Crossover settings for SL3 with JL Fathom 113 sub??? Need advice

[gordonmenninger]

I just received my second Fathom today and I am hooking each sub up as a MASTER using a Y-splitter out of my Theta Casa Nova Processor. Unfortunately, my Theta had a little hickup yesterday and lost all its prior settings... I cannot remember which type of Crossover I used in the Theta (it has 3: Linkwitz Reiley, Butterworth, and Perfect Phase) in addition to the Slope settings! I had the one Fathom sounding sooo good, and I just can't get it back to the same levels...

What do you guy suggest as far as the Crossover settings? 80 hz or 100 hz? What type of Crossover would work best with the SL3, and what slope???

Both subs are in the 2 front corners, right behind the left and right speakers.

Thanks in advance for any help!!!

Gordon

 

[JonFo]

I just received my second Fathom today and I am hooking each sub up as a MASTER using a Y-splitter out of my Theta Casa Nova Processor. Unfortunately, my Theta had a little hickup yesterday and lost all its prior settings... I cannot remember which type of Crossover I used in the Theta (it has 3: Linkwitz Reiley, Butterworth, and Perfect Phase) in addition to the Slope settings! I had the one Fathom sounding sooo good, and I just can't get it back to the same levels...

What do you guy suggest as far as the Crossover settings? 80 hz or 100 hz? What type of Crossover would work best with the SL3, and what slope???

Both subs are in the 2 front corners, right behind the left and right speakers.

Thanks in advance for any help!!!

Gordon

Hi Gordon,

I’d suggest using 80Hz, perfect phase, 24 dB/octave.

If that does not sound the best, then a Linkwitz Reily, at 24/dB octave (or 4th-order).

Cheers,

 

[gordonmenninger]

Great! I will try that out! So a steep slope is what we are looking for here, corrrect?

 

[twich54]

Great! I will try that out! So a steep slope is what we are looking for here, corrrect?

I'll let Jonathan answer as well, but given his recomendation of an 80hz number, I suspect one would want the steep slope for the sub to "get out of the way" ASAP.

 

[C.A.P]

Two subs is not always the answer. One sub can sometimes out due two in the same room. You are dealing with phase cancellations. I would try both subs 180* different from each other. Also the front corners my load the bass but its not always the best bass. Try one dead between your speakers and one dead behind you 180 out of phase with each other . You may be amazed.

http://www.harman.com/wp/pdf/multsubs.pdf

 

[Statman]

Two subs is not always the answer. One sub can sometimes out due two in the same room. You are dealing with phase cancellations. I would try both subs 180* different from each other. Also the front corners my load the bass but its not always the best bass. Try one dead between your speakers and one dead behind you 180 out of phase with each other . You may be amazed.

http://www.harman.com/wp/pdf/multsubs.pdf[/QUOTE


C.A.P.,

In my own personal experience two subwoofers sound better than the one. When using one Fathom the room was filled with deep tight bass. When I added my second sub the bass was still deep,tight and also low but the room actually was "pressurized" better when demanding passages were played. The other thing that worked for me was the bass seemed "smoother" in it's room response. I agree on trying different positions in the room until it sounds right. I ended up with mine directly behind my mains but slightly away from the front corners.

Cheers,

Vern

 

[Statman]

I just received my second Fathom today and I am hooking each sub up as a MASTER using a Y-splitter out of my Theta Casa Nova Processor. Unfortunately, my Theta had a little hickup yesterday and lost all its prior settings... I cannot remember which type of Crossover I used in the Theta (it has 3: Linkwitz Reiley, Butterworth, and Perfect Phase) in addition to the Slope settings! I had the one Fathom sounding sooo good, and I just can't get it back to the same levels...

What do you guy suggest as far as the Crossover settings? 80 hz or 100 hz? What type of Crossover would work best with the SL3, and what slope???

Both subs are in the 2 front corners, right behind the left and right speakers.

Thanks in advance for any help!!!

Gordon

Gordon,

Hey sorry I didn't reply to your e-mail I've been really busy. Hopefully you have your answer here from the brains here at ML forum.:bowdown:

Nothing really to add except try experimenting with crossover points. I also would try the 80hz setting in your system. I tried 80hz @12db slope and again 80hz @24db slope. The 12db slope for me provided tighter more integrated bass in my own setup. Trust your ears!

 

[Rich]

Two subs is not always the answer. One sub can sometimes out due two in the same room. You are dealing with phase cancellations. I would try both subs 180* different from each other. Also the front corners my load the bass but its not always the best bass. Try one dead between your speakers and one dead behind you 180 out of phase with each other . You may be amazed.

http://www.harman.com/wp/pdf/multsubs.pdf

I have to respectfully disagree with CAP here. Two subs will always give a more even overall bass response in a room than one sub, IF they are properly placed and setup. Obviously, you are dealing with the hard part right now, which is figuring out proper placement and setup.

 

[gordonmenninger]

Thanks for the input. I agree with your post as well - I had the EXACT same experience! The low end just seems like having more headroom (and at the levels I listen to it that means something ) and yes, the room seems alot more pressurized. I also have mine right behind each left and right speakers at an angle to the corner (since I have my bass trap straddled against the corner). By the way, with recommendation from JL audio I have hooked each sub up as Master and NOT Master / Slave. JL said that from what they have experienced it offers slightly better performance... Interesting.
Crossover I have chosen Linkwitz Reiley 80 HZ, 24 db right now with good results.

Two subs is not always the answer. One sub can sometimes out due two in the same room. You are dealing with phase cancellations. I would try both subs 180* different from each other. Also the front corners my load the bass but its not always the best bass. Try one dead between your speakers and one dead behind you 180 out of phase with each other . You may be amazed.

http://www.harman.com/wp/pdf/multsubs.pdf[/QUOTE


C.A.P.,

In my own personal experience two subwoofers sound better than the one. When using one Fathom the room was filled with deep tight bass. When I added my second sub the bass was still deep,tight and also low but the room actually was "pressurized" better when demanding passages were played. The other thing that worked for me was the bass seemed "smoother" in it's room response. I agree on trying different positions in the room until it sounds right. I ended up with mine directly behind my mains but slightly away from the front corners.

Cheers,

Vern