Yamaha SW010 making kanto sound worse

[AmeliaBuns]

I just grabbed a sw010 for 45CAD from someone on marketplace (The guy selling it didn't even bother wiping it... eww)
but to my sad awful surprise after 1h of carrying this heavy thing home in a bus after a long day, it actually makes my kantos sound worse?

The base is very thumpy and I feel vibration, but no matter what I can't get it to reproduce part of the music. it's mostly notable with electric guitar really.
Some songs do sound better, some sound worse. It's almost like a certain part of the frequency range is just deleted out of the soundtrack. the electric guitar doesn't have the same oomf to it.

Anyone has any idea what's going on? is my sub just really that bad that the built-in tiny kanto subwoofers do a better job?
I can't afford a sub 8 maybe it'll go on sale one day.... I regret not buying it on sale for 250CAD.

I'm not sure what to do. and I don't know a great way to tell if this is in my head or maybe i'm just used to the poor output of kantos without a sub.
I did check an app on my iphone and the sub didn't really do anything but to increase the volume at sub 100hz range. both with and without sub I got a huge dip at 100hz but that's my iphone speaker

EDIT: actually the dip at 100hz is a bit bigger with the sub attached than not.

 

[kyuu]

There's a couple different things that could be going on. First, make sure that the low-pass filter on the sub is bypassed, typically done by turning that knob as high as it will go. You didn't state what speakers you are using exactly, but typically Kanto speakers have a built-in subwoofer out that automatically engage a crossover when used. You don't need or want the subwoofer's low-pass filter in addition.

It's also possible that the additional energy in the bass region is causing room mode issues to appear. There could be a large room mode peak causing masking issues (explaining your sense that some frequencies are "missing"). You would need to be able to measure the in-room frequency response and apply EQ to counter this, or use some sort of automatic room correction system.

It's also possible that your sub is just too loud. Have you tried turning down the sub's gain?

Finally, it's also possible you got a busted sub, but the only way to know that for sure would be measurements.

 

[staticV3]

Anyone has any idea what's going on? is my sub just really that bad that the built-in tiny kanto subwoofers do a better job?

Any subwoofer, no matter how expensive, needs to be integrated into the system to play well.

This means performing in-room frequency response measurements and testing different crossover frequencies and phase settings, to find a configuration in which all three speakers play well together.

 

[kyuu]

This means performing in-room frequency response measurements and testing different crossover frequencies and phase settings, to find a configuration in which all three speakers play well together.

My understanding is that Kanto speakers have a built-in crossover at a pre-determined frequency, so much of this process is unavailable. After looking up the sub, I see that is also lacks a phase knob/switch as well as a low-pass filter. So my entire first paragraph is also irrelevant.

 

[AmeliaBuns]

Any subwoofer, no matter how expensive, needs to be integrated into the system to play well.

This means performing in-room frequency response measurements and testing different crossover frequencies and phase settings, to find a configuration in which all three speakers play well together.

As Kyuu said, the sub lacks a crossover thingi. ALso my kanto's have a built-in crossover filter. suspiciously the manual says it's at 100hz.
I wonder if my sub has a non-flat response, making me have to turn it down lower than it should be (almost nearly all the way down) to avoid the thump.

I can't afford/justif a umik-1 right now :c as tempting as it is.. feels weird to drop 150CAD on something you use once.

also I use kanto oras. sorry I did not mention that. They're great for their size but they sound nothing like my old lp6-v1 which I miss

the sub's actual speaker thingi looks intact. it is dirty tho, has a small stain. Not buying anything from marketplace after this :_:

 

[ppierre]

I can't afford/justif a umik-1 right now :c as tempting as it is.. feels weird to drop 150CAD on something you use once.

Maybe you can try :
'How to: A simpler way to measure and calibrate bass without REW and mic (Online PEQ Assistant tool included)' https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...mic-online-peq-assistant-tool-included.55269/

I haven't tested it personally, but it seems legit.

 

[Redacted]

Check phase.

 

[AmeliaBuns]

Check phase.

Can't, no option on mine.

 

[ppierre]

Make it turn around halfway, it will have the same effect as swapping the phase.
Edit: my bad, it is a down firing one ?