Yamaha sub integration

[aogemini]

To whom it may concern,

I currently have the following system:

2 Polk RTi12 (Front channel)
1 Polk CSi5 (Center channel)
2 Polk FXi5 (Surround channel)
1 Yamaha YST SW-1500 powered subwoofer
1 Yamaha RX-V2500 A/V Receiver
1 Monster HTS 5100 Power Conditioner Signature Series
My speaker cable are made by Soundations with termination ends using Monster banana plugs and spade.

I have completed hooking up my system 2 weeks ago and luckily there are no humming noise or feedback signal being heard.

How can I better integrate my subwoofer to get the best possible clean, tight bass output from it. Currently, it sounds like the subwoofer is a little boomy instead a clean, tight bass. The position of the sub is not on a corner. It is against the wall next to my right channel speaker.

Please advise.

Thanks,
Art Ortega

[VR3]

Buy a new subwoofer :) (Seriously)

Until then...

Keep the crossover around or below 60hz (80hz = BAD!!!)

[ND13]

Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
Buy a new subwoofer :) (Seriously)

Until then...

Keep the crossover around or below 60hz (80hz = BAD!!!)

+1,

[Early B.]

1. Turn the volume on the sub down. Most people have it up too high.

2. Screw around with placement.

3. Buy a better sub.

Sorry, but a Yamaha sub is gonna be somewhat boomy no matter what you do. I used to own one. Then I tried Hsu and SVS. Problem solved.

[unc2701]

Does it have a port? Try stuffing a sock/fiberfill into it. That'll help some.

[michael_w]

You could try pulling it from the wall a bit (if possible). You will loose some room gain the farther you get from walls but if it can handle working a little harder it would probably clean up the sound a bit. What is under it? Carpet, hardwood floor, concrete? Since it is downfiring it probably makes a bit of a difference what it is sitting on top of :) Is that a powerport style thing on the bottom of the sub?

[aogemini]

I have made a few adjustments to try and minimize the boominess. I have lowered the volume and kept the crossover frequency to nomore than 80 Hz. I guess I will try moving it farther and farther away from the wall and see if it cleans up a little. The flooring is carpet but I do have a crawl space underneath the house which magnifies the boominess since it is not a solid flooring.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I will keep playing with it and see what happens.

The suggestion of changing the subwoofer is not an option because the SVS and HSU subs are good subs but are beyond my price range. Note, I did not pay full price on my Yamaha. B&H Photo is an authorized Yamaha dealer and they have it on sale from $1000 down to $450 for a brand new unit!!! It was a deal that was hard to pass up. I have greatly exceeded my financial budget on my first phase of home theater improvement. Initially, I had a budget of $3500 for a 5.1 system, A/V receiver, and power conditioner. In the end, I spent slightly under $5000.

Keep the suggestion coming...

Thanks again.

[MaxxuM]

That’s really not a bad sub – not one of the top models, but heck, who can afford a 1000+ sub!

Boomy subs usually can be cured in a few easy steps, but what makes a boomy sub boomy? Usually it’s because of two major reasons, acoustics and/or poor bass management. Here are some things I have done to cure problems like yours:

First, if your speakers are not set to small, do so (for all speakers). Cross them all over at whatever Hz is the highest low of all your speakers (for example, if your smallest speakers can go down to 50Hz set your crossover for all your speakers to 60Hz) and then your sub to take over at that point. If that point is further down than your sub (which I doubt) then set the crossover on all your speakers to the lowest point the sub can go. Make sure your bass and treble on your receiver are set at zero or flat.

Second, set your sub to -3dB in the receiver setup for the lfe/sub port.

Third, turn the subwoofer gain or volume down to zero (minimum) and the frequency to its lowest point. Leave the phase at 0.

Forth, go find yourself the most bass intensive DVD and as it plays have someone raise the volume on the sub until it gets boomy (while you sit and listen in your favorite viewing spot). Now, turn it back a few notches.

Fifth, start raising the frequency until you have good integration between speakers (this part takes a ‘long’ time with you listening to a variety of DVDs and music to find that point which makes you happy).

Now, acoustics… You may find that a raised home can cause all sorts of problems. What I have done in the past is to us ½ inch rubber atop ½ granite tiles beneath the subwoofer (I believe that sub is down firing, right?). This helps get rid of ‘A LOT’ of boomyness and keeps the house from rattling too. Personally, I would try this trick before doing the steps above as it may just cure your entire problem.