Subwoofer Setup Help

[maj]

I'm hoping those with far more knowledge on this subject can help me out. As per my recent thread, I've bought a Wharfdale SW-150 sub second hand. The sub itself works if either plug my phone into it and play something or if I use the manual setup in the receiver's options to send a test signal to each speaker.

My problem is that from what I can tell when I'm playing something via the receiver, the sub doesn't seem to be doing anything and it seems the speakers are still doing all the work. Can anyone advise on the correct settings I need please? My settings are:

Front speakers set to large
Sub enabled
Sub mode set to LFE+Main
LPF to LFE 120hz (default)
Crossover (all) set at 80hz

The manual says:

“Crossovers” can be set when the “Subwoofer Mode” setting is “LFE+Main”, or when you have a speaker that is set to “Small”.

The default crossover frequency is “80 Hz”, which will work best with the widest variety of speakers. We recommend setting to a higher frequency that the crossover frequency when small speakers are used. For example, set to “250 Hz” when the frequency range of the speakers is 250 Hz – 20 kHz.

Sound below the crossover frequency is cut off from the output of the speakers set in “Small”. This cut off bass frequency is output from the subwoofer or front speakers.

The speakers that can be set when “Individual” is selected differ depending on to the “Subwoofer Mode” setting.

When “LFE” is selected, speakers set to “Small” at “Speaker Config.” can be set. If the speakers are set to “Large”, “Full Band” is displayed and the setting cannot be made.

When “LFE+Main” is selected, speakers can be set regardless of the “Speaker Config.” setting.

From what I can find online my Q2020i's are 64Hz - 22kHz.

With regards to the sub itself, I have a single cable going from left input to subwoofer 1 terminal on the receiver. I have volume at 50% and crossover freq is currently set to 55 (starts at 35 with increments of 10 going from 35 to 85). I've tried difference frequencies and it doesn't seem to change anything. I've tried to remove the grill from it to see if I can see the cone moving but I just can't get it off.

If I go to Setup -> General -> Information -> Audio the format is 2.0.0. My receiver is the Denon X2200W.

Thanks.

 

[maj]

Thank you both particular lucid for your detailed explanations of things. Apologies for not replying sooner but been quite busy with work. I don't mind you teaching me how to suck eggs at all, I'm starting out in home cinema and there's a lot for me to learn.

I still have the microphone to do the setup with Audyssey but it is in loft and so have been doing everything manually.

Since you both agreed setting them to small is the best setting, I've changed it. Upon reading the manual I noticed I hadn't previously set the receiver to 6 ohms to match the speakers. Since this change the speakers seem to have more life in them and depending on what I'm playing, -30db can be more than enough.

The auto power setting on rear of sub has been changed to off. Is that right? My logic being that unless I switch it off manually then it will always be sat waiting for a signal and I won't get the 'pop' noise when it switches on or off which seems quite common on the sw-150.

I've set the crossover for the speakers to 80 and the crossover on the sub to maximum like you both suggested. I've left volume at 50% and phase at 0.

LFE or LFE + main was where I was a bit confused as one of you said to leave it on both, the other saying just LFE. I'm currently trying it with just LFE having done my own research on it since and it being the recommended setting when speakers are set to small.

I think I can hear a difference now when I play something to it. I wouldn't say it was very noticable that I've now got a sub and the speakers are still doing most of the work which I'm guessing is supposed to happen. Depending on the type of music I play there's probably not a lot for the sub to do if the song doesn't have much bass to begin with or if I'm streaming Netflix and the scene is just people talking then again the would be nothing for the sub to do.