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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
larry5729's avatar
larry5729
1,009 posts
 
This is why I purchased two REL S2 SHO subwoofers.  They use a high level connection to make their subwoofers act as lower end subwoofers to extend the bass on the main speakers.  If you set things up correctly, you won't hear their subwoofers over take your main speakers.  I have the volume on my REL's set at about 40%.  They are smooth and seamless.  I wonder if REL has a patent on this technology?  If not, can't understand why other subwoofer manufactures aren't using this as well.  If you have not auditioned REL subwoofers you need to do so.  As with everything else, main speakers and subwoofers need to positioned correctly to receive the best sound. Be curious to hear what others in this group feel. 
larry5729's avatar
larry5729
1,009 posts
 
For some reason I am not sure the make and model of both your main speakers and your subwoofers?  Can't imagine you can buy an audiophile subwoofer for that price range?



erik_squires
16,416 posts
 
Hi 8th-note

I have to take some issue with your statements, as I don't think they are in evidence yet:


2. You purchased two subwoofers which cost $350 each and weigh 40 lbs. to supplement the bass of a pair of full size, full range, highly regarded $4500 speakers that reportedly compete with speakers costing 10 times their price.

I think you are far too focused on cost here. Admittedly, I'd have bought a Hsu or SVS, but integration is going to be a much more important step here than worrying about not spending enough money.

3. If the Moabs go anywhere near 20 hz you don't need subwoofers. If pipe organ is your favorite type of music and you are missing the 16hz notes then you could spend several thousand dollars on a sub that would not only go that deep but was equipped with a high quality crossover that included a very low cutoff point. Wilson makes a sub for $40,000 that accomplishes this purpose.


Woah, nope, totally disagree with this entire statement.  Subs bring a lot more to the table than a spec. The ability to relocate them, to equalize them, and to limit the bass required by your main amp and speakers are big deals.  Done perfectly, you bring a lot more power and dynamic range to the system than you would have otherwise, and reduction in distortion.  Also, this is a giant PITA to do well, as this thread will attest to.


4. The subwoofers you bought are accentuating the frequencies that your Moabs are already putting out. They are doing nothing constructive.

We have not seen evidence of this, yet. So far all we have see is the sub response, and that the sub is too loud.  However, yes, the future of this system should be correctly integrating the sub with the main speakers.  One step at a time.

OP:  I just noticed that your main speakers are ported.  I am going to suggest you plug them before attempting to integrate with the subs.
geared4me's avatar
geared4me
219 posts
 
Pinwa, I will put this to you straight. You have a fundamental misunderstanding of how your system works and how to incorporate a subwoofer into it. You can take a million measurements but you will not achieve your goal with the way you are trying to set this up. The volume control that turns the sound to your speakers up and down must also be the one turning the sound to your subs up and down. You can not send a fixed level signal from your dac to the subs while adjusting the speaker volume from your integrated amp and ever expect them to be at the proper level to blend. Due to the kind of integrated amp you are using you have bought the wrong subwoofers.
kenjit
1,771 posts
 
You can not send a fixed level signal from your dac to the subs while adjusting the speaker volume from your integrated amp and ever expect them to be at the proper level to blend.
yes you can. you just adjust the sub every time you adjust the volume. 
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