Are you not sure what the main differences are between low bass sounds and subsonic frequencies?
Does your home theater system make weird sounds that don’t seem to come from anywhere in particular?
Are you having trouble deciding if a crossover at 80 Hz or 120 Hz is better for your subwoofer setup?
If that’s the case, you’re in the right place.
In this blog post, we’ll learn why it’s so important to have the right crossover point for the best sound quality.
This feature is very helpful for people who want to make their songs fit their own tastes, because it lets them do just that.
You can use the subwoofer’s crossover to make sure that some sounds stand out and others don’t. This gives you more control over the total mix.
You can make the best listening experience for yourself by using the 80hz or 120hz frequencies function on your subwoofer.
With this function, you can change the sound to suit your needs.
Read on for tips that can help you get the best sound with the least amount of distortion.
Subwoofer Crossover 80Hz Or 120Hz?
Most people agree that if your setup has an active sub, you should set all monitors to be small and keep the frequencies you send to them above 80Hz.
When you raise the crossover frequency above 80 Hz, there is a bigger chance that the sound signal going to the subwoofer will become focused on just that part.
Some studies say that 80 Hz is the best frequency for sound shifting because this is the frequency at which a person’s hearing system starts to figure out where sounds are coming from.
This idea is supported by other studies.
By the way, the way bass is controlled in commercial movie theaters is the same as what is explained here.
Also, it has the support of THX, which means that speakers that have been approved by them don’t even have to be able to play the 80 Hz or 120 Hz subwoofer crossover frequency for them to be recognized.
80hz VS 120hz: Which Is Best For Beginners?
Even though it has been suggested that the crossovers start at 80 Hz, we think that any curve made with these numbers would show that 120 Hz is better.
Still, it seems to us that the 50 Hz drop-off was less noticeable when the crossover was set to 120 Hz than when it was changed to 80 Hz. When the crossover was set to 120 Hz, this was the case.
We still have trouble with room-induced null, which can happen anywhere from 30 to 45 Hz.
We always use a 120 Hz crossover because it cuts down on standing waves. This is because many smaller rooms have a resonant point where the bass stops and the midrange starts.
This is because the bass ends in the dip and the midrange takes over.
We do agree on what seems to have the best sound, though.
Based on what we know, the higher cover will make sure that the sound from the system is smooth.
But lowering the frequency might make the sound sound better. A lot depends on how well the mixing works.
I think 80 Hz is going to win, but when I listen to music on my home theater system with the bass in the middle of my speakers, 120 Hz sounds much better.
The company that made my premium 6.5-inch car speakers says that they play clearly down to 80 Hz, which would make 80 Hz an ideal crossover point.
Even though many different kinds of acoustic equipment are being used, the speakers only give the idea that they can make sounds below 200 hertz.
If I don’t let the subwoofer take care of it with a 120-hertz crossover, there is a big drop around 120 hertz that makes the sound less powerful.
What Is The Best Subwoofer Crossover Frequency?
Most people suggest 80 Hertz as the standard frequency for home theater setups right out of the box.
You can change the crossover of the network to be anywhere between 40 Hz and 250 Hz, based on which setting gives your system the best sound quality.
With the Audyssey MultEQ program, you can change the built-in crossover, which is then copied to your subwoofer when the setup is done.
Still, here are a few things to think about when choosing the crossing frequency:
- Maintain a frequency below 200 Hz in order to avoid drawing undue attention to the location of the subwoofer. The range should be lower than 100 Hz, ideally.
- The housing of the majority of satellites will feature ventilation. Find out the frequency at which it resonates, and then make an attempt to sing at least an octave higher than that.
- If there is a choice of order option (6 dB/oct, 12 dB/Oct, etc.), you should experiment with the lowest level that still performs well.
It is imperative that you do not minimize the relevance of the positioning of the subwoofer or, if necessary, the acoustical correction of your listening location.
Is 120hz Good For a Subwoofer?
