Subwoofer integration with miniDSP

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In this application note, we show you how to use miniDSP to properly integrate a subwoofer into your system.

What's needed?

To integrate an existing pair of two-channel speakers, the miniDSP will act as the crossover between the main speakers and the subwoofer. You will need one of the following items of hardware:

You will also need:

(See also "Other options" below.)

1. Hardware configuration

The diagram below shows the hardware configuration for a typical setup, assuming a stereo amplifier and a subwoofer with built-in amplification. Disable the subwoofer's internal crossover if possible, otherwise set the crossover to as high a frequency as possible (because the miniDSP will be doing the crossover instead).

Configuration for subwoofer

2. Initialize the miniDSP

Double-click on the installed plugin (e.g. "MiniDSP-2waySUBAdv") to open it. If you receive a message about installing Adobe AIR, quit the plugin, allow Adobe AIR to install, and re-start the plugin.

Click on the Sync button (in green). At the dialog box, click on "Reset to defaults."

Sync button

You will now see the block diagram:

Block diagram

First click on each crossover block and make sure that all crossover filters are disabled by turning on all the Bypass buttons. Then click on the System Settings tab and ensure that the Sub Output Mode is set to Mono Mode:

Sub output mode

3. Equalize the subwoofer

To equalize the subwoofer, you will connect your audio interface to input channel 1 only, and do all equalization operations on Parametric EQ - Output 1.

  1. Make sure that your main amplifier is turned off (or alternately, you can mute output channels 3 and 4 using the miniDSP plugin interface).
  2. If you have a sealed subwoofer, you may want to start by using a Linkwitz transform to extend its bass response. See the application note Linkwitz transform - step by step. (Also see note below.)
  3. Now, equalize the subwoofer for in-room response. The best way to do this is to use Room EQ Wizard and its Auto-EQ function. See the application note Auto-EQ tuning with REW for instructions on how to do this. (Remember: load the generated filters into output channel 1.)
  4. Finally, once your EQ is all set up, click on the button "Copy to Output 2." This will ensure that the right audio channel is processed the same as the left. (Note that this is necessary, even though output channel 2 is not physically connected to anything.

Note: If loading an REW file when you have an existing filter such as a Linkwitx Transform, you will have to a. ensure that REW is limited in the number of filters it uses for auto-EQ and b. edit the REW file before loading to include the coefficents from the Linkwitz Tranform.

4. Equalize the mains (optional)

This step is optional. If you wish, you can apply equalization to the main loudspeakers using the Parametric EQ blocks on channels 3 and 4. For guidelines on how to do this, see the section "Measure and equalize the drivers" in the app note Building a 2way crossover. (You will need to turn off your subwoofers while doing this, or alternately, mute output channels 1 and 2 in the miniDSP plugin interface.)

5. Integrate the subwoofer

Click on the top crossover block in the miniDSP plugin interface.

  1. For output channel 1, enable the low pass filter (turn off the Bypass button). As a starting point, set frequency to 80 Hz and the filter type to LR 24db/octave.
  2. For output channel 3, enable the high pass filter (turn off the Bypass button). As a starting point, set frequency to 80 Hz and the filter type to LR 24db/octave.

The crossover graph should look like this:

Sub crossover

This is a just a starting point! Now run a measurement sweep (with the microphone at the listening position) to see what the combined response of the left speaker and the subwoofer is. You will probably need to make some further adjustments:

  • Adjust the gain of either channel 1 (the subwoofer) or channel 3 (the main speaker), so that the acoustic levels are matched. Often, a slightly higher level on the subwoofer is subjectively pleasing.
  • Adjust the time delay of either the mains or the subwoofer. This is equivalent to the phase adjustment on many subwoofer amps.
  • Adjust the frequency and slope of the high pass and low pass filters. Note that the filters do not have to be matched. If the mains are already rolling off, then a lower slope in the high pass filter may better match the low pass filter. And in the end, what counts is getting a smooth response.
Sub crossover

Once you are satisfied, go to the lower crossover block and copy the settings just done across to channels 2 and 4.

And... that's it! You can also experiment with different subwoofer locations, and even with multiple subwoofers, to get the best response. Don't forget to ask on the miniDSP forum if you have questions.

Other options

Instead of the hardware choices given above, you can also use any of the miniDSP hardware units capable of more output channels. This applies if you are integrating a subwoofer into an active loudspeaker, but also for integration of a regular two-channel setup with a subwoofer. With these options, you will also be able to independently equalize more than one subwoofer channel: