Subwoofer Crossover 80hz or 120hz? [What the EXPERTS Recommend!]

Because it has an impact on the complete sound system, bass control is a step that must be taken while setting up your home theater.

It relies on the crossover settings on your subwoofer to get the ideal audio blending. Your speaker system won’t function harmoniously if you don’t get it properly, and we do not want that, do we?

80hz Vs. 120hz How Low Can The Speakers Go?

According to the popular consensus, it is preferable to arrange all loudspeakers to be tiny if your setup includes an activated sub and to keep the frequency you feed to them at those over 80Hz.

The likelihood that the audio being routed to the sub will be localized to the sub increases with the greater you raise the crossover over and beyond 80Hz.

The best frequency for redirection is said to be 80Hz since research has shown that this is the frequency at which the individual hearing system begins to localize sounds.

The more those frequencies go over 80Hz, the more individuals begin to identify high frequencies up to 200Hz, albeit not everybody can.

By the way, professional movie theaters use the same bass management technique as this one.

Additionally, THX endorses it, and speakers that are certified by them do not even need to reproduce subwoofer crossover 80hz or 120hz in order to be recognized.

80hz VS 120hz: Which Is Best For Beginners?

Although it has been suggested that cross-overs be set at 80 Hz as a starting point, we think any graph made with these would show 120 Hz to be better.

However, it appears to us that the drop-off beginning at about 50 Hz was alleviated by the 120 Hz crossover relative to when the crossover is adjusted to 80 Hz.

We continue to experience the problematic room-induced null from about 30-45 Hz.

Since many smaller places have a room resonant at that organic dip where the woofer terminates and the medium takes over, we have always chosen a 120 Hz crossover because it reduces standing waves.

We do, however, agree on what sounds the finest. The higher cover, in our opinion, will ensure that the system sounds smooth. But switching to a lower frequency could improve the sound. Quite a bit relies on the mixer.

What Is The Best Crossover Frequency For A Subwoofer?

The suggested frequency and out-of-the-box standard for home cinema setups is 80 Hz. Depending on whatever option sounds best for your system, you can adjust the network’s crossover from 40 Hz to 250 Hz.

The Audyssey MultEQ software can also configure the inbuilt crossover, which will then replicate it on your subwoofer.

But here are some pointers for choosing the crossover frequency:

• Keep your frequency below 200Hz to avoid making the subwoofer’s placement too evident. The ideal range is below 100Hz.
• The majority of satellites will have vented housing. Discover its resonance frequency and make an effort to maintain an octave or more above it.
• Try the lowest level that performs well if there is a choice of order option (6dB/oct, 12dB/oct, etc.)

Do not undervalue the significance of the subwoofer’s placement or, if applicable, the acoustical adjustment of your listening space.

Is 120hz Good For Subwoofer?

Most household subwoofers should be fine up to 120 Hz, but many, if not most, will roll off at 18 to 25 Hz (and beyond).

You will not need your subwoofer to function above 120 Hz if you cross over your primary loudspeakers to it at or under that frequency.

You might wish to test with greater than “standard” crossover points for your system’s smaller “satellite” speakers. For a number of factors, 80 Hz usually performs the best on most setups.

But far lower than 120 Hz or even 150 Hz, small loudspeakers frequently start to sound pinched or scratchy.

When the volume is turned up higher, this is especially true. For your loudspeakers, it would be ideal if you could find precise frequency response readings that you could use to determine the crossover over configuration.

Is 80Hz Good For A Subwoofer?

For example, a crossover at 80Hz works better for a sub than one at 100Hz or 120Hz. The audio from the sub is much less sharp and crisp, and it seems murkier or has deep bass with cross-overs greater than 80Hz.

Those 80Hz to 120Hz bass tones are not as compact or crisp as they might be with only an 80Hz crossover, though not significantly so. The deeper into mid-bass frequencies seem more regulated and resolved with the latter option.

A lot relies on the fronts you have. Your front speakers will generally perform higher than a mono sub at 80 if they have powerful woofers and can comfortably play under 80.

The sub will be best off using over 80 if you have little bookcases for fronts, and they can’t increase below 80 quite well.

Why Is 80 Hz The Best Crossover?

Most people are unable to detect bass below 100 Hz. Most people won’t be able to tell where the deep bass is coming from, thanks to the crossover’s 80Hz setting. For many individuals, a greater crossover will reduce the sense of reality.

Even if they stretch below 80Hz, many loudspeakers are not smooth, far below that frequency; therefore, a deeper crossover is not necessary for the typical mid-fi setup.

Why not allow the sub to do what it is intended to do since producing a tone at 50 Hz requires a lot more energy than producing one at 100 Hz?

In addition to reducing the possibility of splitting at standard values, doing this could make the bass the loudspeakers are generating sound crisper. It is also best since it falls under the standards of THX.

How To Set the Proper Crossover Frequency Of A Subwoofer?

