DT79, yes I tried the phasing. I had it set at 0. But I did try too set it higher. But both subwoofers from my understanding recommended the phase controls to be at O, zero. This was recommended from the start when placing them correctly in your listing room. Also I had the volume around 9 a clock. But it was acceptable when listing too great recordings like Floyd, Dire Straits. But when trying to play music that not necessarily are bad recordings the volume became too high.
Hi Helix, at the very least anyone with a sub should buy a UMIK-1 and install REW - it’ll allow you to get the sub in the right position in-room, and then further more set the gain, crossover, and phase knobs on the back of the sub in the right position - so to not conflict with your mains (cancelled response).
I’ve for a long time said subs are
not needed with (good) floorstanding speakers, and that’s still mostly true for ‘most music’. But, having now properly integrated it in my HiFi and not just for AVR use, then there’s just an extra weight and extension that makes it worth having and using. Done properly it doesn’t change the perceived balance of the speaker or muddy the sound, and yep for a lot of music it’s almost redundant, but, when there’s a track that calls for it then it is so worth it (I’m converted now!).
In theory I could have done as said above with just the mic and lots of messing around on the back of the sub - But - a miniDSP makes that far easier, and with more total accurate control (XO slopes, PEQ, timing etc) to the point that a sub can be perfectly integrated. And with configs if you want you can simply run one with a slight boost (be it gain or a higher crossover etc) for when you’re in the mood.
So in the context of this thread, if you’re in the market therefore for a new amp too, I’m of the opinion that something with room correction is a must listen. Because as good as I have my sub integrated, I’m still at the mercy of a 32hz peak from the mains, and that’s therefore where RP/Dirac can further help.
One area I’m not sure on, is the whole stick your speakers on the back wall and then A/B RoomPerfect on/off - I don’t think there’s much merit in that, because without RoomPerfect you’ve put your speakers in a hugely compromised setup that is going to sound bad! It’s an unfair test so for me at least then I’d want my speakers setup as optimally as I can in room first and then A/B RoomPerfect on/off. It strikes me as a fairer test and if RP improves things in that scenario, then it’s a win for sure. You can always then try the wall position and see how it sounds subjectively, but I wouldn‘t hold stock in the A/B test in that position.
(I think speakers up against the wall look silly anyway so I’d still want them out somewhat!!)