Now that you have a subwoofer, the next step is to learn how to set it up. Learn the steps on how to set up your new subwoofer below.
Adding a subwoofer can significantly boost the audio quality of your home theater system. When you are using standard speakers alone, the sound is more scattered and there are gaps. Speakers are not built to catch low-frequency sounds. It is the reason why there are poor dynamics in standard speakers, which makes listening to music and watching movies less enjoyable.
The primary function of a subwoofer is to pick up the bass. It fills the gaps in standard speakers, which results in the creation of fuller and richer three-dimensional sound. It makes you “feel” the sound rather than only hearing it.
Aside from enhancing bass output, subwoofers also improved the midrange and treble definition of the main speakers. If you have never used a subwoofer before and add one, you can easily notice the difference. If you don’t have a subwoofer, now is the time to get one. You can check out this list to find out the highly recommended subwoofer this year.
While using a subwoofer has a positive effect on home theater sound quality, a wrong installation reduces its performance. Thus, it is important to know how to set up a subwoofer correctly to ensure the best sound experience.
Step 1: Read the Manual
Subwoofers usually come with an instructional manual from the manufacturer. Read the manual before tweaking the sound equipment. Familiarize yourself with the equipment to avoid mistakes when connecting the subwoofer to the home theater system. Also, reading the manual will help make the installation process faster.
Step 2: Connect
Connecting a subwoofer to a home theater system is easy. All home theater systems have receivers or processors, and a set-up menu that guides you where to connect the subwoofer.
All you have to do is run audio interconnect cable from the home theater system’s receiver’s subwoofer output to the subwoofer’s line input. Some subwoofers have an input labeled LFE. Use that input to connect to the receiver.
Step 3: Set up the Controls
Subwoofers have a crossover frequency that determines the highest notes the subwoofer can play. If the crossover frequency is too high, it can ruin the sonic performance of the device. Set it too high and you’ll hear an ear-splitting bass, and when you set it too low, the equipment will create weird squeaky sounds.
The ideal frequency to start is 80hz. From there, you can adjust the actual frequency of the subwoofer to your preference.
Step 4: Find the Correct Subwoofer Placement
The best placement for subwoofers is either on the corner, at the front, or under the couch or table. However, most professionals would suggest doing a crawl before positioning a subwoofer.
Crawl is a method of searching for the best subwoofer positioning by listening to its sound. You need to play music with the bass line in the loop. Next, kneel on the floor and listen carefully where the bass sound is more solid. After doing so, position the subwoofer on the place where the sound is more defined.