A subwoofer can be working perfectly and still sound bad because of the wrong settings or the wrong spot in the room. These checks take about ten minutes and use free test tones.
1. Check that it works
Turn the subwoofer on and set its volume to the middle. Play a 50 Hz tone with our Tone Generator at low volume. You should hear and feel a steady hum from the sub.
No sound? Check the power light, the cable from the receiver or TV, and that the subwoofer output is enabled in the sound settings.
2. Find the lowest note
Use the Bass Test. Lower the frequency step by step and note where the sound fades or turns into a flutter.
| Lowest clean note | What it means |
|---|---|
| Below 25 Hz | Excellent, deep cinema bass |
| 25 to 35 Hz | Very good |
| 35 to 45 Hz | Typical for small subwoofers |
| Above 50 Hz | Small or soundbar subwoofer |
3. Set the crossover
The crossover decides which bass goes to the sub and which stays in the main speakers. 80 Hz is a good starting point for most systems. Use a higher value for small speakers and a lower one for large floor-standing speakers.
4. Check the phase
Play a tone around the crossover (for example 80 Hz) and sit in your usual seat. Switch the phase between 0° and 180°. Keep the setting where the bass sounds louder and fuller.
5. Find rattles
Play a slow sweep from 20 Hz to 120 Hz. If something buzzes at one note, it is usually a shelf, a picture frame or a loose panel, not the sub.
6. Try the subwoofer crawl
Put the subwoofer at your seat, play bass-heavy music, and crawl around the room at floor level. Where the bass sounds smoothest and strongest, place the subwoofer.
Common questions
Why does bass sound strong in one seat and weak in another?
Room reflections create peaks and dips. Moving the sub or the seat helps more than turning the volume up.
Can I test a car subwoofer the same way?
Yes. Play the tones over Bluetooth. See also car speakers crackling.
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