what is wrong with my subwoofer setup?

There are so many possible factors here. What sub, what receiver (does it have a setup like audessey?), how big is the room it's in? Is it placed in the wrong spot?

DPR2017 wrote: ↑ 1) the sub isn't really deep 2) while it isn't giving me the deep base, i do hear glass shaking sounds from somewhere (don't know where yet).

What sub do you have?

What material are you using to test the sub?

placement is probably the JUUUGEST challenge in setting up a HT sub. peaks, valleys, reverb, cancellations... it's very difficult, often impossible, to get a completely flat response through the subwoofer's useable output spectrum. likely your sitting position is in a null at that window shaking frequency. if you walk around the room while it's playing, you should notice the bass come and go from your ears. get a frequency generator and try some things:

- sometimes you can play with phase, if the issue is at a frequency that overlaps with your mains.
- you can test placement of the sub. old trick it to place it in your listening position and walk around to different points in the room. when you find a spot that gives a decently flat response, that's where you should place the sub... just hope it's in a place that aesthetically and functionally you CAN put the sub.
- finally, you can add more subs to counter reverb/nulls. this is really expensive and still no guarantee you'll get a flat response at your listening position.

don't ask me how i know this or how patient the wife was during it....

You need to do the sub crawl. Put the sub in your seating position, literally on the couch near your ear level.

Play some music you listen to with decent amount of bass, and start crawling around on the ground. You'll hear the bass get louder in certain locations, so mark the ground there with some masking tape. Keep doing this until you found the locations with the best bass. These are where you should place the sub

DPR2017 wrote: ↑ hey guys,

I just set up my receiver with my speakers (currently 3.1 set up as I don't have room for the rear). Haven't really done any "set up" other than connecting the wires and playing something as a test run.

1) the sub isn't really deep 2) while it isn't giving me the deep base, i do hear glass shaking sounds from somewhere (don't know where yet).

What can I do to adjust it? isn't that weird?

thanks!!

You need to elaborate on the quality of the subwoofer before people can chime in. Brand name and model?
If it is a whole system <$200, what you mentioned seems to be the norm.
Also do you have the subwoofer firing direct onto hardwood floor (or worse ceramic floor)?
That makes a lot of difference

danieltoronto wrote: ↑ You need to elaborate on the quality of the subwoofer before people can chime in. Brand name and model?
If it is a whole system <$200, what you mentioned seems to be the norm.
Also do you have the subwoofer firing direct onto hardwood floor (or worse ceramic floor)?
That makes a lot of difference

this guy right here http://ca.yamaha.com/en/products/audio- ... mode=model



it's currently sitting on a carpet and will be moved onto a hardwood floor. thanks

The question has already been asked, but not yet answered. What receiver is it connected to? Did you connect to the sub-woofer output jack of the receiver or one of the normal speaker outputs. Did you program the receiver to let it know that you have a sub connected to it? Did you tell the receiver that you where running in a 2.1 configuration ( which is what I think you meant when you said 3.1)

This sub is fairly small both in physical size and audio power. It is probably only suitable for rooms up to 10'x10'. What size is your room (also asked before).

DPR2017 wrote: ↑it's currently sitting on a carpet and will be moved onto a hardwood floor. thanks

If it is of a low end system that probably does not matter. Ideally downward firing woofer should sit on carpet rather than any hard surface. If you do not have carpet floor, an area rug can do the job