sub cut off frequency

[callas01]

quick question, my sub has a cut off frequency from 50 to 200, where do I want to set that with my fronts set to small and the crossover set at 80 on the fronts, 90 on the center and surrounds? Obviously the closer to 200 i go the more bassier, and the closer to 50 the less bassier.

[Pelican170]

Originally Posted by callas01

quick question, my sub has a cut off frequency from 50 to 200, where do I want to set that with my fronts set to small and the crossover set at 80 on the fronts, 90 on the center and surrounds? Obviously the closer to 200 i go the more bassier, and the closer to 50 the less bassier.

I would leave it at 150. this way the sub is definately going to pick up the frequency under the crossover, and wont get the frequency that are higher cuz of the crossover on your receiver to the speakers...

[callas01]

cool that is about what I had to too. Thanks

[pere]

The question is not more or less bass.
The question is get a balanced sound. That depends of multiple factors like acoustics, speakers, position etc.
If your speakers are set at 80Hz you can't go less than that because you'll miss frequencies.
I'd start at maximum (200Hz) and let that your receiver handle everything.
If you obtain a boomy sound you could try diminish step by step the cut off of your sub till you get a pleasant sound.
Sometimes is hard to obtain the ideal sound.

[Gohanto]

Originally Posted by pere

The question is not more or less bass.
The question is get a balanced sound. That depends of multiple factors like acoustics, speakers, position etc.
If your speakers are set at 80Hz you can't go less than that because you'll miss frequencies.
I'd start at maximum (200Hz) and let that your receiver handle everything.
If you obtain a boomy sound you could try diminish step by step the cut off of your sub till you get a pleasant sound.
Sometimes is hard to obtain the ideal sound.

Correct. With the speakers set to small, the sub will always receive all frequencies below the crossover point. Your receiver slowly rolls off the bass information out of the speakers and increase the signal into the sub at the crossover point generally at a slope of 12dB/octave so that the transition isn't noticeable. Since the receiver does this, the sub shouldn't use isn't own cut off frequency as that can only lead to frequencies dropping if set too low.

In many subs, there is a switch to disable to the filter, but otherwise just leave the crossover at max.

The subs crossover is helpful however, when you're running the main speakers signal through the sub (not common when you have a receiver that could do this) since then the subs filters will handle the crossover slope.

[Big Daddy]

I believe there is some misunderstanding about crossover frequencies. When you are setting the subwoofer crossover, you are actually setting the Low Pass frequency. When you set the frequency on the other speakers, you are setting the High Pass frequency. You do not want to create an audio hole. Read A Guide to Crossover Networks. Go to the last section. You will find an explanation there.

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by callas01

quick question, my sub has a cut off frequency from 50 to 200, where do I want to set that with my fronts set to small and the crossover set at 80 on the fronts, 90 on the center and surrounds? Obviously the closer to 200 i go the more bassier, and the closer to 50 the less bassier.

If your A/V receiver is setting the speaker crossover points of 80 on the fronts, with 90 on the center and surrounds, you should leave the subwoofer all the way up at 200. Why? Because that way you can be sure you're not introducing a second filtering point on your low frequency signal. If you inadvertently set the crossover point too low on the subwoofer controls, you'll end up filtering out information, and that will leave you with a frequency range drop.

Also, try not to go any higher than 80 or 90 as your lowpoint crossover on your speakers. The closer you get to 100 hz or higher, the more directional your bass will become. In other words, you'll be able to audibly locate your subwoofer in the room, and that's a very bad thing.

[callas01]

So I have been playing with this to my wits end, and I think I have found a happy medium, I have the fronts at 70 hz crossover and the sub cut off at 150-180 hz and it seems that I am getting an equal level of bass so that it doesn't sound dominate through the sub, and it sounds very level throughout the system up front.

King of Grills, my center & surrounds say they have a frequency response of 85Hz to 22kHz, so isn't 90 Hz the lowest I want to go?? That is why I have them set there.

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by callas01

So I have been playing with this to my wits end, and I think I have found a happy medium, I have the fronts at 70 hz crossover and the sub cut off at 150-180 hz and it seems that I am getting an equal level of bass so that it doesn't sound dominate through the sub, and it sounds very level throughout the system up front.

King of Grills, my center & surrounds say they have a frequency response of 85Hz to 22kHz, so isn't 90 Hz the lowest I want to go?? That is why I have them set there.

At least 90hz. I read somewhere that you want to give some room for rolloff- I think I read once about 20hz, but that sounds like too much to me. Maybe someone else can chime in with a better rule of thumb than just your ears.

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by callas01

So I have been playing with this to my wits end, and I think I have found a happy medium, I have the fronts at 70 hz crossover and the sub cut off at 150-180 hz and it seems that I am getting an equal level of bass so that it doesn't sound dominate through the sub, and it sounds very level throughout the system up front.

King of Grills, my center & surrounds say they have a frequency response of 85Hz to 22kHz, so isn't 90 Hz the lowest I want to go?? That is why I have them set there.

You do want to account for some frequency roll off toward your lower limit of 88Hz. Since it's a fairly high lower limit, you don't want to set a cutoff too much higher than 90Hz, becuase bass becomes directional sounding around 100Hz and above.

I'd recommend sticking it around 90-100HZ on the receiver, while leaving the setting on the subwoofer at its highest point.