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Speaker size to match room volume

2K views 54 replies 5 participants last post by  Bill Fitzmaurice 
#1 ·
I have a pair of Polk RTi A9's to use in a 20x10x8 dedicated HT room and I'm wondering if the speakers are just too big for the room? Primary seating position is about 6 feet away from them. Also considering the aspect of similar speakers/drivers at all channels to maintain a more seamless soundstage, the RTi A9's probably aren't as good of a match as the Monitir 50's they're replacing. Sure look impressive though....
 
#2 ·
Speakers in general can't be to big for a room. They might physically look big in a small room but in a room the size of yours they should fit just fine and perform even better then a smaller speaker. There's usually no replacement for displacement. The larger the room the more speaker you need. Using a larger speaker in a small room just adds to the fun and headroom. I would recommend using the RTIA9 over the Monitor 50's. Your room isn't small by any means.
 
#5 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by EmulousTrigger  /t/1528021/speaker-size-to-match-room-volume#post_24623672


I assumed that the combination of those speakers and a sub that it would be boomy, but I'm actually quite disappointed with the lows I'm hearing. Probably receiver related issue.....
More likely it's the listening position. Why so close? I'd be willing to bet that your distance to the rear wall is causing reflective nulls at the LP. I also would not use a sub with those, with their frequency response and output capability it makes no sense not to run them full range, which leaves a sub with nothing to do in a room the size of yours. Worse, if not set up exactly right the sub and the mains could be cancelling each other out.
 
#6 ·
In my opinion those Polks while properly calibrated with a subwoofer or subwoofers should sound the opposite. It should sound tight and dynamic. If the bass sounds boomy there's something wrong with your subwoofer placement or your calibration. It's not the Polks causing the boomy bass. They should be covering the upper mid bass and that range is not boomy. Boomy bass usually comes from poor subwoofer integration.
 
#8 ·
I'm a little surprised at the information so far. We all know that the position of the mains is usually not the best place for all bass reproduction. That's why subwoofers are placed strategically in the room. I would test the bass response with a crossover from anywhere from 60hz to 80hz for the mains and see if the bass improves.
 
#9 ·
The seating position is that close to accommodate two rows of seats. The surround speakers are also on the walls directly to the sides. I always cross them over at 80, since the other speakers in the chain don't go much lower than that. If I disregard the sub, will the LFE channel be routed to the mains?
 
#10 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Fitzmaurice  /t/1528021/speaker-size-to-match-room-volume#post_24623701


More likely it's the listening position. Why so close? I'd be willing to bet that your distance to the rear wall is causing reflective nulls at the LP. I also would not use a sub with those, with their frequency response and output capability it makes no sense not to run them full range, which leaves a sub with nothing to do in a room the size of yours. Worse, if not set up exactly right the sub and the mains could be cancelling each other out.



The receiver that I'm using is a Pioneer SC-67, with the A9's bi-amped. Are they even getting enough power in three first place?
 
#11 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Secret Squirrel  /t/1528021/speaker-size-to-match-room-volume#post_24623708


In my opinion those Polks while properly calibrated with a subwoofer or subwoofers should sound the opposite. It should sound tight and dynamic. If the bass sounds boomy there's something wrong with your subwoofer placement or your calibration. It's not the Polks causing the boomy bass. They should be covering the upper mid bass and that range is not boomy. Boomy bass usually comes from poor subwoofer integration.


I must confess, I question my sub placement and setup all the time. I've tried the sub crawl and I'm not exactly sure what it is I'm listening for. It's in the corner of the room now, now, maybe I will revisit that again once I get everything else squared away.
 
#12 ·
Since you're using an 80hz crossover that's even more evidence that your mains aren't causing the boomy bass. Are you using that crossover setting for the mains as well? If so the following definitely should apply. Corner loading the subwoofer like you have it has its positives and negatives. Some of the negatives are boomy bass and exaggerated frequencies. You can add bass traps to help the muddy bass. An easy experiment is to move the sub out of the corner a few feet at a time and listen for improvement. You should also check your subwoofer calibration as far as its gain setting. Make sure you're not running it to hot. Doing that will make the muddy bass sound even worse.
 
#13 ·

Another question is, are you running the main speakers as SMALL or LARGE. If you run them as LARGE and have set AVR to play LFE+MAIN (or double bass) to both mains and sub. These could cause booming.
 
#14 ·
I'm using a Pio Elite SC67, so I don't have the luxury of setting crossover points for individual channels. What's really hampering me here (I think) is that I think I'm having a hard time recognizing good sounding bass. I have moved the sub from out of the corner but a few things changed......I couldn't "feel" any bass at all, its like the really low frequencies vanished. Despite having the sub crossed at 80hz, it was as though I could actually hear the sub at that point.
 
#15 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Berland  /t/1528021/speaker-size-to-match-room-volume#post_24623816


Another question is, are you running the main speakers as SMALL or LARGE. If you run them as LARGE and have set AVR to play LFE+MAIN (or double bass) to both mains and sub. These could cause booming.


Booming isn't my issue, it's the lack of bass that's disturbing me. The mains are set to small and the sub is set to LFE only, not plus.
 
#16 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by EmulousTrigger  /t/1528021/speaker-size-to-match-room-volume#post_24623835



Booming isn't my issue, it's the lack of bass that's disturbing me. The mains are set to small and the sub is set to LFE only, not plus.
Same issue, sub + mains can double the sound waves or they can be cancelled out. Same cause regardless.
 
#17 ·

Originally Posted by EmulousTrigger  /t/1528021/speaker-size-to-match-room-volume#post_24623835



Booming isn't my issue, it's the lack of bass that's disturbing me. The mains are set to small and the sub is set to LFE only, not plus.
Then it is 100% related to positioning of the sub. Can you take a picture of how you have placed the system in your room?
 
#19 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by EmulousTrigger  /t/1528021/speaker-size-to-match-room-volume#post_24623846


Setting the crossover really low would not help, would it? The surrounds would drop off way before the sub would kick in....
Setting crossover lower than the mains can handle would result in little/no bass.
 
#22 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by EmulousTrigger  /t/1528021/speaker-size-to-match-room-volume#post_24623854

Try moving the sub out from front and side-walls Just to try. 

 

In this setting (based on the little I see); I would place the sub between your right speaker (and center?).

 

Edit:

But it is kind of weird that you get very little bass with the sub positioned in the corner of the room... you are sure it is firing/working?
 
#24 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by EmulousTrigger  /t/1528021/speaker-size-to-match-room-volume#post_24623862



I think the cut off on the A9's is in the 30's. I'd like to use the sub to augment the mains, rather than cancel them out. Just trying to figure out a balance.
Keep in mind that producers low freqencies is measured in a perfect room... You might not have +/-3 dB down to in the 30`s in your room. Usually wise to move the cutoff up (start at 80 Hz, and move down when that works).

 

Edit:

By the way, what kind of sub do you have?
 
#26 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Berland  /t/1528021/speaker-size-to-match-room-volume#post_24623878


Keep in mind that producers low freqencies is measured in a perfect room... You might not have +/-3 dB down to in the 30`s in your room. Usually wise to move the cutoff up (start at 80 Hz, and move down when that works).


Edit:

By the way, what kind of sub do you have?


It's an Infinity PS212. Before you laugh a little.....I used this sub in a 25x20 room with 20 foot ceilings and it sounded AMAZING.....I was scaring adults and children, it was fun! As soon as I get that Pio SC67......the fun is gone!
 
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