Onkyo receiver automatic setup and STF-3.

[mitro]

I just got a new receiver with the autosetup feature (Onkyo)
The odd thing is that if I have the sub set at half volume, the receiver cranks it back -10db (out of a potential -30db), but the sub is waaaay too hot. If I set the sub on 1/4 turn, the receiver sets it to +1db and the sub sounds much better. However, I want to set it for the correct balance, any recommendations?
Radio Shack (pain in the ...) DPL meter?

[Dave G]

I have a different receiver (mine's a Pioneer), but I bet you ended up with pretty good balance. My AVR's autosetup feature cannot adjust more than +/-10db. I have a VTF-3 MK2 and I also started off the autosetup with the sub set at 12:00, but I had to move it to 10:00, and then to 9:00, and finally to about 7:30 before I could get it within the +/- 10db that my AVR's autosetup can handle. I do have an SPL meter and it confirmed that the sub was in balance with the rest of the speakers. I like the way it sounds.

Hope this helps.

Dave

[Dudley]

What is wrong with leaving it at 1/4 turn? The system may not be as good at large corrections, maybe that is why it sounds like it is off when turned up halfway.

[mitro]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

The receiver will correct to -30db, but it didn't.
I have no problem leaving the sub at 1/4 turn, I just want to be sure it's the optimum setting.

[mitro]

I don't know what's going on here.
I've been tweaking the settings and no matter what I do, the sub sounds boomy at even the lowest volumes.

I have a big room (19x30x10), with wood floor.

Do I have bad acoustics? (Yes, I know put the sub in the corner or near field, etc. those options are not viable)

Can anybody offer suggestions?
--john--

[Dudley]

Play some test tones to find out which frequencies are too hot. If you have a large hump at 50 hz or so things may sound boomy. You can also try changing the crossover and/or the phase to try and tame things. Of course different placement will help as well.

[mitro]

Crossover is at 80, phase doesn't seem to make much difference.
OK, so if I do detect a hump at 50Hz, what would be the solution?
Is placement the only option without going to a Berringer or similar?

Thanks,
--john--

[Dudley]

You could experiment with bass traps, but that is complicated, and has a low WAF. You could also try to lower the crossover frequency. If you crossover below the boomy range you could eliminate the problem. Try 60 hz and see if that helps. If you have large mains, then you could even try 40 hz. Check to make sure you don't have LFE set to both sub and mains, that can add to thickness. You could even try setting your mains to large, and see if that helps, you may loose a little bass from some passages though.

If your mains are not large you could attach a small sub through the speaker level inputs, and that will allow you to lower the crossover for the VTF3 even more.

[mitro]

Well, I seem to have solved it, but not sure why.
I just installed a TV cubby/armoire/media-closet-thing and the bass sounds worlds better.
Now, it could be one of two things.
1. The TV Cubby altered the room acoustics enough to "tame" the nasty Bass,
2. The receiver, now in the open instead of under the TV in a tv stand, is running cooler and producing the proper signal.

Whichever is more likely.

--john--