Subwoofer setup and MultEQ

I own 2 subwoofers. One is in the front right corner and other is in the back left corner.

Will any of the multieqxt AVRs EQ each sub individually?

What I mean is, can the multieqxt EQ 2 subs?

/claus

@Bob Chachel

Sorry for missing your post earlier.  It sounds like you may have Dynamic Volume engaged. The purpose of that technology is to let you raise the volume of the dialog to where you prefer it and then it makes sure that nothing gets too soft or too loud, automatically.

Thanks Chris ill run it again tomorrow 

Hi Chris,

I have the LFE input on a Klipsch SW110.  Do I understand that if I use this input that the gain, low frequency bypass, and phase switch are bypassed?

That could be the issue.  If the sub response is extending up to higher frequencies then the measurement may be getting confused thinking that it's not really a sub that is connected there.  Is there something different about this measurement from the ones you were taking before?  Perhaps the higher frequencies were not reaching the mic before--e.g. if the sub was behind furniture.

Dear Chris,

There are no electrical hum at 60 Hz. I think the problem is Sub's placement.

I changed the Sub's position and ran the MultEQ simply (only 3 position), and got the different results (see the attached graph and Excel file).

1st position on 2012-8-11, close to wall (10cm), a little close to Left speaker (40cm). The correction graph is perfect flat from 20~120Hz. By hearing, the bass is boomy or muddy, and you can tell the bass direction (bass come from Sub).

2st position on 2012-9-15, away from wall (60cm), away from Left speaker (50cm). As you told, there is a big mode at 60 Hz. Beside this, still flat to 120Hz. By hearing, the bass is lightly and weakly. And still can tell the bass direction.

3rd position on 2012-9-20, move to the corner. The correction drop from 80Hz. By hearing, the bass is too strong with boomy or muddy. The bass direction is less, but still can tell maybe because it is too far away :)

4th position on 2012-9-21, take the middle of 1st and 2nd, 35cm from wall, 55cm from Left speaker. The graph show down at 100Hz, and up at 110Hz, and drop down. By hearing, I think that is more accurate bass. And cannot tell the bass direction, the Sub seams disappear. Is that HIFI enthusiasts said the best bass?

Q1: Best cruve is 1st position, but best hearing is 4th. What can I do? Are there any perfect position with best cruve and hearing?

Q2: If choose the 4th position, will Audyssey and AVR transfer some 100~120Hz to other speakers to "help" LFE flat to 120Hz?

Thank you very much!

Chris,

My sub (and many others) has the crossover nob from 80 to 120hz instead of what in the picture.   Should I change it to 120hz?

Thanks

HT

@Vivek  You will get better results by using the Audyssey Sub EQ HT function found in newer models.  The two subs are first aligned in time and level and then corrected by MultEQ as "one".  This gives better results that applying individual correction to each sub.  For a list of new AVRs with Sub EQ HT please check here.

Hello Chris,

Firstly, thanks again for your previous subwoofer setup recommendations, the low frequency response of my system generally sounds right, however, one of the music tracks out of quite a few I've listened to when checking bass performance had a short (like 2 seconds) bass peak when I listened to it in my listening position, whereas that peak wasn't there when I listened to the same track on my kitchen stereo system and in portable CD player headphones. Due to furniture placement and room space limitations my listening position has to be practically up against the back wall, which, as I understand, is exposed to boundary gain effect which, as I assume, has caused that low frequency peak. In my Onkyo AVR I do have a Boundary Gain Compensation feature for THX certified subwoofers but my subwoofer is not THX certified and even if I try to use that feature it doesn't really compensate boundary gain to the extent that I can tell the difference. In this connection, the question I have is does Audyssey room correction setup or other Audyssey fine tuning features provide for any compensation or elimination of such boundary gain effect? If not, are there any other ways to fix general boundary gain related issues?

Thanks so much!

Best regards,

Alex

Hi Chris,

I did the battery test you suggested.

On the main speakers (FR & FL), it worked perfectly well and i was able to determine that the polarity was right. On the other end, the same test (but with a 9V batery) on the subwoofer did not produce anything useful.

To perform the last test, the battery was plugged to a small item with 2 wires (i don't know the correct name, it's some king of tester), each one ended by a small crocodile clip. I connected the clip of the red wire to the pin of the RCA connector and touched the circular part of the RCA plug with the other clip (ending the black wire): all it produced was a pop each time i made the test... It was impossible to determine the movement of the woofer. I also tried to reverse the wire but the result was the same.

I tried the test on both the SVS sub and the JBL sub with the same result. I must have done something wrong, i tried to find additional information/explanation on the web but without success. Do you have an idea?

Fred

Hi Rob,

You can read about target curves here.  There is also a lot more basic info in the Audyssey 101 section.  MultEQ (all versions) will work with any number of subwoofers that the AVR makes available.  Some AVRs don't provide individual control of multiple subs and so MultEQ has to treat them as one.  There is no need for additional sub processing as the filter resolution in MultEQ is much higher (thousands to tens of thousands of points) than the few bands of EQ in these processors.

Yes I know, thats why I tried to set them at 0db in Audyssey at frist, what didnt help.

Now I have both subs set to 0,0db,measured them, and the result is a -5,5db, to have a satisfying result I set it back to 0,0db..thats nearly the sound and Feeling I had with one Sub.

Very strange and unsatisfaying

Yes, that is definitely the problem. You will need to turn down the sub volume (perhaps a different amp with a volume control?) in order to set up your system correctly.

Chris - Thanks for the quick reply and all of the very helpful information on here.

