Subwoofer set up

Most people will dial the sub in where the speakers begin to naturally roll off. This can be done by ear.

-Rob

Neilmc,

If you have a subwoofer jack as your original post suggests, presumably your receiver or pre-pro has one or more crossover settings, e.g. it sends frequencies above 80 Hz to your main speakers and below 80 Hz to your sub. This is true even if you use separate amps, as I do. Typically, you specify this in the setup menu, often by classifying your main speakers as large or small. If using a sub, you want to select small, even though your main speakers are floor standers.

It's really quite simple; you are unlikely to need an external crossover filter to complicate things. I do recommend a sound pressure level meter, set to C weighting and slow trajectory. Radio Shack sells one very adequate for the application.

db

db

Before messing with a sub, I would suggest taking some rta measurements of the room, to see exactly where your speakers roll off in your room. Then, you can decide how to best go about integrating a sub, and objectively what you want to accomplish with it.