Thoughts on SMS-1 Graph

I don't use the set-up screen for anything. When you go to the set-up screen by pressing 1-2-3-4-5, I then press pre-set #1 and just make my adjustments there. I then set the default to pre-set #1 so when I turn the SMS-1 on it will automatically go to that pre-set. You can create any curve you want for all of the pre-sets. Just press the pre-set you want to change and make the adjustments. Then you can switch back and forth to compare which one sounds better to you. Your graph looks OK. The only real issue I can see is that you seem to have a large peak at around 26 hz. You have reduced that area by about 13 dbs. That is a big reduction. I would try moving your subs around some to get a flatter response first and then using the SMS-1 to make final adjustments.

Well here's how I see it. Now everyone will have different opinions on eq'ing, so take this as my opinion.

1) That is a huge cut at 28hz. I feel that is unnecessary. I'm all for a house curve, but cuts can be just as detrimental as boost, as you are having to increase your sub gain to compensate (which it sounds like has happened as you have stated in your post).

2) A ruler flat slope is great, but not if it's overdone. You want to use as little boost/cuts as possible to achieve the best results. The SMS has too much smoothing going on to really drill down too much into problem areas.

3) It looks like the cut and boost at 45 and 50ish are being counterproductive. You might look at the q on those and see if they aren't playing nicely together.

4) You can certainly change the gain structure by either upping the sub out on your receiver or the SMS1. Ideally your sub gain shouldn't be more than about half. Be careful about raising the volume on the SMS1 too much though. I've O scoped clipping on mine at a volume of 28. I know that's a lot higher than you are at, and probably won't get near there, but just food for thought.

5) Frequency response is most easily corrected by sub placement (and room treatments).

Why cut it at all? Based on your particular sub, that's an area I'd want to optimize. You really don't need your house curve that aggressive either. A 3 db rolloff is essentially halving your output. I'd personally see how the 28hz curve looks with 0 cuts, and start the house curve roll off from there.

Our hearing is more acute to higher frequencies than lower ones. An 80hz tone will sound louder than a 20 hz one. The whole point of a house curve is to equalize these differences, so they sound similar in output. A house curve is purely subjective, and will vary from one listener to the next.

I prefer a house curve for HT use, but a ruler flat curve for music. That's another thing that makes the SMS handy; the fact I can switch between eq options on the fly, not to mention volume.

To me, this looks more like a recession through the mid bass than a big hump at 28 Hz. You have a substantial cut at about 52/53 Hz. Is that a wide Q cut? If so, work to bring that up rather than bringing 28 Hz down.

It would be interesting to see each sub in isolation with no EQ applied, and the speakers shut off. Then both subs combined with no EQ applied. IOW, it would be nice to see the "native responses before EQ to see what you're dealing with.

Also, what crossover(s) are you using in the AVR? Finally, have you tried changing the subwoofer Distance setting in the AVR? If you're getting a cancellation due to an incorrect subwoofer Distance setting, that can increase the output around the crossover frequency substantially.

Craig

It's hard to look at the EQ'd result and then make recommendations. It's a lot easier if we can see the baseline response of the subs with no EQ applied and no speakers.
This is why I asked to see independent graphs and then a combined graph. It's hard to predict, but it's worth trying. Do this with just the subs playing, with the speakers turned off.
Don't just check it, try adjusting it. Do this first, with no SMS EQ applied. You may be able to improve the response around the crossover without any EQ. You'll need to turn the speakers on to see the interaction of the subs with the speakers.
Post the graphs with no EQ, and we'll go from there.

Craig