Klipsch Sub-woofer set up Help..?

Question

Hello, I am new to Home theater and just bought my first one. I am clueless on how to set up my Klipsch sub-woofer SW 450. I don't know what the Low Pass Knob is for or what it does? I tried reading up on it but that was a total FAIL..Where do I set the Low Pass knob to. I like the tight punch and wall rattling sound. I know this is not the best sub out there but it is my first. I am connecting the sub to a Pioneer Elite VSX-43 7.1 receiver. I read a couple post that say to crank the Low Pass to 150 hz and other post say to crank the knob as far as it goes. Help with this will be appreciated..Already read the pioneer and klipsch manuals but also a total Fail...This is my first sub and HT system. Thank You..

Answer 1

Your normal speakers will produce sound to some frequency .. say 80 hz. The subwoofer should take over from there.



BUT - your Pioneer receiver is actually controlling what frequencies go to your main speakers and what frequencies go to your subwoofer.



This is why you crank the low-pass knob to 150 so the subwoofer does not try to 'second-guess' what the receiver is doing.



POSITION:



Positioning is critical for a subwoofer. Find the corner of the room with the 2 longest, un-broken walls. Measure in 1/3 and 2/5 of the distance from the corner of the longest wall. Put down post-its to mark these spots.



Somewhere on or between these 2 spots is usually the best location for the subwoofer.



Get a copy of the original "Matrix" movie and go to the lobby shoot-out scene. Many, many minutes of great low-frequency sounds to listen to while playing with your new sub. The opening chapter of "Toy Story 2" is shorter but very good.

Answer 2

You set the crossover from the receiver (this value depends on your front left and front right). The Low Pass Knob is there only if you cannot set the crossover from the receiver. Once you set the crossover on the receiver, turn the Low Pass knob to as high as possible (you don't want to further limit the signal that your receiver is sending to the subwoofer).



What value to set the crossover: A good place to start is 80 Hz. You need to look at your front speakers' frequency range (+/- 3db). Find the lowest value and add 30-60 Hz to it and that should be where your crossover point should be around. Play with the settings.

Answer 3

It will not affect the performance in the sense that the subwoofer will still be working as it is intended. What will change however is the bass as you perceive it. Is the subwoofer downward, rearward or forward firing? IE does your sub have a small hole in it where air rushes out - is that hole on the bottom back or front of the subwoofer? Each subwoofer has a different optimal placement. Some need to bounce the sound off of a solid surface for example. If you have a downward firing subwoofer, the top of your desk may be too sound absorbent. The best bet is to try it in a few different positions and see what sounds best. You will not damage it or anything though by placing it in a sub-optimal (ugh almost a pun) position.

Answer 4

Klipsch Sub

Answer 5

- Any speakers and/or subwoofers assigned as large will receive frequencies below the crossover frequency.

- Any speakers (hopefully not subwoofers) assigned as small will receive frequencies above the crossover frequency.

= Receiver will have large or small settings. Subwoofer and receiver can have a crossover settings .ect



- Do not set the crossover frequency on the subwoofer any lower than the frequencies your speakers can handle (look up your speakers frequency response specification).

- Movies have a low frequency effects (LFE) audio channel and it can have frequencies up to (around) 120 hz. You don't want the crossover frequency any higher than this otherwise your speakers do not get any bass (if the crossover frequency is too low then the speakers may sound too muddy or any lower than the frequencies the speakers can handle you may get distortion).

= If you got good speakers you may be able to set the crossover frequency as low as 80 hz (about 20 hz above their frequency response specification), but even if the speakers are good I would recommend you set it to 120 hz and no higher unless your speakers are bad.



EDIT: Also a low pass filter is like a crossover but also has a volume control for the frequencies that get cutoff.

Answer 6

Normally you would set the frequency cutoff to 80 HZ. This will also depend on the front two speakers you are using. Your receiver will also have the adjustment on what frequency to send to the subwoofer. Most speakers for the front can handle the 80 HZ and higher. Hope this will help you out.