questions for subwoofer setup (1 Viewer)

[adamhodge]

I've a Pioneer Elite SC-LX801, Klipsch RF62 speakers, two Dolby Atmos Klipsch speakers, 4 Klipsch satellites, and a Klipsch 12 inch sub with LFE, Line In, and speaker +/- screws. The system should be overkill for the room I'm in. I'm not trying to bring down the house with bass but I'm the sound is not right. I've got the speakers configured to SMALL in the Pioneer and the cross over set to 80 on both the receiver and the sub.

Upstairs in the bedroom I've got a cheap LG soundbar solution with wireless sub. That system has better bass for Vocals. You can hear the depth in voices. Things have the heavier more theater like sound. You can almost feel the basketball dribble down the court.

Why is the cheap solution sounding more robust than my home theater? Seems like for a lot of content the sub isn't even working. I'm plugged in via LFE. What am I doing wrong? It doesn't sound like a home theater.

 

[Dave Upton]

Do you have your subwoofer set to "on" in the receiver? It's also worth making sure the crossover/cutoff on the subwoofer is set as high as it will go (usually 200Hz), and that the level of your sub is properly matched.

What listening mode are you using on your Pioneer?

 

[adamhodge]

Do you have your subwoofer set to "on" in the receiver? It's also worth making sure the crossover/cutoff on the subwoofer is set as high as it will go (usually 200Hz), and that the level of your sub is properly matched.

What listening mode are you using on your Pioneer?

Sub is on. I will set the xover. Listening mode is usually direct. I always run it through the full microphone setup or whatever. That def hits the sub.

 

[JohnRice]

With some receivers, direct mode turns off the sub.

 

[adamhodge]

With some receivers, direct mode turns off the sub.

So my understanding is that "pure direct" will bypass the sub. Direct turns off the dsp but still should use the sub...I don't understand lfe...should basic tv, apple tv, netfilx, etc have the lfe channel? Does content have to be encoded to have that? Is there a mode where i just send all low freq to the sub?

 

[adamhodge]

Ok getting away from direct and pure direct makes a huge difference. For music I prefer stereo and the SW light is on and it's kicking now. I also watched some movie trailers on the Apple TV...Here is the problem...Though the sub kicks for action "things" (explosions, violence, etc) - there isn't any "depth" to voices...so I think dialog still sucks and on my other system I get bass in the vocal track...why?

 

[JohnRice]

Try raising the crossover on your speakers, especially the center, (in the receiver's speaker setup menu) higher than 80Hz. That will route more to the sub.