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General Bass Management Settings for GoldenEar Speakers
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Scene from Interstellar (See comment in the article)
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Although the following information is based on our speakers, the guidelines and information are relevant to most other speakers as well.
For stereo-only systems: Connect the speakers using using speaker wires from your amplifier (for powered Triton One, Two/Two+, Three/Three+, also plug in the AC cord for the speaker's amplifier). On built-in sub models, for Triton One, Two+ and Three+, start with the speaker's bass level control at 12 o'clock. For the Triton Two and Three, start with their bass level control at 9 to 10 o'clock. (Note, if your stereo is connected to a home theater receiver, make sure to use bass management controls to connect only Front Left and Right speakers, and set them to Large.)
For surround systems with built-in bass management: For built-in sub Triton Systems, run the "LFE" subwoofer cables to the Triton sub inputs using an RCA "Y" connector if necessary. Set bass management to L/R Main = Large and Sub = Yes. Set the Triton subwoofer level controls using familiar stereo music and set the LFE level using the appropriate controls in your electronics. (We have consistently found movie special effects benefit from an extra 3dB or so of subwoofer level while most music is better with the sub turned down from that level.)
If you're using additional subwoofers with powered Tritons, connect the LFE output from your electronics to the separate subwoofer input(s) using "Y" connectors, if necessary. Set bass management to L/R Main = Large, Sub = Yes. Another option is to utilize both the subs and the Triton built-in subs by connecting the electronics' LFE output to the Triton sub inputs too.
Using an additional subwoofer with the Triton Three/Three+: To achieve extended bass dynamic range try setting the Left/Right Triton Three/Three+ to "Small" with the electronics' bass management and crossing over to the subwoofer at 40Hz for music and 80Hz for movies. The higher the crossover the less "load" you put on the Three's bass section. This can be very beneficial as movie special effects can be much louder than the rest of the soundtrack. For example, in the soundtrack of the movie "Interstellar" they increased the LFE bass effects quite dramatically for maximum impact.
If you're using the Triton Five or Seven as your main L/R speakers without a sub set them to "Large" in your controller and set Sub to "No". If you're using them with an outboard sub set them to "Small" using a 40 to 80Hz crossover depending upon your use of the system, the size of your room and how loud you listen. If used for movies and/or in a large room and/or high listening levels, set the crossover closer to 80Hz. For music or in a small room or at lower levels, you can set it closer to 40Hz.
With smaller speakers like the Aons, SuperSats, 3D Arrays, set them to "Small" in your electronics and choose a crossover between 60 and 120Hz. The SuperSats are best crossed over between 100 and 120Hz, the SuperCenters between 60 and 100Hz. The 3D Array models should be crossed over between 100 and 120Hz. You want to keep the crossover point low enough to eliminate the possibility of localizing the sub's position in the room but not over tax the smaller speaker's bass capability.
 Level Setting
You can set the bass levels "by ear" but a better choice is setting the subwoofer sections one at a time using an SPL meter or app on a smartphone with the built-in subwoofer test tone from your electronics. Set each sub one at a time by removing the AC plugs from the ones you're not measuring. Set the Triton tower subs to 70 - 73dB and try setting the separate subwoofer to 73-76dB (assuming you've set the satellite levels to 70dB with the test tone as well). You can tweak them from there as desired, but the separate sub should always be at a slightly higher level than the Triton subs. For more info on setting levels using a meter or phone app see the links below.
Don't Double Down
In all cases we recommend avoiding any settings in the electronics called "Double Bass", "Super Bass", "Bass Plus" or any other setting that doubles up on the bass by adding the LFE and crossed over bass to the main channels and the subwoofer(s). Most often the result will be excessive and boomy bass response. Of course, the choice is yours. If that setting sounds best to you in your system for your listening - then that's the best setting.
Avoid These Too
We also strongly recommend not using Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Audyssey Dynamic Volume or Dolby Volume. Oh, and if you've turned on any Audyssey function and then turned it off, Dynamic EQ and Dynamic Volume are automatically engaged and must be turned off separately.
For further information please see Sandy's Setup Tips here:
More useful setup info is here too:
And here:
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