The frequencies at which your loudspeakers begin to lose sound and your subwoofer begins to play bass tones, and LFEs are known as the crossover frequency of your subwoofer.

The majority of contemporary AV speakers have an auto EQ function that instantly determines the right crossover frequency depending on the characteristics of your speakers.

Generally speaking, it is recommended to leave these settings alone.

Here are some suggestions for getting the optimum results when adjusting the crossover frequencies in a two-channel or stereo audio system employing an AV processor, preamp, or DSP subwoofer.

To get the greatest sounding results with bass management features, it helps to perform some careful hearing and testing.

Adjust the crossover point to approximately 10 Hz, well above the minimum frequency your loudspeakers can take effect if you are aware of the frequency band for your loudspeakers.

The THX specification and the most popular crossover frequency is 80 Hz.

The following statistics provide typical recommendations for speaker/subwoofer crossover frequencies.

• Tiny “satellite” loudspeakers or on-wall loudspeakers: 150-200 Hz.
• 100–120 Hz for a small middle, surrounds, and bookshelves.
• 80-100 Hz for a mid-sized center, surround, and bookshelf.
• 60-80 Hz for the large center, surround, and bookshelf.
• Large center, surround, and bookshelf: 40 to 60 Hz.
• 60 Hz for tall loudspeakers with 4″–6″ woofers.
• High-rise speaker system: 40 Hz or Large/Full-Band with 8″ to 10″ woofers (i.e., full-range).

Use a Subwoofer Matching Analyzer if you’re unclear about the appropriate frequency increases for your loudspeakers. It will suggest the best SVS woofer for your speaker systems and inform you of the finest crossover frequency.

Check for a uniform change between the speakers and the subwoofer. The mixing should be flawless to the point that you can’t identify the bass, and it all plays in sync.

Try changing the volume slider to suit the performance of your primary loudspeakers if you detect a bass bump near the crossover frequency.

Subwoofer Causing Cancellation At 120hz, What To Do?

Suppose you invert your phases, and that turns into a peak. When you don’t receive the best reaction, adjust your sub and continue adjusting it.

Better still, acquire a secondary sub (or 4). It will be simpler to move a second sub in my setup than this one, plus this subtype is on sale, so it might happen.

Try revisiting Audessey from your current place at the beginning. It might try to make up for it. If you can, it might be a good suggestion to relocate the loudspeakers. More distant from the walls.

An incorrect subphase might have brought on the cancellation. Placement concerns can very easily impact subs.

Put the subwoofer where you are sitting if you can, and play [white] sound across it. Search for the loudest sound with the least amount of cancellation as you go about the house to potential placement spots.

Best Crossover Frequency For Live Sound

80 Hz is the suggested crossover frequency for the primary speakers (low pass). The crossover eliminates the low-end sound that might cause turbulence in this frequency band.

The perfect compromise between middle bass and full-range bass is this crossover frequency.

The ideal crossover frequency for tweeters and two-way speakers is 3.5 kHz for a peak passage or bandpass. Underneath this spectrum, these speakers’ quality will be subpar.

1-3.5 kHz is the appropriate crossover frequency for midrange speakers and woofers (low pass). Most midrange and woofer loudspeakers are unable to generate high-quality acoustic signals outside of this band. Therefore, adding tweeters will assist them in having a great bass.

The ideal crossover frequency band for three-way speakers is 500Hz to 3.5 kHz. In a 3-way system, the midrange speakers will be unable to provide superb quality under 500 Hz.

How Do You Calculate A Crossover Subwoofer?

Select the number of loudspeakers in your layout using the crossover calculators. Select two (woofer and tweeter) or three (woofer, midrange speaker, and tweeter) loudspeakers for crossover designs.

Pick one loudspeaker for the two extra circuits (Zobel and L-pad). Select the filter criteria and order you want. Keep in mind that a 2nd-order crossover filter provides a fair balance between intricacy and effectiveness.

You should be able to discover each speaker’s impedance on their own specifications sheet, so enter it here. The acoustic impedance tool can provide further information about this characteristic.

Put the crossover frequency in (s). Pick a wavelength that is accessible by both loudspeakers in a two-speaker system by researching the frequency reaction bands of the loudspeakers.

The constituent numbers for the inductor and capacitor you require for your active crossover study will now appear in the findings section.

You want the speakers and subwoofer to overlap just enough when configuring the subwoofer crossover.

Subwoofers can elevate your system to a new degree, but you would never be aware of their presence. Too little overlapping results in inconsistency, too much overlapping results in a peak, and the ideal quantity produces harmony.

Summary

Configuring a subwoofer crossover 80hz or 120hz correctly can be challenging because you frequently have to adjust it by ear. Nevertheless, a few aspects of bass control might assist you in setting up your audio system.

Dynamic subwoofer cross-overs can change the crossover frequency to block or increase the bass and sub-bass frequency ranges. A conventional crossover frequency between 60 and 80 Hz for bass audio is advised.