PSW 111 Trouble

[ebertsj]

Hey folks. Finally got my first non-HTIB surround sound setup hooked up yesterday. RTI A1 fronts, CSI A4 center, FXI A4 surrounds, PSW 111 sub, and Onkyo TX-SR607 a/v receiver. Now on with my question. After getting everything set up, I tried to run the audyssey auto cal and am getting the speaker error after testing the subwoofer. The woofer is connected via RCA SUB out to Right Line/LFE in. I have to turn the volume almost all the way up to get minimal bass response from the sub. What's going on here?

[Mon40CSMM10]

I can only think of one other thing, assuming the subwoofer is not defective--Phase switch set to 180 instead of 0?

[ebertsj]

It was set to 180 and not 0 so I tried switching that and running the test again. Same error detected. Sp Detect Err! I'm frustrated.

[jwm2]

Try connecting it via both left and right inputs on the 111 and outputs on the 607. Thats how i've got mine setup right now and it seems to produce quite abit of bass. Also turn the freq knob all the way to LFE (160hz) and turn the volume knob just past half way. Maybe try it with some music and make sure the subwoofer is working, if it is then run the setup again and see what happens.

[ebertsj]

The sub is working but you have to turn the volume on the sub all the way up. Unfortunately I don't have an extra sub cord to try the method you mentioned earlier. The sub doesn't sound too bad with the sub's volume on max but I know it isn't working correctly.

[jwm2]

In my setup it seems to lack power when just using one rca cable connected to the right side on both the avr and woofer. When i add the second cable (well other side as i have a stereo rca cable) it works wonderfully. I don't know your situation, but i'd give it a try and see what you think. I have mine set at 2/3 of the way up on the knob but its -10db on the AVR side as thats how audessy set it when i last ran the setup mic for it. My old subwoofer is what i used when i ran it, and thats probably why its set like that. I can probably raise it up alittle on the AVR side and back it down on the knob to get the same results, but i like how its working now and don't feel like fussing with it at the moment. Its nice to enjoy something and not spend all my time tinkering, as these days it seems all i do is tinker with things.

[ebertsj]

Thanks jwm2. I have my sub now hooked up with 2 RCA jacks like you mentioned. It seems to sound a little better. I turned the sub setting to +5 on my receiver and obviously get bass. That may be the real reason I am noticing a difference but none the less the auto cal still isn't working correctly. I guess I may just have to go to RadioShack and buy a handheld sound reader. I think this is my only other option and maybe this is the best bet in the first place.

[Mon40CSMM10]

Try connecting it via both left and right inputs on the 111 and outputs on the 607. Thats how i've got mine setup right now and it seems to produce quite abit of bass.

I tried that--turning off Loudness, setting the crossover back to 80 Hz, used a Y-adaptor from the single Subwoofer/LFE output on the receiver, connected an RCA cable to each of the Y-adaptor connectors, then connecting one RCA cable to the L subwoofer input and the other RCA cable to the R/LFE input.

Thank you very much for that suggestion. I use a PSW 110, rather than a PSW 111, but that solution still solved my problem with not having good enough bass instrument response despite having more than good enough bass drum response.

(I'll continue using that suggested connection method, instead of enabling Loudness, if it doesn't create any significant extra load on the receiver.)