One possibility is that, because you haven’t done any PEQ, some frequencies are being reproduced at the (mostly) correct SPL while others are too loud and overwhelming. The e110 doesn’t have any PEQ functionality built-in so you’d need to add an outboard PEQ device.
Another possibility is that the e110 placement is bad, resulting in similar problems as above. Moving the subwoofer to a better location could help.
If the subwoofer sounds better (less boomy) with polarity 180, it could be that the 180 setting is actually incorrect and the crossover frequencies between your speakers and sub are (more) out-of-phase and therefore no longer overwhelming. Ideally, you would find the exact time delay where the speakers and sub sound waves reach your listening position at the same time by using the phase dial in conjunction with the polarity dial.
Also, in order to optimize the subwoofer integration, you should be connecting your pre-amp to the e110 inputs, and the e110 outputs to your speaker amp, which is then connected to the speakers. This ensures the e110’s crossover is applied.
But yes, in theory you should be able to find the correct settings for the e110 in order to integrate it properly with your speakers, also given good subwoofer placement. But doing so by ear will be time consuming and error-prone. Using software like Room EQ Wizard to take measurements to determine the approximately correct settings would be fastest.
Afterwards, adding in PEQ will reduce the amount of compromise you need to accept, but you can still get a good result without PEQ.
Another possibility is that the e110 placement is bad, resulting in similar problems as above. Moving the subwoofer to a better location could help.
If the subwoofer sounds better (less boomy) with polarity 180, it could be that the 180 setting is actually incorrect and the crossover frequencies between your speakers and sub are (more) out-of-phase and therefore no longer overwhelming. Ideally, you would find the exact time delay where the speakers and sub sound waves reach your listening position at the same time by using the phase dial in conjunction with the polarity dial.
Also, in order to optimize the subwoofer integration, you should be connecting your pre-amp to the e110 inputs, and the e110 outputs to your speaker amp, which is then connected to the speakers. This ensures the e110’s crossover is applied.
But yes, in theory you should be able to find the correct settings for the e110 in order to integrate it properly with your speakers, also given good subwoofer placement. But doing so by ear will be time consuming and error-prone. Using software like Room EQ Wizard to take measurements to determine the approximately correct settings would be fastest.
Afterwards, adding in PEQ will reduce the amount of compromise you need to accept, but you can still get a good result without PEQ.