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help with my sub and settings

My Power Sound Audio XS15se subwoofer arrived yesterday. Spent a few hours today working to get it dialed in with my system which I use strictly for music (Mostly classic and hard Rock.)

Too soon for me to give a positive recommendation to this Sub given that regardless of speaker positioning on my 5.1 set up I'm not getting the sound I wanted from the Sub. Currently I'm getting too much of a low tone sound from the Sub. I was after a more punchy, powerful, tight kick in the chest bass sound. Instead, I'm getting too much of a low end frequency tone. (a sound that while powerful would be more enjoyed by a hip hop, rap music fan would like.)

I've tried crossover settings from 60hz to 100hz with little result in change. The sub driver is visually pumping well. I'm using a 12 foot long $30 RCA bass input cable to the left/LFE sub input, but nothing to the "Right input" on the sub... It's a quality cable, but should I try an even heavier gauge bass RCA split cable to plug into both the LFE and Right Sub input?

Any help with my settings would be appreciated: Here is my equipment if that helps:
Oppo 103 multi player
Emotiva UMC 200 Pre-amp (Currently using optical dig into Pre-Amp.)
Emotiva XPA-5 Amp
2 Kliptch RF-7 Reference floor speakers.
2 Def Technology Studio Monitor65 Large bookshelf speakers.
1 Def Technology Pro 2000 center speaker.
(All positioned in a wide forward position)
I switched my Pre-Amp to all small speaker setting, although I think even my large bookshelf speakers might be safe to set at Large speaker setting. (I always worry about clipping and smoking a driver.) Should I try all large speaker settings?

Gain on sub is cranked up. (I'm setting the Center speaker to a lower volume level now because I'm getting a bit too much tweet.) I have the Pre-Amp set to 7 channel Stereo, to eliminate too much surround effect.

I'm thinking of selling the Emotiva XPA-5 Amp and the 2 DT Bookshelf and center speakers, then go with a higher wattage 2 channel Amp. Just go with my 2 RF7 Floor speakers and the Sub for a 2.1 set up.

So far I can't say I'm impressed with this Sub woofer, but maybe I'm not getting proper signal to it. (Too muffle like sound from this sub, not the tight clean punch I was after.)
It's down firing sub on carpet... Should I try placing the sub on a hard surface? Maybe the carpet is refracting the bass punch I want.

Can't think of anything else to alter or tweak.
pigchild

Showing 1 response by akg_ca

akg_ca's avatar
akg_ca
2,151 posts
 
Sound and Vision reviewed it as primarily a HT movie kick-ass super chest shaking deep bass unit, but non- optimal for primarily music fans for precisely the same reason.

Sounds like the system synergy is absent. If so, a different sub is your pathway.

In my experiences, yiu will likely have to pony up to the $2K plus strata to have a reasonable step towards synergy with the rest of your system if you lean towards music.
ATC and Vandersteen subs are a pair of leading audio sub candidates. Google the top reviews and posts here and other audio blogs.

Auditioning whatever you choose is imperative to sense that tight, crisp refinement they provide in contrast to low-fi and mid-fi HT geared subs. These (and other) hi-end subs are invisible extensions of your mains.

Good luck
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