Using RoomFit with subwoofer

[harkpabst]

Previously I've run Roomfit and it's worked on but that was with my yamaha A-S501 (acting as a power amp) set to approx 50% master volume. I've been using a wharfedale SW-150 which is limited but works on ish.
I decided to change the app to its max volume setting so acting as a max power amp, and reran Roomfit. This time there's no bass, unless I turn sub off and let the mains work across the full spectrum.

Honestly, I don't understand what exactly you have changed and why. Could you describe your setup in total?

Is the bass really missing when listening to music or just in the measurements? The resulting correction curves are useful, but only in combination with the actual results curves when completing RoomFit.

 

[bernard23]

Ultra (preamp mode) - > yamaha A-S501 analogue input - > Elac DBR63
Ultra - > Wharfedale sub using sub out.

Sub crossover 75Hz
Sub is receiving sub 75Hz only
Mains are rolled off below 75Hz ie the full bypass options for both mains and sub is OFF

I changed the volume knob position on my amp, because a) it's, easier to ensure it's at a consistent volume whereas before occasionally someone would turn it down instead of using the Ultra volume control, and I could never be sure I'd returned it to the exact same position and b) so that the system can play at a higher spl, it was volume limited previously.

What I don't understand is why isn't Roomfit compensating for the difference in output between the mains and the sub. The measured graph shows this after running Roomfit but the resultant EQ profile isn't being applied to the sub. Switch the sub out and the bass returns, possibly too much.
The solution is to simply turn up the gain on the sub until it sounds OK but it doesn't sound as if the room nodes have been corrected.

 

[harkpabst]

What I don't understand is why isn't Roomfit compensating for the difference in output between the mains and the sub.

Your power amp has a higher gain now than before, so at the same volume level on the Ultra will play louder than before. Consequently, the sub is not loud enough.

RoomFit is not designed to compensate for that. It's like you bought a new power amp with higher gain and no volume control. The only viable way is to increase the subwoofer level in the WiiM Home App (and/or on the sub itself), as you already found out.

The measured graph shows this after running Roomfit but the resultant EQ profile isn't being applied to the sub. Switch the sub out and the mains are producing too much bass.

One RoomFit prifile can always ever just fit to one setup. As soon as you disable the subwoofer or move any of the speakers to a different position you will need to create a new RoomFit profile.

However, if you adjust the sub volume in the WiiM Home App to match the higher volume of your main speakers exactly (and without changing the crossover frequency, phase or latency) then there's no reason to rerun RoomFit. The acoustic conditions will be exactly the same.

 

[slartibartfast]

Ultra (preamp mode) - > yamaha A-S501 analogue input - > Elac DBR63
Ultra - > Wharfedale sub using sub out.

Sub crossover 75Hz
Sub is receiving sub 75Hz only
Mains are rolled off below 75Hz ie the full bypass options for both mains and sub is OFF

I changed the volume knob position on my amp, because a) it's, easier to ensure it's at a consistent volume whereas before occasionally someone would turn it down instead of using the Ultra volume control, and I could never be sure I'd returned it to the exact same position and b) so that the system can play at a higher spl, it was volume limited previously.

What I don't understand is why isn't Roomfit compensating for the difference in output between the mains and the sub. The measured graph shows this after running Roomfit but the resultant EQ profile isn't being applied to the sub. Switch the sub out and the bass returns, possibly too much.
The solution is to simply turn up the gain on the sub until it sounds OK but it doesn't sound as if the room nodes have been corrected.

Did you increase the sub volume before running Roomfit?

 

[bernard23]

Did you increase the sub volume before running Roomfit?

No.
I'm about to try again with the sub gain set to max.

 

[bernard23]

I've bought a pair of BK XXLS400 subs so that should fix the volume differential.
I guess meantime I'll reduce the power amp gain on the mains.

 

[harkpabst]

Sub crossover 75Hz
Sub is receiving sub 75Hz only

You should not set the subwoofer's crossover setting to the same value as in the WiiM Home App, btw. The subwoofer's own crossover should be set to the highest possible value or switched off, if possible. Unfortunately it looks like the highest setting is 85 Hz on the SW-150.

I've bought a pair of BK XXLS400 subs so that should fix the volume differential.
I guess meantime I'll reduce the power amp gain on the mains.

A good pick for sure, but is the sub level really too low, even if you set the subwoofer level in the WiiM Home App to +15 dB and the volume knob on the SW-150 to 10?

 

[bernard23]

I've set the crossover below the sub max level, I can't hear any difference between 75Hz and 60Hz but I'm lessening the load (and therefire distortion) on the Elacs as much as possible, but yes of course the Ultra crossover frequency needs to be below the max of the sub.

I reran the whole process again with the sub gain turned up and to Harman instead of B&K and it's working fine.