REW helped me relocate my sub :-)

**Dodgey99** · **10-10-06, 03:36 PM**

Never been very happy with my sub's performance (ASW 750) - never sounded like it did in the shop and lacked that special depth and clarity, and punch. So i found this site, started plying with REW yesterday, got the basics, and played with my mains - which performed remarkably well as they were (Mirage Omnipolar floor standers).

Tonight, I started again, but with my sub. Had a good handful of problems - windows/Soundblaster seemingly muting channels at will half way through testing/calibrating steps. Could never really get the software to stop complaining about levels too low, too much noise from my meter, clipping, you name it.

What confuses me the most is when it says the db levels are too low and I should turn up my AV amp, or increase the input level. If I do either of these, then the moment I go back through calibration, I'm told to turn my volume down to 75db. Then it of course complains my levels are too low. I'm sure with more time playing I'll get there (SB Audigy2).

Anyhow, Even with the warnings, I got to a point I could get consistent curves close to the "ideal" curve, but with a big dip at about 35Hz. Plenty of other peaks and troughs but nothing massive. Amazingly, moving the sub back about 2 inches to the wall reduced the big 35Hz dip.

So then I thought about moving the meter to the back of the room, and the curve got better, so I put the sub there - and bingo! - dip all gone!

Just played some movie material and it's 100% better.

Very pleased indeed.

Thanks for all the stuff I've read here, and to the author of REW. Excellent.

**brucek** · **10-10-06, 04:52 PM**

Quote:

What confuses me the most is when it says the db levels are too low and I should turn up my AV amp, or increase the input level. If I do either of these, then the moment I go back through calibration, I'm told to turn my volume down to 75db. Then it of course complains my levels are too low

Yeah, that's a problem. The solution (although not everyone agrees) is to simply use 80dB in the setup - works every time....

brucek

**Dodgey99** · **10-11-06, 07:04 AM**

Ahh - ok - I'll try that. Going to order a USB sound card for my lappy 1st - the cables needed for using my desktop require me "borrowing" my projector's component leads which is inconvenient to say the least :-)

**Snookboy** · **10-27-06, 07:38 AM**

You make a good point that I don't think I have seen elsewhere on this forum, maybe it has and I've just missed it. But I did the same thing, I used REW measurements and moved my sub to all possible locations to find my best raw response with no filters. It doesn't sound like my result was as dramatic as yours, but it did certainly help.

**terry j** · **10-27-06, 01:04 PM**

this may help, but rather than move a (presumably) heavy sub around taking multiple measurements, why not put the sub in your listening position and move the lightweight mic around instead. I'm no expert on this, but I'm pretty sure that method is described in the ETF literature somewhere, perhaps someone has a post for that. lots of love

terry

**Blaser** · **10-27-06, 02:36 PM**

Yeah you're right, but the limitation would then be cable(s) length!!

**texfrazer** · **10-27-06, 03:11 PM**

Or, the problem of balancing an SVS cylinder on your couch!

**brucek** · **10-27-06, 05:36 PM**

Quote:

Yeah you're right, but the limitation would then be cable(s) length!!

Long piece of cable TV wire with "F to RCA" adapters on each end will solve that problem..

brucek

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