Adjust at the preamp if you have that functionality. Otherwise leave alone.
Subwoofer adjustment for each recording
I have dual REL subwoofers using high level speaker out connections as recommended by REL. I have KEF LS50 meta speakers. I am happy with my subwoofer crossover and volume settings most of the time. However, with some recordings the bass seems too strong. Should I adjust the bass at the subwoofer? Should I adjust the bass with my preamp? Should I just listen to the music as is, since this is what the producer, engineer, or musician wanted. Thanks.
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Right. Because, bass perception is highly variable and this is even on top of recording levels. The same music that seems to have too much bass will sound just right at a lower volume. This is where the Loudness switch came from, to turn bass up a lot so it sounds right when listening at a lower volume. What this means is you have two choices. One, you can mess around constantly tweaking level from one song to the next and every time you change the volume. Or two, you can listen to a lot of stuff just like normal and make a mental note how things sound. Then after a while if it seems on balance it would be better a little more or a little less make a very small - very small - adjustment. That is what Duke recommended, and that is the way I did mine, and it works great. Nothing ever is perfect, but overall everything sounds great. |
Does the statement "seems too strong" mean you don't actually enjoy the stronger bass on these recordings....or....you enjoy it but don't know if you are supposed to enjoy it? For my two cents, the system/tuning/music should always be to what sounds good too you and not to some supposed what the recording engineer intended. Also, I suspect that people often adapt to the recording that have stronger bass, get used to that stronger bass and then wonder if other recordings have too little bass? |
The relationship your subwoofers have with the rest of your system should be stable. If the bass on a certain recording is too strong for you then use a bass tone control if you have one. Well integrated subwoofers should not need any adjustment. Poorly integrated subs can be all over the place with different recordings. I know what REL says. Their method of integrating subs is for people who do not want to spend any more money to do it right. The right way is to use only low level connections and a dedicated 2 way crossover like this one https://www.minidsp.com/products/minidsp-in-a-box/minidsp-2x4-hd. |