Another Sub Q: Is my sub mismatched with speakers?


I have floorstanding speakers that go from 35Hz on up. I have a subwoofer that the lowest it will crossover is 50Hz. Are my speakers and subwoofer competing at some of the same frequencies? I read that the subwoofer should start crossing over at about 5Hz below the lowest the mains will go. In other words, my sub should be crossing over at 30Hz to match up better with my mains, right?

Am I nuts here?
matchstikman

Showing 1 response by seandtaylor99

I think that if you run your main speakers full range you have to set the sub crossover below the mains. So I think 30Hz is a fair guess for where you would have to cross.
My guess is that the crossover at 50Hz will result in boomy, muddy bass. It's pretty clearly audible if there's too much overlap, and it doesn't sound good.

As I see it you have two choices ... either put a high pass filter on the main speakers to take them to about 60Hz cutoff (I think that ACI, makers of the Titan sub sell passive filters for this purpose). Another filter option is to get an active crossover, but these can be expensive.

The second option is to get a new sub like a REL which can crossover at 30Hz or below. REL goes to 22Hz as its lowest crossover frequency, and I think this is a key reason for REL works so well with so many speakers.