2. speakers
  3. 162804-149587

Is this how a Subwoofer Crossover is supposed to work?

I bought two Starke SW12 subwoofers that I installed.  So far I'm not particularly happy with them.  They are way too loud even with the volume set almost to off.  More importantly, I'm having trouble integrating them into my system and I'm wondering if that is because their crossover setting is really functioning as I understand a crossover should. Attached please find measurements from Room Equalization Wizard with SPL graphs of the two subs (no speakers) taken at my listening position with the crossover set at 50 Hz, 90 Hz, and 130 Hz. Ignore the peaks and dips which I assume are due to room nodes.  All of those settings appear to actually have the same crossover point of 50 Hz. All that changes is the slope of the rolloff in sound levels. This isn't how I thought a properly designed crossover was supposed to work.  I thought the frequency the levels would start to roll off would change, i.e. flat to 50 hz then a sharp drop, flat to 90 hz then a sharp drop, etc. etc..  But Starke says this is how a subwoofer crossover is supposed to work.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8x4cr32pagwg48i/Two%20Subs%20Different%20Crossover%20Points%20No%20Speaker...
Any experts on here with an opinion about this?  Is it possible to buy an inexpensive active crossover that I could use in place of what is built into these subs?
pinwa
pinwa OP
293 posts
 
I appreciate all the input here although I am less enthusiastic about how this thread has devolved into the kind of digressions and name calling that seems typical of Audiogon.  Also, since these forums don't support true threading it is challenging to actually respond to each of you.

Most importantly though, is my starting question, at its simplest, is really just whether or not subwoofer crossovers are supposed to behave the way the Starke crossover is behaving.  

I'll measure an individual sub later this evening and add a setting for 200 Hz.  But assuming that still shows the rolloff starting from the same place, i.e. roughly 50 Hz, regardless of the crossover setting is that normal?

millercarbon Moabs are great but with caveats.  That discussion deserves a separate topic.
erik_squires
16,407 posts
 
Hi OP

No, the measurements do not look like very good representations of crossover behavior when changing the crossover point. However, since there are two subs involved, I can’t tell what is going on.

I completely agree with Duke that 2 subs are better than one, but I think for the sake of your sanity, you should measure one first. :) See if that doesn’t work as you’d expect.

You know, you might want to try out XSim crossover simulator.  It is free, and you can draw several ideal speakers, and use different crossovers on each, and plot their behavior.


Best,

E
erik_squires
16,407 posts
 
Hi OP,

You may also find the people and forums at DIYaudio to be more helpful. The forums let you post images in your discussion, and lots of speaker builders in the multi-way and subwoofer discussions for you to lean on.

You may also like the forums in the Room EQ Wizard discussions.

Best,

E
Post removed 
timlub
2,042 posts
 
@pinwa
I don’t see anything that tells where your sub placement is.
To start, make sure that your subs are at least 3ft from any wall and make sure that your subs are not near each other. Starting here will help reduce any room boundry reinforcement from the corners. In fact stack some things in the corner to help break up standing wave.. Pulling them out in the room normally helps reduce peaks.  Next, turn your subs all the way down, bring one up a hair and measure. See where the peaks are. Turn this one down and check the other, measure and see where the peaks are.... Move them around checking independently trying to remove frequency peaks. Once you see that the peaks are down, bring them up together just slightly, measure and adjust as needed. This will all take some time and this is only a starting point. I hope this helps, Tim
More to discover