Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Subwoofers

Hi: The crossover is in the sub. I have it set for 80 Hz, but I seem to have to change it for every different CD I put in. I'll back it down to 40 Hz as you have recommended. Volume on the sub is at 11 o'clock. In regards to the phase, I've tried switching between 0 degrees and 180 degrees - no discernable difference. I just can't seem to blend the sub with the M60's. But if I connect the amp to the sub's LFE input, I get the full spectrum of music - it just sounds like an ordinary speaker.
You are right in that I was listening to the sub, rather than the M60's and sub together - I'll correct that flaw in further testing.
I'm using a lot of organ music, the theme song to Jurrasic Park, and Time Warps. My son also has some music with a lot of bass - boy is that painful to listen to.

I'll just take that gawd-awful CD my son has, and set the CD player to repeat track1. This should encourage me to get the testing over quickly.

It may just be that this particular sub is better suited to HT, and simply won't blend with the M60s. You might want to try a sealed design for music (I have a sealed 12" sub). One example I can think of off the top of my head is the EP400, but I am sure there are others out there that might suit your budget better.

That said, the SVS and Axiom ported subs that I have heard have substantially added to music. Sadly, I haven't heard any Hsu subwoofers yet, but those are supposed to be quite good for music as well.

BTW, you want to hear all of the music out of the sub, to a point. It sounds like the crossover in the sub may not be working--does the sound change when you adjust it? At 40 Hz, you shouldn't be hearing anywhere near all of the music.

Thanks for the reference.

I can't hear anything coming out of the sub at 40 Hz.

I agree with your last paragraph: "BTW, you want to hear all of the music out of the sub, to a point. It sounds like the crossover in the sub may not be working--does the sound change when you adjust it? At 40 Hz, you shouldn't be hearing anywhere near all of the music."

Polk says to send the DSP board back to whence it came.

Most likely when using the LFE input on the Polk it bypasses the internal crossover.

Ah, I was trying to figure out what on earth was the difference between the LFE input and the regular inputs.

I don't recall either, but the name LFE (low frequency effects) suggests that energy is so far down in the spectrum, that you will feel it, not hear it.
Now don't anybody take this as a fact, it's just my guess.

No, that's just the generic name for the .1 channel (bass effects) in Dolby Digital, DTS, etc. That channel need not incorporate all bass in the production, but is often used for that by pre/pros or receivers when the speakers are set to small.

In short, it's something of a nebulous term, and I'm guessing Rick has the right of it.