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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
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,205 posts
 
I need to do some further investigation about the pros and cons of a) leaving things as they are with the tube amp connected to the DAC’s RCA output and the Subs connected by XLR cables.
A pair of in-line xlr attenuator may help.
https://www.parts-express.com/Search.aspx?keyword=In-Line%20XLR%20Attenuator&sitesearch=true
pinwa OP
287 posts
 
imhififan Interesting suggestion.  I wish they came in 5 or 7 db attenuation.  -10 starts taking the problem in the other direction LOL.
jaulbrich's avatar
jaulbrich
22 posts
 
Sell thoses beasts and get a stereo pair of REL 812's.  You will find they integrate seamlessly with your mains and the sound is superb.  I also own JL's.  They sound great after a few weeks of tuning the gain, crossover and room position  but not even close to the disappearing act of the REL's.  With the REL's you will forget there are subs and yo will think the drums and bass are right in front of you.
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