ideal settings for a Paradigm PW2200 sub?

[SAWYER]

I have had this sub for a few years and it's great, but I have never actually messed with the settings on the back. What would be good settings to try for a room about 12x18? I use it with Paradigm Monitor 3's up front and a Paradigm cc370 center.

 

[BD2003]

It would be hard give you any generalized ideal settings - subs need to be tuned to their environment. You can certainly get helpful guidance, but you'd need to start with listing what settings you have available to modify.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

One thing to check first is the crossover setting on both the receiver and the subwoofer. You could potentially have a gap in your frequency response if they're set up incorrectly.

You'll also want to check out the level and phase of the sub to match with the rest of the system. Section 3.1 of the sticky guide has info about doing this as well as finding a good place for the subwoofer.

 

[SAWYER]

The sub is in the front-left corner, it sounds fine but I was wondering since I have never actually messed with the settings on it.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

So the basics just to make sure

Receiver has all speakers set to small and what's the crossover set to on the receiver?

What's the crossover set to on the sub?

 

[s44]

If your receiver has level-matching and bass management, it should handle things fine out of the box. I guess you could tweak the phase (flip from one side to the other, see which setting gives you more bass)...

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: s44
If your receiver has level-matching and bass management, it should handle things fine out of the box. I guess you could tweak the phase (flip from one side to the other, see which setting gives you more bass)...

I believe he has a continuously variable phase adjustment rather than just a switch.

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: s44
If your receiver has level-matching and bass management, it should handle things fine out of the box. I guess you could tweak the phase (flip from one side to the other, see which setting gives you more bass)...

I believe he has a continuously variable phase adjustment rather than just a switch.

Same thing, though, flip from zero to 180... In the middle doesn't seem to do anything.

 

[Noubourne]

Originally posted by: s44
If your receiver has level-matching and bass management, it should handle things fine out of the box. I guess you could tweak the phase (flip from one side to the other, see which setting gives you more bass)...

Actually, most of them do not set bass management properly out of the box.

They often over-estimate your other speakers. You always need to make sure they are set to "small" - or that the crossover is working.

Just messing with the phase knob isn't going to do you any good without some test tones and an SPL meter at a minimum.

If you are going to back up and start doing proper configuration, the best place to start is with placement and the crawl test.

Corner-loading might make it sound loud, but that isn't necessarily the best spot for sound quality. I found in my room, that having it NEAR the corner, but placed slightly out of it along one wall provided the best sounding bass. It was too "boomy" smack dab in the corner - and of course that is just my room.