Do you adjust your subwoofer

Aerial sw12, I bump in up for my some of my boom boom visitors, other than that not much.

About 9 months ago, I added in an SVS Micro3000 subwoofer to my system. I have Charney Audio MaestroX speakers which are single-driver speakers and opted for the expensive AER-BD3 drivers. The MaestroX’s with those drivers are very revealing and cover the frequency range from ~ 60hz through 20Khz very well. My in-room measurements and confirmed by listening showed me that I really needed some good, taut reinforcement of those frequencies below 70hz. I really missed the lower bass frequencies as the MaestroX’s roll-off rather quickly with their horn-loaded bass. After some research, I decided to get the SVS sub. I found placing it directly in front of my amp-rack for my listening was the best physical position for it. The SVS sub has a great software program that on the fly, you can change volume, frequency roll-off, and speed of the roll-off among other parameters. After playing with it for about a month or so, I settled on the best parameters for my normal listening and it has added seamlessly to the bass response. I just let my set parameters stay no matter what music I’m listening to. The only time I change the volume parameter on the sub is when I switch my stereo amplifier with a different one. When going from an amp that has different power levels and different input volume to max output for the main speakers, that can obviously change how the sub sounds with relation to the main speakers output. So when I switch amplifiers, I just boost or attenuate the sub output level to match my favorite listening level. That’s really the only time that I change the sub parameters, once I got it dialed-in and balanced with the main speakers.

@liquidsound 

You are on the right path. Might I suggest a second subwoofer and a complete two way crossover so you can put a high pass filter on your main speakers. This will lower distortion and increase headroom dramatically. This is just, if not more important than the added bass a subs brings to the table. This is especially true with full range drivers. The second subwoofer will smooth the bass response throughout the room a little better. Subs perform best up against the wall and in corners, but in order to time align them with the main speakers you need digital bass management. 

@mijostyn 

Thanks for your suggestions...  I have thought about adding a second sub for a more balanced 2-channel sound (cutting the volume by ~3db...).  I have a rather small listening-space (not really a room).  And space is at a premium, especially for sub placement.  I tried several positions with the sub including corners until I found that placing it directly in front of the amp rack sounded the most seamless and balanced.  Since my speakers are single driver and crossover-less, I didn't want to add in any crossover just letting the internal sub adjustments handle the crossover slope/frequency/volume...  I wouldn't mind trying some of your suggestions in the future as I do enjoy tweaking my system.  I just auditioned and bought Iconoclast interconnects/speaker cables which are a notable improvement in my enjoyment.  

Thanks again !  

@liquidsound 

That is probably where the sub is best time aligned with your main speakers. With digital bass management you can put the subs anywhere they produce the best bass and time align them digitally. 

 I also use full range drivers (ESLs). Are you familiar with Doppler Distortion? If a car passes you with the driver leaning on the horn just as the car passes you the horn changes pitch. Unless there is a large capacitor on your full range drivers they are still moving to low frequencies even if they can not project them. They are moving towards you then away from you and just like the car they are Doppler Distorting all other music they are carrying which for people like us with full range drivers is EVERYTHING! Putting a high pass filter (the other 1/2 of a two way crossover) on your full range driver lowers distortion and increases headroom dramatically. It is not a subtle difference. I cross at 100 Hz 48 dB/oct. It does require a leap of faith because the only way you can do slopes this steep without causing problems is digitally and many audiophiles are also digital phobic. I have been using subwoofers since 1978 and it was a love/hate relationship until digital signal processing arrived in the mid 1990s with TacT Audio. Conversions back and forth in 192/24 digital are sonically invisible. Once you are in numbers you can go almost anywhere you want without any added distortion. Once you have everything set up as you want it you convert back to analog as the very last step.

There are other advantages besides sub management. High resolution EQ is one. We locate sound by volume and phase. If a sound is louder in the left channel you hear it to the left. The problem is that not two identical speakers have exactly the same frequency response curve. Put them in different locations and their curves can be wildly different. I just measured a set of Magico S7s that were down 8 dB at 500 Hz in one channel! What do you think this is going to do to the image? With digital EQ you can adjust each speaker's response curve so that the channels are identical producing the best image. It is way more important for the curves to be identical than flat.