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Atlantic Technology
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Figure 3:
Typical arrange-
ment for a single
subwoofer in a
home theater.
Start here
Less Bass
More Bass
Figure 4:
Front Panel
Variable Level
Control located
behind the
removable grille.
Subwoofer Tuning Using the Variable Level Control
Start your listening with the subwoofer Lo-pass control set at approximately 1/3 of its range (which
corresponds to 90Hz), the phase switch set to normal, and the front panel variable level control (Figure
5) set to the bottom of its range (fully counterclockwise facing the front of the woofer). Play some
music that you know has good bass content, and turn the level control up until you just start to hear
the subwoofer working. Now, from your normal listening position, determine whether the subwoofer
is playing loudly enough and filling in the bass frequencies of the music
evenly. If adjustment is necessary, start by changing the setting of the front
panel level control to compensate.
If the bass seems too heavy, move the subwoofer away from the wall/corner. If
the bass seems too thin, move the subwoofer closer to the wall/corner. Small
differences in positioning can make big differences in bass response. When
you find a position that seems to work well, try switching the phase switch between its two settings,
listening particularly to the transition from the subwoofer to the satellites.
Sometimes people prefer more bass impact for movies than sounds natural when reproducing music.
You may wish to determine both a video level and an audio level if you find yourself falling into this
camp. Remember however, the most common error people make when setting up their system is to
play the subwoofer too loudly. Of course, the Bass Police will not arrest you for this act. But should you
desire the most accurate overall reproduction, a well balanced sound from bass to highest treble is the
best way to get it. Have fun. Experiment. Enjoy.
Dual Subwoofer Placement
When two subwoofers are used you may wish to place them asymmetrically; that is, in slightly
different positions in the room (Figure 5). This will reduce common mode room resonances that are
common to symmetrically positioned subwoofers. You can also try placing the subwoofers in the same
corner, if you wish, Experiments have shown this to be a viable means of producing smooth bass
response in many rooms.