Most home subwoofers should work well up to 120 Hz, which is the lowest frequency that can be heard. But the frequency response of many, if not most, will start to roll off between 18 and 25 Hz (and beyond).
If you connect your main speakers to your subwoofer at a frequency of 120 Hz or less, you won’t need your subwoofer to do anything above that.
You might want to test your system with crossover points that are higher than “normal” for the smaller “satellite” speakers it has.
Most of the time, 80 hertz gives the best results because of a number of factors.
Yet, when the frequency of the sound is much lower than 120 Hz or even 150 Hz, small monitors often start to make sounds that are pinched or scratchy.
This is especially true when the level is turned all the way up.
If you could get accurate measurements of how your loudspeakers respond to different frequencies, you could use that knowledge to figure out how to set up the crossover.
Does 80Hz Work Well For A Subwoofer?
For example, a sub works better with a crossover set at 80 Hz than with a crossover set at 100 Hz or 120 Hz.
When the crossing frequency is higher than 80 Hz, the sound from the subwoofer is much less sharp and clear, and it seems murkier or has deeper bass.
If there was only a crossover at 80 Hz, the bass tones between 80 and 120 Hz would not be as tight or sharp as they are. However, this change is not very important.
With the second option, the lower and mid-bass sounds seem to be more controlled and clear.
A lot depends on what kind of fronts you have.
If you have small shelves for fronts, you will get the most out of the subwoofer by using above 80 because they don’t grow down 80 very well.
Why Is The 80 Hz Crossover The Best?
Most people can’t hear bass sounds that are lower than 100 hertz.
Because it is set to 80 Hz, the crossover will make it hard for most people to figure out where the deep bass is coming from.
Most people will feel less real if there is more overlap.
Even if they go below 80Hz, many loudspeakers don’t have a smooth response below that frequency, so the normal mid-fi setup doesn’t need a deeper crossover.
Since it takes a lot more energy to make a tone at 50 Hz than at 100 Hz, why not let the sub do what it was made to do?
If you do this, the bass from the loudspeakers may sound clearer, and there will be less chance of splitting at standard settings.
It is also the best because it meets the requirements set by THX.
How to Set a Subwoofer’s Crossover Frequency Correctly?
Your subwoofer’s crossover frequency is the frequency at which your loudspeakers start to lose sound and your subwoofer begins to play bass tones and low-frequency effects (LFEs).
Most modern audio-video (AV) speakers come with an auto-EQ option that analyzes your speakers to figure out the best crossover frequency and then puts it into effect right away.
Most of the time, you shouldn’t change these choices because it’s strongly suggested that you don’t.
Here are some tips for getting the best results when changing the crossover frequencies in a two-channel or stereo audio system that uses an AV processor, preamp, or DSP subwoofer.
To get the best bass control results, it helps to test and listen carefully.
If you know how your monitors’ frequency range works, you should set the crossover point to about 10 Hz.
This is a lot higher than the lowest frequency at which your monitors will make any sound.
The THX standard says that the crossover frequency should be 80 Hz, which is also the most frequent frequency.
Here are some standard suggestions for the frequency at which speakers and subwoofers should cross over:
- Little loudspeakers that are mounted on the wall or “satellites” mounted on the wall: 150–200 Hz.
- 100–120 Hz should be used for a bookshelf, a small middle, and surrounds.
- 80–100 Hz for a bookshelf, center channel, and surround speaker of medium size.
- 60–80 Hz should be used for the large center channel, surround, and bookshelf channels.
- 40 to 60 Hz should be heard in the large center, surround, and bookshelf channels.
- 60 Hz for tall loudspeakers with woofers between 4 and 6 inches in diameter.
- High-rise speaker system with woofers ranging from 8 to 10 inches and a frequency response of 40 Hz or large/full band (i.e., full-range).
Make advantage of a Subwoofer Matching Analyzer if you are unclear about the appropriate frequency increases for your loudspeakers. This will help you achieve optimal sound quality.
It will advise you on the optimal crossover frequency for your speaker systems and propose the SVS woofer that would perform best with them.
