[James Edward]

I started a long drawn out post, but decided to just go with the questions…

What phase setting, 0 or 180 have you settled on with your open baffles? Intuitively I think that the back wave of the Turbos would interfere with the sub output if sub is behind the speaker. My setup until recently had the subs behind the speakers, and for the life of me I couldn’t discern a difference between either setting.

I recently rearranged things, and now the speakers and subs are on the same plane. Again, switching between the settings I can’t reliably notice a difference.

Anyone out there have any suggestions on what to use as test material to possibly gain some insights? Or, on the other hand, any experience in sub placement you’d like to share.

It’s not a bad problem to have, as with either setting the sound is great. It’s just bugging me.

[Bingenito]

You ask a good question however what polarity others use is totally irrelevant to you. You need an SPL meter C weighted or flat. That can be a Phone app (cannot be A weighted) or SPL meter off Amazon for $30. Some will debate with me on this but most people struggle to hear sub bass effectively. I can do it but like you said most cannot hear a difference.

The phase relationship between the subwoofer(s) and main speakers will vary greatly based on distance from walls and each other and will change with frequency, meaning not a constant phase relationship.

1- Run test tones with the main speakers only from ~125hz down (100,80,70,60, 50, 40, 30, 20hz)
2- Repeat subs on Polarity 0 degrees
3- Repeat subs on 180 degrees

Note the frequency region that the bass is at higher SPL between test run 2 & 3. Also note if there is a frequency where the subs cancel bass and lower SPL

4- Set the polarity on the higher SPL variant
5- Play with the sub crossover to avoid phase cancellation near the top end as noted above
6- Play music and adjust gain as you see fit
Enjoy!

[DaveWin88]

Very very good question. I thought the same thing. If the sub is behind the speaker, you would in theory think they would have to match phase of what the back of the driver is doing, but that wouldn't make sense necessarily? It wouldn't match what the music is doing. Having them parallel is a good start. I just decided to remove the subs at this point. I'm trying to iron out the bass just from the Spatial's alone.
I think ultimately just hooking up the subs alone and dial them in, then introduce the Spatials and see how it sounds.