Setting Up The Cwa-1 By Ear - PSB CWA-1 Installation Manual

greater than the average level of the front speakers. This is a matter of taste and
experience but most listeners (on most programs) like the bass level when the
average bass level is about 6dB higher than the midrange level.
Now, unless you have an extraordinarily good room, you will see a number of
peaks and dips in the bass regions below the crossover point. We will adjust the
PARAMETRIC EQUALIZER to flatten the worst of these issues. As a general
rule peaks are more audible than dips, however a very wide dip will reveal itself
as a "lacking" or a "hole" in some bass region. It is a good idea at this time to
listen to some program material that you are familiar with having heavy bass
content and see subjectively what the worst room effect is. Once that is decided,
set the FREQUENCY knob first. You may use the frequency numbers marked on
the CWA-1 but confirm that they are the best setting by swinging the setting a bit
above and below while watching the spectrum analyzer. Start with the Q set to
maximum and the boost/cut control at maximum (+10 if you intend to fill in a dip, -
10 if you want to fix a peak.) Slowly turn the frequency control up and down. You
will then easily be able to see when the equalizer frequency is set to match the
aberration. Once the frequency is well aligned, adjust the boost or cut until the
peak or dip is at the average bass level. Vary the bandwidth control until the
flattest response through that region is achieved. A little iteration back and forth
between the controls may be required for the best result.
Note two things: This room response will vary with listener position. Move the
microphone around the listening area to make sure that improvements for one
seat haven't made things worse for other seats. Secondly, over correction of
room effects can be worse than under correction. Half lowering a peak or half
filling in a dip can often sound very good. Once the frequency, bandwidth and
boost/cut are set it is recommended that you listen to music and try other
amounts of boost or cut (leaving the other two controls fixed).

Setting up the CWA-1 by Ear

If you don't have access to a spectrum analyzer you will follow all the procedures
above using the spectrum analyzer between your own two ears!
This is not as hard as it first seems. Start with selecting an item of program
material with a varied but persistent bass track. It can be helpful to pick a section
and use an AB repeat function to allow 10-30 seconds of it to repeat over and
over. Make adjustments with 2 people, one in the center of the listening area
calling the shots, and another adjusting the CWA-1 settings as requested.
Set the bass level to approximately the right level via the VOLUME knob and
then alternately try the PHASE switch at the + and - positions. Listen for the
amount of upper bass between the two positions. Even if it sounds like too much,
leave the switch in the position with the "fuller" mid-bass.
Now use the CROSSOVER FREQUENCY adjustment to fine tune the crossover
region. First set the knob to the frequency that corresponds to the lowest
frequency that the front speakers either naturally respond to, or are forced to roll
off at because of a high-pass filter in the processor or AV receiver. If you're using
the low level OUTPUTS of the CWA-1, don't forget that they are high pass filtered
and the crossover frequency is fixed at 80Hz. Then, if there seems to be too
much upper bass, lower the crossover frequency bit by bit. At the same time,
make adjustments to bass level. The bass VOLUME knob will effect all bass
frequencies, the CROSSOVER FREQUENCY will adjust the level of upper bass
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