Additionally, it will advise you on the ideal crossover frequency for your speaker systems.
Check that there is not too much of a difference in the loudness between the speakers and the subwoofer by comparing the two.
The mixing should be so superb that you are unable to identify the source of the bass, and everything should be in sync with one another.
If you detect an increase in the bass at the crossover frequency, you should experiment with adjusting the volume slider so that it matches the performance of your main loudspeakers. If you do not perceive an increase in the bass at the crossover frequency, you may ignore this warning.
Subwoofer Causing Cancellation At 120hz, What To Do?
Imagine that the sequence of your stages is switched around, and that as a result, you reach a peak.
If the audience isn’t responding as well as you’d want, make adjustments to your sub, and keep making those adjustments even after they have.
To make matters even better, get an additional secondary sub (or 4). It will be much easier to transfer a second sub in my arrangement than it will be to transfer this one, and taking into consideration that this specific subtype is now available for purchase, it is probable that this will take place.
You might try restarting Audessey from the beginning of the game where you are now at if you want to play the game again.
It is possible that the cancellation was brought on by an incorrect subphase, but this is only a hypothesis.
There is a high potential for concerns about placement to have an influence on replacements.
Imagine that you had the ability to place the subwoofer in close proximity to where you are sat and then play the “white” sound over it.
As you walk around the home in search of potential placement areas, you should keep an ear out for the spots that provide the loudest sound with the least amount of cancellation as you move from room to room.
Best Crossover Frequency For Live Sound
The suggested crossover frequency (low pass) for the main speakers is 80 Hz.
Because of the transition, the low-frequency sound that could have caused problems in this frequency range is no longer there.
The crossover frequency is the point where the middle bass and full-range bass sound most balanced.
For tweeters and two-way speakers, the best crossover frequency is 3.5 kHz if you want to get a peak passing or bandpass.
Below this range, the quality of these speakers will be less than normal.
For middle speakers and woofers, the crossover frequency should be between 1-3.5 kHz (low pass).
Outside of this band, most middle and bass monitors can’t make sound signals that are good enough quality to be heard.
This means that adding tweeters will help them have better bass.
People think that the best crossover frequency band for three-way speakers is between 500 Hz and 3.5 kHz.
Below 500 hertz, it is not possible for the middle speakers in a three-way system to make a great sound.
Also, if I put in a subwoofer, will that void my warranty? (Revealed)
How Do You Figure Out How Much A Crossover Subwoofer Is?
Using the crossover tools, decide how many monitors you want in your plan.
Choose whether to use two loudspeakers (a bass and a tweeter) or three (a woofer, a middle speaker, and a tweeter) when building a crossover.
Choose one speaker to go on each of the two extra circuits (Zobel and L-pad).
After you use the filter, you can choose the order you want to use.
It’s important to keep in mind that a 2nd-order crossover filter is a good balance between how easy it is to use and how complicated it is.
Enter the impedance you found on the specs sheet for each speaker here.
There should be a way to find it. The acoustic impedance tool can be used to find out more about this feature.
Change “in” to the frequency(s) of the crossing.
When using a two-speaker system, choose a range that can be played back by either of the two loudspeakers by studying their frequency response bands.
You will now find the part numbers for the inductor and capacitor you need for your active crossover study in the section called “Findings.”
When setting up the subwoofer crossover, you want the speakers and subwoofer to touch just the right amount.
Subwoofers can take your system to the next level, but once they do, you won’t even notice they’re there.
When there is not enough overlap, there is inconsistency. When there is too much overlap, there is a peak. When there is just the right amount of overlap, there is unity.
Tips for Proper Crossover Frequency
To get the most out of your audio system, you must ensure that the subwoofer crossover is properly configured.
This will maximize the effectiveness of your system.
Low and high bass notes of the audio signal are separated and sent to various output channels at the subwoofer crossover.
This occurs due to the fact that the subwoofer crossover is the location at which this occurs.
If the subwoofer crossover is not properly adjusted, the resulting sound will be unbalanced, and the listening experience will not be as satisfying as it could be.
