Subwoofers - crazy upgrade!

@erik_squires  The use of built-in DSP and calibration on a sub is priceless

100% agree with this.  If I hadn’t experienced it recently, I’m don’t think I would fully grasp the magnitude of the improvement to the room from DSP to the sub (and woofers).  DSP was able to successfully address and significantly reduce room nodes.  The room got notably quieter...almost like magic.  The room wasn’t even noticeably noisy or boomy.  After I had braced my suspended floor, I thought things were dialed in pretty well, but a few surgical narrow cuts using the PEQ on the DSP was eye opening.  

The purist in me was always a bit squeamish to even try it, but since I bi-amp with solid state amps to the sub and woofers, and run tubes to the midbass/tweeters, I was able to install the DSP to only the low frequencies.  It really made an audible improvement...at least in my case.  Highly recommended!

Funny thing is... I'd bet those who are making claims that dispersing subs around the home theater room is "better" have never tried stacking.

Excuses. It's just too much trouble. Not worth the effort. Too heavy. Maybe they'll vibrate.  Etc...  Yet somehow you got them in the room to begin with. You moved them around. Stacking subs is too much effort for some reason.

The anti-DSP purist for subwoofers has never heard what taming a 12 dB or larger peak in a sub can do.   While there are many ways of taming a peak, not all are available to everyone or are equally effective.  

It's time we treat DSP for room modes like we do mental health and stop feeling ashamed. 

@erik_squires 

How do you set up a Mini DSP for subs only? I have an external X-over.

TIA

Hey @tcutter  - Depends on how things are wired up.  The easiest way is to use a sub with line level inputs and put the miniDSP there.  It won't act as a high pass filter, but you still get all the parametric EQ goodness.  

If you want to keep DSP and filters out of your main audio chain, you can make things a little easier by plugging any ports on your main speakers.  This will naturally raise their cutoff point.   Otherwise, a single capacitor in line with your main amp is an effective 6 db/octave high pass filter.