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SVS SUB BETTER WITH LOW PASS FILTER OFF

After endless tweaking and experimentation, I have concluded beyond a shadow of a doubt, my system sounds profoundly better by turning OFF the SVS "low pass filter"! My amp has a sub out with a filter option set at 80 db's. Like all good audiophiles I carefully followed instructions, searched google to tweak all settings. I tried all variables in frequency. Until one fateful day, for no special reason, I turned it OFF. "WAIT", I said to myself. This sounds better. "Can't be!" "It must be boomy, or bloated, or congested .....or something bad. NO, it wasn't. It not only sounded more cohesive but the "hole" in the sound stage was gone. (I had a sense there was a perceptible hole in the musical picture which kept vaguely appearing which destroyed the whole overall enjoyment. I'm interested if anyone else has tried this heretical approach?

allears4u
bassbuyer
143 posts
 

Glad you found the settings that work for you in your unique room.  Agree we need to see pictures your room sounds cool.  I have a pair of SVS SB1000 Pros.  My 2 preamp sub outs are also fixed with no adjustments available so like you I have the crossovers setting on the SVS app for each sub set to “off”.  It sounds great.  The one thing I will adjust is the sub volume as needed on the app depending on the music I’m listening to.  If the bass starts to overwhelm I’ll turn it down a few dbs or occasionally up.  Usually have them set to -12 db. As instructed in the SVS manual. 

erik_squires
16,201 posts
 

The most vexing and confounding problem I know of is how different speakers measure once in a real room, and how different each room is.  I'd go mad if I tried setting up a subwoofer by specs alone.  Some may argue that I "went mad" instead, but potato potatoe.

erik_squires
16,201 posts
 

Also, hot tip:  If adding a sub to ported mains try sealing the main speakers.  That often leads to easier integration and less distortion.

porchlight1's avatar
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porchlight1
35 posts
 

Curious:  Does the 80Hz subwoofer setting on your amp also have a high pass on the mains; ie cutting off the bass to your LaScala’s below 80Hz?

amtprod's avatar
amtprod
108 posts
 

What @erik_squires said is pretty much dead on:

The only heresy I know is trying to do this all without measurements first.  I mean, it's dogma, but I find getting this right by ear alone is so random. 

Bloom and bloat IMHO had more to do with room modes, where a little EQ can go a long long way.

Glad you found a setting that works for you."

 

I have a very odd shaped living room listening space, and the speakers are set in an odd spot.  I -need- a sub, but room nodes were a nightmare to figure out.  I found a website that you plug in your floor plan dimensions, and it literally shows you every frequency and where it nulls or blooms in your space. This helped me narrow down the worst frequencies.  Then my step dad made me an electronic notch filter and I could 'dial back' those specific frequencies to at least some extent.  Then I would sit and play each bass frequency, check it's level, tweak the notch filter, and adjust.  Like Erik said, it's basically doing some basic EQ tweaking. 

I will say that for the money, it pays dividends to find a mechanical mean to limit any bloom you have from the sub itself by moving it around to a potentially better location.  Again, web sites that plot room nodes can give you near exact spots.  

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