the volume knob from 1 to 3-4 and it made a tremendous difference.

Glad I found out that you need to tweak what audyssey configures.

Ok, I remember what you can't do with an Audyseey calibration.

Chris, founder of Audyssey, told me all adjustments can be made/changed after the Audyssey calibration except the Crossover Freq. The Crossover can be moved UP from where Audyssey set it but NOT moved DOWN. Moving the Crossover down will change the filter settngs

[Edh63]

To be honest, Audyssey really does flatten out the sound after calibration. I ran Audyssey on my Onkyo 705 and it sounded horrible afterwards, so I did what others have already done here. I made some personal preference adjustments and it sounds great now.

The reason you do want to run Audyssey is so you can spectrum analyze the room. After that, make your adjustments that suit you.

[tommyboy81]

since the new room is different than the old one. (duh lol) the crossovers may need to be adjusted.

I know with Audyssey it tells the receiver the rolloff and the receiver throws out there "Large/Small" and what Hz.

With mine it will always set my Fronts to "Large Full Band" and Center "Small at 60Hz." Since you can go up on the Hz I take my Fronts to Small @80Hz and my Center @80Hz. The Sub @80Hz 80-90Hz was a huge null. everything was around 75-85db but around there it was 60db

After tests it turns out the db's in my bass go up and down. Not as smooth. I've done test after test the last couple of weeks adjusting the distance on the sub and getting better results.

What I'm left with now is the distance where Audyssey had out it but the sub @120, Fronts @100Hz, Center @90. Gives me a smoother line.

What I'm trying to say is try raising the Xovers after Audyssey. Adjusting the Xovers does mess with how the bass performs in the room. For better or for worse.

[Edh63]

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

since the new room is different than the old one. (duh lol) the crossovers may need to be adjusted.

I know with Audyssey it tells the receiver the rolloff and the receiver throws out there "Large/Small" and what Hz.

With mine it will always set my Fronts to "Large Full Band" and Center "Small at 60Hz." Since you can go up on the Hz I take my Fronts to Small @80Hz and my Center @80Hz. The Sub @80Hz 80-90Hz was a huge null. everything was around 75-85db but around there it was 60db

After tests it turns out the db's in my bass go up and down. Not as smooth. I've done test after test the last couple of weeks adjusting the distance on the sub and getting better results.

What I'm left with now is the distance where Audyssey had out it but the sub @120, Fronts @100Hz, Center @90. Gives me a smoother line.

What I'm trying to say is try raising the Xovers after Audyssey. Adjusting the Xovers does mess with how the bass performs in the room. For better or for worse.

So, do you think I should adjust mine maybe to your specs, tommyboy81? I've got all my speakers set to small and at 80Hz THX. Have the sub set to 120 Frequency.

What say you?

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by Edh63

So, do you think I should adjust mine maybe to your specs, tommyboy81? I've got all my speakers set to small and at 80Hz THX. Have the sub set to 120 Frequency.

What say you?

you're space it different. I've got the cubed room of acoustic death as some would say. lol While what I'm getting out of the room is not bad at all for the type of room I still get a good dip around 89Hz and major drops at 200 and above. What I have right now is whats right for the space I have, if you know what I mean.

I had to turn the fronts up because at 80 it was creating a bigger drop around 80. Adjusting the distance in the sub made it better but it would create a different null.

Now with Audyssey off. That is actually my peak. 56, 89, 111 are my big peaks. They'll shoot to 90db while others are ay 76 to 80db

[Shpongle DMT]

Mudfrog: Have you done the "subwoofer crawl" to find the best position for your sub? It sounds like you are sitting in a bass null. If you walk around the room during a heavy bass scene and notice an increase in bass perception then you should move the sub.

[callas01]

i agree that it sounds like a placement issue.

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by Shpongle DMT

Mudfrog: Have you done the "subwoofer crawl" to find the best position for your sub? It sounds like you are sitting in a bass null. If you walk around the room during a heavy bass scene and notice an increase in bass perception then you should move the sub.

I have not.. unfortunately it will be a while before I can as I'm fighting a herniated disc in my back. As soon as I feel better that is on my list of stuff to do

[Edh63]

Originally Posted by Mudfrog

I have not.. unfortunately it will be a while before I can as I'm fighting a herniated disc in my back. As soon as I feel better that is on my list of stuff to do

Ouch! Hope you get to feeling better soon.

[ahmedreda]

+1 You probably have the listening position in a null. You could try to move the sub around or buy a second identical one to smooth the response.

Originally Posted by callas01

i agree that it sounds like a placement issue.