The following tips will assist you in maximizing the effectiveness of the crossover settings.
1- Consider the Subwoofer’s Ranges
When selecting an appropriate crossover setting frequency for your loudspeaker system, it is crucial to consider the size of the subwoofer you will be using.
This necessitates taking into account both the maximum and minimum frequencies that the speakers can reproduce.
As a result, all sounds will be transmitted to the speaker crossover and none will be lost in the crossover.
Similarly, ensure that the frequency you select exceeds the maximum frequency of the loudspeaker.
This will prevent the speaker from having to reproduce ambient noises beyond its capabilities.
2-Utilize a Test Tone to Ensure the 80Hz Crossover Level Is Correct
Utilizing a test instrument is an excellent method for confirming that the crossover frequency of your sub is properly adjusted.
This frequency enables the subwoofer to transition between frequency ranges.
This piece of advice will assist you in attaining the best possible sound quality, maximizing the capabilities of your sound system, and keeping track of the date you initiated the thread.
It is crucial to ensure that the crossover frequency setting of your subwoofer is not set to a higher level than is recommended.
Using a test instrument, you can determine whether or not the crossover frequency has been set appropriately and precisely.
If you want the best results, you should begin by setting the frequency to its lowest possible value and progressively increasing it until you hear a clear, audible tone.
After determining the optimal volume, you will be able to confirm that your subwoofer is properly configured and that you are obtaining the best possible sound quality.
3- Employ Filters with a Steep Slope to Prevent Frequency Overlap
In order to achieve the best results possible when employing crossovers, it is essential to select a filter with a steep slope that will prevent frequency overlap.
This can aid in ensuring that the signals of the various speakers you are using are correctly balanced, thereby enhancing the clarity of the sound and reducing the number of standing waves.
Using a filter with a steep inclination, such as a Linkwitz-Riley or Butterworth filter, can help you achieve the clearest and purest transition possible in sound.
4- To avoid distortion, avoid using a crossover frequency that is too high.
If you use a crossover frequency that is too high, the subwoofer’s output sound will be drastically altered.
It is possible for both the speakers and the sound to become distorted and muted.
At the crossover frequency, the signal is divided between the high driver and the low driver. The term for this frequency is “crossover point.”
A suitable crossover frequency is one at which the low-frequency driver can still produce a clear, pure sound and the high-frequency driver can withstand increased sound outputs without distorting the music.
This can be determined by contrasting the sounds of the two drivers.
5- Use a spectrum analyzer to validate the crossover frequency.
A spectrum analyzer is an excellent tool for determining the frequency at which the crossover occurs because it displays the relative intensity of each frequency across the entire frequency range.
Because of this, it is very easy to pinpoint the specific room response frequency required for the crossover.
While using a spectrum analyzer to accurately test the crossover frequency, you should search for the loudest frequency in the range without any bass distortion.
This frequency should then be utilized as the crossover frequency.
Identifying The Best Crossover Point For Your System
Determining the optimal elements for your system may appear to be a difficult procedure, but it doesn’t have to be.
You can obtain the best possible performance from your subwoofer by locating its optimal crossover setting, which can be done in a few simple steps.
The initial step is to determine what type of crossover point will be required.
The answer to this query will depend on the scale and nature of the system you are working with.
If you have a smaller system, you should probably aim for a higher point, as this will result in more accurate sound reproduction.
On larger systems, setting the point lower will ensure that each speaker receives the proper quantity of power to operate at its maximum capacity.
After determining the optimal crossover setting for your subwoofer, the next step is to configure it.
Finding the optimal crossover points for your audio system allows you to get the most out of its capabilities and maximize your investment.
Several essential factors must be taken into account when configuring your crossovers.
These factors include the output of your speakers, the LFE channel and amplifier, and the frequency response of the numerous speakers you are employing.
In addition, you must consider any acoustic remedies you may have implemented in the room, as these will have an effect on the sound output of your system.
Once you’ve considered all of these factors, you’ll be able to determine the optimal crossover option for your system.
