Sub Sat crossover in Post

[spigots]

Where are those of you working with sub/sat monitoring crossing over? I am getting conflicting info from searches. Some say 80 Hz as this is where most consumer 5.1 systems default. Yet most of the posts I read recommend 120 Hz.

Opinions?

[Doug Osborne]

Use the -3 dB point of each main speaker (measured from the engineer's listening position).

This crossover (Bass Management in a 5.1 system) is a speaker system integration issue, not a QC or worst-case-scenario-simulator issue.

Crossover points below 80 Hz tend to make the main speakers run into room modes in small rooms, so flatter response can usually be obtained with a subwoofer. Crossover points above 100 Hz tend to make the subwoofer more localizable, so subwoofer placement choices become more limited. The goal, of course, is to provide a smooth transition between subwoofer and mains.

[minister]

you were talking for music or film mixing, not crossovers, right? for film mixing, dolby recommends 120, but a lot of people on this forum recommend 80...thinking that you really don't need that stuff between 80 and 120 in the sub. i have used sending audio from mains to an aux with an 80Hz low pass on to mix in with the strictly LFE content and had good results.

[spigots]

thanks for the responses!!!

a little clarity;
for instance, in a genelec system 5.1 equipped with a 7070 sub, used with a pro control and no 3rd party monitor controller, you have 2 option of LPF crossover between the sub and satillites for bass management: 85 Hz or 120 Hz.

in a similar set up, but using, a Tascam DSM7.1, you are given 3 cross-over points for bass management; 80, 100 and 120 Hz.

No one crossover point is neccessarily valid over the other.

I have done alot of listening both ways using 1030a's and a 7070, with the genelec handling bass management and with a DSM7.1 handling it. There are desirable results from all crossover setups.

I am just wondering, in a user definable bass management crossover setup, where you guys and gals are crossing over.

It's a consistency/standards kind of thing. I want my mixes and product to sound decent across as wide a range of consumer gear as possible. the more standardized we all can get, the more consumers will enjoy what we do.

Frank