How To Setup a Subwoofer for your Home Theatre

SVS Subwoofer SB-2000 Bass Review - Subwoofer with a Soundbar

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Subwoofers are the type of speaker that boosts the lowest frequencies in whatever audio you’re listening to.

A well-matched sub can dramatically enhance the overall sound of your home theatre system, it will also give you a great music listening experience.

Thinking to buy a subwoofer?

Here are a few suggestions:

M&K Sound Brings New Premium V+ Subwoofer Series Designed For Optimal Performance

SVS Subwoofer – SB-2000 Review that goes BOOM

If you have already bought a subwoofer then go for a perfect setup for the best results.

Because buying a great subwoofer doesn’t guarantee that you’ll wind up with great bass. You have to set up a subwoofer perfectly in order to experience quality music.

And as always, we’re here to guide you with your setup. Follow these steps and you will end up with a great setup.

Front of Subwoofer on carpet in a lounge setting
on your Subwoofer placement can differ based on your room size and the accompanying speakes

Part-I: Placement and positioning

Placing the Subwoofer anywhere that’s convenient in your room may not be the best decision when it comes to getting quality bass.

To get the best experience there are a few things that you should consider while placing your subwoofer. 

  • If you have small speakers, it’s best to keep the sub within 3 or 4 feet of the front left or right speakers. The sub shouldn’t be much away from the speaker. 
  • If you have a skinny soundbar, keeping the sub as close as possible to the speaker. ideally.
  • If your speakers are larger (with 4-inch or larger woofers), you can experiment with placement. To do this play a CD with lots of deep bass > keep repeating the track > move the sub to all of the visually acceptable locations in your listening room. Once you are satisfied with the sound place it there. Try this over a couple of days as your ears will tire of trying to find the right spot.
  • You can also try a trick by placing the sub in your sitting/listening position and taking a little stroll around your room. Stopping in the spots where you’d like to place the sub. As you move around you’ll notice the bass’ apparent loudness and definition changes from place to place.

When you find the place that sounds the best to you, place the sub in that spot.

Part II: Connectivity and fine-tuning

Connect the sub with the home theater and the rest of the system. The single-cable Sub-In (or Subwoofer) connection will be the easiest and best-sounding hookup method.

Subwoofer settings showing how to set the dials for best results.
My current SVS SB-2000 Subwoofer settings on a Denon AVR-x4500h Amplifier
  • Turn the volume control halfway up. 12’o clock if you think of it like a clock or 50% of however your volume dial is placed.
  • Adjust the Phase while playing the music. By default, it will be at 0 degrees, if you find the bass quite satisfying leave it there. If not, turning it into 180 degrees might be better. If you have an advanced subwoofer with a dial, you can play with it. Place yourself between the sub and the nearest speaker, play with the dial, and lock it when the bass sounds balanced.
  • Turn the sub’s (low-pass) crossover control knob to its maximum, highest numerical setting. 

Part III: Adjustment in the AV Receiver

There is nothing much you have to do If your AV receiver has an auto-setup program (Room EQ software like Audyssey or YPAO) built in it.

Run the complete setup routine with the calibration microphone that came with the receiver.

When that is complete, your setup is done.

If your receiver doesn’t have any auto-setup installed in you may need to do this manually. Stay with us, we will cover this in our next article. 

Here are also a few other suggestions for your home entertainment.

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A passion for writing and ongoing research projects gives Catherine an incredibly broad knowledge of all things. She has authored an incredible number of articles and can be found in the wilderness when not attached to technology or listening to podcasts.


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1 thought on “How To Setup a Subwoofer for your Home Theatre”

  1. Hello sir
    My speaker crossover setup (all speaker polk audio), av receiver marantz sr6015 Emotiva xpa-3 gen3 Power amp
    Polk audio- Tower speaker RTI A9 30HZ-26KHz –
    Surround Speaker RTI A1 50HZ ’27KHZ –
    Centre speaker CSI A6 45HZ 27KHZ-
    Dolby atmos speaker RC 80I 35 HZ 20 KHZ
    Subwoofer- svs pb 2k pro
    Lower and Upp IIer Audio Quality-3dB Limits
    25 Hz → 125 Hz
    What crossover level should I set my each speaker and sub on? on?

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