Chris,

Is there any software reason why when Audyssey applies EQ cut/boast to the LFE/sub-woofer channel that it stops applying it below a particular frequency? I am using the Denon AVP-A1HDCI(A) pre-amp.

Relative to 75dB I have a wide -10dB dip in my room response centered on approximately 58Hz with a large broad peak of +10dB at 32Hz.

After running Audyssey several times using all eight locations there is no apparent correction applied after the first dip at 58Hz. I have checked this at all eight measurement positions. All that happens is that the 58Hz dip is reduced by approximately -6dB, then I measure no apparent changes in levels below this frequency.

Does Audyssey stop correcting when it cannot add enough boast to hit its target level?

Hello,

I have a OnkyoTX-SR806 with MultEX. Is it true my version on MultEX will not allow for room correcting filters for my subwoofer? I was told some versions might only provide crossover points and distance for subwoofer channel. I would love to take advantageof  the software and get ride of any Hz spikes caused by my room if possible.

Thanks - Miles

Hi Chris,

I have an SVS PC12 Ultra and it is set to 16 Hz.

Someone on one of the forums said that his subwoofer used to bottom out with MultiEQ XT, but when he switched to a receiver with MultiEQ XT32 the problem was gone.

Does XT32 manage the bass more effectively?

Thanks in advance.

Rob

I have two SVS PB12-NSD subwoofers. I'am looking at buying one of two receivers. The Onkyo TX-NR818 which has MultEQ XT32 but no Sub EQ HT. The other receiver is the Onkyo TX-NR3009 which has MultEQ XT32 and Sub EQ HT. Both receivers have two subwoofer outputs. Which receiver will help me get the best bass performance out of my subs and why?

Hi Santo, the target curves are not intended to produce more bass or more treble.  They are used to shape the response of each speaker in your room.  So, the amount of bass or treble correction they will produce depends on the problems the speaker is having in the room.  The curves are trying to make the bass response flat with no bumps. At the high frequencies the Ref curve is shaping the speaker response to have a slight roll off, while the Flat curve is shaping the response to be flat.  Typically, that means that the Flat curve will sound brighter (more treble).

Hi Chris,

I would like to be able to setup Audyssey Multi Eq Pro in my system by myself using the setup kit. Do I need to be an authorized dealer to be able to do this? The kit is available for puschase but looks like you need a dealer code to get into the PRO software. The PRO setup seems to be very sensitive to speaker or furniture placement changes.

Thanks,

Subu

Yea, Audyssey set it to -11db. If it is set very high is it worth turning down a notch and redoing the auto setup, will it make a difference? 

WOW! ...Thanks for a fast reply!..... & thanks for clearing that up! ... You are correct!.. I'm not connecting the sub using speaker level connections, I've connected using the LEFT & RIGHT LFE input, and used a two into one adapter to connect it to the AMP. Is that the correct way to connect it? or should I just connect one? that is only the left... or only the right? Thanks once again Chris for your time! it's greatly appreciated!

Thanks for the responsive info and the healthy dose of skepticism, Chris,

Yes, same argument.  In the Denon the speakers are called Large (same as Full Range).  That setting should be avoided if you have a subwoofer.

As long as the sub is not showing as –12 dB you are fine.  The levels are just relative numbers so as long as the AVR is within its adjustment range all is well.

Matthew. I think Chris would never suggest setting "small" speakers or any Speaker to 40hz,as this would bypass Bass Management and let the sub only be responsible for everything below 40hz, while Audyseey uses much more filtering for the Sub Channel.

You should set all Center and Satellites not to more than 80/90 hz,if the are realy small,like Bose Accustimas Series,better 120hz,everything below will be sent to the Sub.

For Example...Audyssey sets my Metas XT 701 to 40hz in Small,the Center also (Metas XT 31) and the Teufel Dipole Rears to 80-110hz depending on measuring, but? I`m correcting to 80 fpr Fronts,80 for Center and not less than 90 for Rears, everything below will get to the Sub and this gives nice Movie Sound...in Music I just use stereo and fronts in Fullrange

Hi Alex,

The lowpass filter knob on the subwoofer should be permanently set to the highest frequency it allows.  This should be done prior to running MultEQ.

There is no option in the 876 to run Audyssey on each subwoofer individually.  You can try placing the 15" sub in a corner to help extend its response and place the dual 14" sub away  from a corner.  This may match their low frequency extension better--but it will take some experimentation.

Another thing to try is to turn down the LFE level (p. 107 of the manual) to –10 dB.  This is not the subwoofer level, just the LFE level.

Just re-read your reply and you stated: 'One manual way around it is to measure the level with an SPL meter and then adjust (i.e. turn up) the levels of the other speakers to match the sub'. I'm curious are there other ways?

Thanx again!

Chris, I just purchased an Onkyo TX-NR809 receiver which has MultEQ XT. I have two different 12" subwoofers with similar power, but from different companies. My receiver has two subwoofer outputs, but I have read that you recommend using a Y-cable to connect both subs to one output, but according to the 809's owners manual: "The same signal is output from each jack", so it sounds like it's basically an internal Y-splitter. Shouldn't I get the same results using each seperate output for each sub in this particular situation, or is there something that I don't understand? This is my first receiver with Audyssey, and I want to make sure I do everything the best way possible. Thank you for your help.

Hi Chris.

I have the Onkyo tx-nr709. I just replaced my Bose accustmass 6 set with the procinema 600 def tech set.

Now the sub has an lfe input that goes to the receiver and then also has a Low pass crossover knob. When calibrating where do I turn that knob too.

And lastly after calibrating what to switch the the satellite speakers in the settings?

Thank you sir.