Hello all,

 I just recently got into home theater and amongst the many questions that I have, I am still in the setup phase...

to begin, I have the Mirage Omnisat FS for left and right and a S8 subwoofer, with an Onkyo 605 receiver.  so far the sound is nice... but...

1.  Where does the Phase on the Subwoofer need to be?  0 or 180 degrees?  I can't tell the difference between the 2.

2.  Filter, I currently have it in the OFF position.  is this correct?

3.  Seems like in normal listening levels, I need to crank the subwoofer up to almost 80% level, in order to hear or feel something coming out of it.  (i mean like putting my ear next to it and see if sound or vibration comes out of it.)  naturally, if I crank up the stereo, the subwoofer definitely comes out.  so, 2nd part of my question, is the subwoofer mainly there for when you turn up the volume?

4.  I assume, in this setup, that the speakers are not BI-AMP'ed?  saw that option in the receiver setup menu...

5.  what frequency is best for the subwoofer to be set on when using the OMNISAT FS speakers?

Thank you for any assistance!

 Chris

Make sure you have the sub connected from the 'Subwoofer Output' on your receiver to the 'Sub Input' on the sub. I'm not too familiar with your model, but check the manual to make sure you use the correct connection.

 1. You may not notice a difference with the phase. Once the sub is working the way you want, try it with each setting. Select the one that sounds better.

2. Yes, the filter should be OFF. Let the receiver handle the bass management.

3. If it is set up correctly, the volume on the sub should be turned as low as possible and left alone. Let the receiver handle the volume. The sub should provide low frequency sound at all volume levels, not just when you turn up the volume. Once it is hooked up correctly, the problem should go away.

4. Don't worry about Bi-Amping right now. A sub is not usually bi-amped.

5. I would try the subwoofer crossover at either 60 or 80. I am guessing 80 will work best. Set this is the receiver.

Hope this helps. Let us know how it works out.

Thanks!  I am going to try that.  I will post back on the results.

Hi Tiggy,

I have the volume still set at around 65%.  Otherwise, the subwoofer doesn't seem to be noticeable at all.  it is now sounding pretty good though.  Does this subwoofer need to be broken in, as the manual says?  or do I need more power?

Hi Gordo71,

When you say you have the volume at around 65%, do you mean the volume setting on the actual sub?

If the sub is connected correctly (through the sub input) then the volume of the sub is determined by the settings on you receiver, not the volume knob on the sub.

Breaking the sub in may change the way the sub sounds, but shouldn't change the loudness it can reach. That being said, it is a good idea to let any new speaker break in before cranking the volume.

If you need more power with this sub, then you need a bigger (or a second) sub. The sub is self powered. It has an internal amp. Trust the designers, don't give it more power than it already has. If you need more bass than this sub can provide you need to get a bigger sub, or a second S8. How large is your room? It may simply be that this sub is too small to fill the space. A properly set up sub will not be noticeable in the room. You should hear (and sometimes feel) the bass, but it shouldn't appear to be directly coming from the sub. If it is, the sub is likely set higher than it should be. Placement can also play a large role in producing bass. Typically, moving a sub closer to a corner increases bass, but at the risk of becoming too boomy.

 Confirm the set up and let me know the rough room size. You may need (ok, want not need) another sub.

hi Tiggy,

 I have the sub connected directly to my receiver via RCA cable.  The volume i spoke of was the sub volume.  if I turn the volume up on the receiver, then I can usually get something out of the sub.  But for normal listening levels, (not cranked up), the sub seems to be doing mimimal.  the woofer, barely moves.  When music is playing, i can feel it with my finger on the outside ring, for vibration, and its there, albeit small amount.

I have an Onkyo 605 and used the audessy setup to manage the speakers.  The volume on the sub is at 65% and it sounds pretty good now.  Even at that level, the receiver shows a decrease of -3db on the front speakers, and +7db on the sub level. 

 My living room is about 18' x 12'.  carpeted.  I currently have the sub in the front left corner of the room.  the front has the mirage omnisats FS speakers. 

any thoughts?

If the receiver is setting the front speakers at -3db and the sub at +7db I would guess the sub is almost too small for the space, but it should be ok. It basically means your front speakers have to be turned down 3db and the sub turned up 7db to both be at the same volume level. This is taken care of by the receiver. Speaker placement, efficiency, amp power, etc, all play a role. This is why speaker levels are adjusted (either manually or by the receiver callibration).

What is the crossover frequency set at? I doubt this is an issue, but check to see if it is 60 or 80hz.

Pick some movies and music that you know to have good bass. Play them and listen to the bass. Don't worry about how much the sub is moving, worry about how much bass it is producing. Remember, the bass should blend with the rest of the sound. It shouldn't be overpowering or boomy.

Yes, once I let the receiver do its auto calibration, the sounds does sound better.

 The crossover in the receiver is set at 100hz.  that is automatic through the calibration, but I can manually change that.

 It seemed wierd since both the speakers and sub are voice matched and from the same company.  (Mirage).  I tried different placements for the sub, and each time, the receiver would auto calibrate it to those levels.  (and the sub being at about 55% volume level on the sub itself).  

I guess, the sound is pretty good now, but if I were to turn off the sub, seems as if there is very little difference in quality of bass.  now, if i were to raise the volume, then I can definitely hear it.  the movie, Lord of the Rings does come out good though.  definitely shakes the room. 

Thanks Tiggy for all your help!

A properly set up system will have bass that blends well. The only things I would try are:

1) Drop the crossover point to 80hz. The FS towers have pretty good bass. They should be able to handle going a little lower.

2) Make sure the frequency knob on the sub is set to the maximum (120 I think). This will ensure the sub is not filtering anything out.

If you want to play around, look for the LFE setting on your receiver. It adjusts the low frequency effects for movie (the .1 in 2.1/5.1/7.1) playback. Bump it up about 3db and then play a movie section again. It won't affect most music playback, but should add a bit more bass to movies.

Other than that, it sounds like you are getting the most from the sub. There is only so much an 8" sub can deliver. They tend to produce less really deep bass, but it is usually cleaner, tighter bass. Once you are done, sit back and enjoy it.

thanks alot!  your advice is very helpful!

 oh, and I really do love these Mirage speakers.