This configuration provides the highest sound quality while protecting your primary speakers.
Characteristics Of Subwoofers For Mid Bass
Subwoofers are an essential component of any audio system and contribute to numerous system enhancements.
They are renowned for their power and impact, and their low-end response is exceptional.
The following are some of the most essential characteristics of subwoofers:
- Crafted to replicate sounds with frequencies ranging from 40 to 200 hertz. In general, this specific one is lower than the majority of speaker drivers; as a result, these subwoofers are able to produce bass that is both deep and booming.
- Because of their compact size, they are ideally suited for use in confined areas where there isn’t enough room for a huge, cumbersome subwoofer.
- Excellent for a track that calls for a sound that is more evenly balanced. The capacity of these speakers to reproduce midrange frequencies contributes to the creation of full-range speakers and a soundscape that is more realistic.
- They are famous for their tremendous power-handling capacities, which enable them to reproduce sound with a high level of accuracy and detail. Because of this, they are the best option for reproducing frequencies in the middle range.
FAQs
What Happens When The Crossover Frequency Is Too Low?
If the crossover frequency is set too low, the sound quality of a speaker system is in danger of degrading.
This can result in a muddled blend in which the bass and treble outputs are difficult to distinguish, and as a result, the sound quality may be inferior.
Moreover, suppose the crossover frequency is significantly too low.
Since the speaker cone will be subjected to signals it was not designed to process, it will be difficult for the speaker system to produce music that is devoid of sonic imperfections in such a scenario.
This may cause the sound to become distorted as well as disagreeable and strident.
How Can The Crossover Frequency Be Modified?
First, play some music while connecting a frequency analyzer to your audio system.
As you alter the crossover frequency dial, you’ll observe the output changing accordingly.
Adjust the audio as necessary based on the in-room response.
You can rapidly attain the optimal sound quality for your system with minimal effort and experimentation.
Therefore, you should not be afraid to experiment to find the optimal frequency crossover for your subwoofer.
Should Subwoofer Crossover Frequency Be 80 Or 120 Hertz?
A crossover frequency for mid-range speakers that lies between 80 and 120 Hz is generally regarded as being of high quality.
In addition, the optimal frequency range for subwoofers, also known as low-frequency loudspeakers, is typically between 40 and 80 Hz.
Obviously, these are merely suggestions; ultimately, it is up to you to experiment and determine the crossover frequencies that produce the most appealing sound in your automobile.
What Is The Best Hz For a Subwoofer?
The recommended refresh rate for home theater systems is 80 Hz, which is also the default frequency when the system is powered on.
Alternatively, you can modify the channel’s crossover frequency between 40 Hz and 250 Hz so that it generates the optimal sound quality for your system.
What Happens If You Set Crossover Too High?
The most significant consequence of a setting that is too high is that the stereo image may become distorted.
As the subwoofer’s output frequencies enter the normal auditory range, you will be able to “localize” the subwoofer.
And distinguish it from the primary speakers) and that the subwoofer may distort and/or roll off higher frequencies than it is able to process.
What Crossover Setting Gives You the Most Bass?
80 hertz is indicated as the crossover point (low pass) frequency.
This is an excellent low-pass frequency that prevents any midrange sounds from mixing with the subwoofer bass, ensuring that the bass takes precedence.
It excels most notably in the bass range.
Is a higher crossover frequency better?
It is typical to specify, within the specifications, the rated low-frequency extension of each speaker.
The crossover frequency should be set 10-15 Hz above the low-frequency extension rating.
Summary
The precise configuration of a subwoofer crossover at 80 Hz or 120 Hz may be challenging to attain due to the necessity of making adjustments by ear.
However, there are a few bass control features that you may find useful when configuring your audio system.
Dynamic subwoofer cross-overs permit the bass and sub-bass frequency ranges to be obstructed or amplified by adjusting the frequency of the subwoofer crossover.
It is suggested that the crossover frequency for bass tones range between 60 and 80 Hz.
