Subwoofer setup Snafu

[Andy Dewhurst]

My name is Andy & I am new to this forum. I am seeking calibration help for my new 2.1 channel system.

Onkyo TX-8270 2 channel receiver.

Pair of SVS Ultra bookshelf speakers.

Single Onkyo 10” Sub from Onkyo HT9400 – using Dayton wireless link

· Crossover set to 80 Hz

· Distance measured from each speaker to listening position entered in distance parameters.

· Added 14.5’ addition to measured subwoofer distance to compensation for wireless link.

· Using Tacklife MLM02 sound meter– set master volume control to 85 dB

· Verified both from SVS Ultra bookshelf speakers measured 85 dB – adjustment was not required

· Subwoofer measured only 44 dB w/ volume knob on back on unit maxed out & level calibration @ 0 dB

· Increased level calibration to +12dB & only obtained 50 dB

· Left level calibration @ +5dB.


Am I doing something incorrect?

What do I have to do to get max performance from this system?

Thanks!

Andy

 

[pewternhrata]

Good thing, you have the ultras. Bad thing (not too bad though) I'd guess even with that sub running at 100% you will never notice anything from it, the ultras are just that, ultra. If you want to play lower your going to need to step up to a more dedicated sub. Play around with the ultras without a sub for awhile.

I have the ultras, currently no sub. End goal is to get a svs sb1000, hopefully spring time.

In the meantime enjoy those ultras, I love mine even without a sub and I consider myself a bass head.

 

[lovinthehd]

Procedure sounds good. I don't see a preout level for the Onkyo, the input sensitivity on your sub is 330mV so would think the receiver could at least manage that. You have a link to the Dayton manual? Perhaps insufficient output from the avr or wireless link?

What happens when you hardwire the sub instead of using the wireless? Does the sub have more than one rca input, a L/R or just a single (as it looks like in their little setup guide), if it has both what happens when you use both L/R inputs on the sub?

 

[Andy Dewhurst]

1. Thanks for the suggestions
2. Tomorrow I will try a hard wire from the receiver to the Onkyo sub.
3. If performance does not improve, I will relocate my 16” SVS ultra
sealed sub & hardwired it to the reciever.

Thanks Andy

 

[lovinthehd]

1. Thanks for the suggestions
2. Tomorrow I will try a hard wire from the receiver to the Onkyo sub.
3. If performance does not improve, I will relocate my 16” SVS ultra
sealed sub & hardwired it to the reciever.

Thanks Andy

LOL Might be easier to re-position the Onkyo instead of the SVS sub? Good luck!

 

[pewternhrata]

LOL Might be easier to re-position the Onkyo instead of the SVS sub? Good luck!

Maybe one too many drinks tonight but where did his svs sub appear? Thought it was a 10" onkyo from a htib?

 

[-Jim-]

Absolutely!

 

[lovinthehd]

Maybe one too many drinks tonight but where did his svs sub appear? Thought it was a 10" onkyo from a htib?

Another system in the house it seems. Post #4 was when he mentioned it.

 

[-Jim-]

I wonder how it turned out?

 

[Andy Dewhurst]

· I verified the SVS Ultra 16” sub was fully functioning in theater room

· Properly setup w/ sound meter.

· Played Music Bruce Springsteen “Never Can Tell” @ 85 dB & adjust sub to have desired base


· Moved Ultra 16 into the bedroom & connected it wireless to the Onkyo TX-8270 – 100 WPC.

· Ran level calibration & it approached 85 dB – a much better sub!

· Played Music Bruce Springsteen “Never Can Tell” @ 85 dB – sub not functioning

· Hardwired Sub to Onkyo TX-8270

· Played Music Bruce Springsteen “Never Can Tell” @ 85 dB – sub not functioning

· New Onkyo TX-8270 appears to ONLY output pink noise during calibration & nothing during playing music or watching TV.

· Major bummer – I now have to call Onkyo for a get well plan & unless I am doing something incorrect the TX-8270 is going to be returned for repair.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

Thanks!

Andy

 

[lovinthehd]

Are you sure on the Onkyo 8270 that you're using an appropriate source and/or sound mode to use the sub?

 

[Andy Dewhurst]

The sub was selected under configuration & it output pink noise.

 

[lovinthehd]

The sub was selected under configuration & it output pink noise.

Not what I mean, while more complex on an avr, still imagine there are specific sound modes where you get 2.0 only from a source, or expand it to 2.1....not just what you did in setup.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Not what I mean, while more complex on an avr, still imagine there are specific sound modes where you get 2.0 only from a source, or expand it to 2.1....not just what you did in setup.

I wondered this too. Like it’s in “Direct” mode or something.

 

[Andy Dewhurst]

2.1 Configuration

Subwoofer Yes – choice yes or no

Speaker Impedance 6 ohn – choice 4 or 6

2.2 Crossover

Front – choice full band – 200 Hz - set @ 80 Hz

2.3 Distance

FL – 15’, RF – 15’, sub 14’

2.4 Cal - maser volume set @ 85 dB – measured w/ sound meter

FL– 0.0, FR- 0.0, - w/ knob on back of sub max, +12 db measured 75 dB – house shakes·
W/ the above setting NO sound comes from the sub when playing Youtube – Music - Bruce Springsteen “Never Can Tell” @ 85 dB – sub not functioning

Any Suggestions?
Thanks
Andy

 

[lovinthehd]

Subwoofer yes seems an obvious choice.

Speaker impedance use the higher setting, here's an article explaining why http://www.audioholics.com/audio-amplifier/impedance-selector-switch-1

80Hz crossover is a good starting point.

Sub delay (distance) doesn't always match up due to the extra processing time in the sub's circuit, you may need to adjust for that. Try this article http://www.audioholics.com/home-theater-calibration/subwoofer-integration

I looked in your manual a bit and didn't see anything about the sound mode to use although I did see that there is a pure direct mode, do you have that engaged? For testing is your source 2.0 or something with LFE (like a 5.1 movie)?

In any case here's the troubleshooting entry:
"The subwoofer produces no sound
If the setting of the front speakers is "Full Band" and during
2ch input such as from the TV or music, the low range
elements will be output from the front speakers rather than
from the subwoofer. If you would rather output from the
subwoofer, make one of the following settings.
1. Change the front speakers settings to a setting other
than "Full Band" for the crossover frequency value.
The range below the frequency you specify will be output
from the subwoofer rather than the front speakers. We
do not recommend changing this if your front speakers
have good low range reproduc
tion capabilities.
2. Change "Double Bass" to "On".
The low range elements will be output from both the front
speakers and the subwoofer. This may mean that there
is too much bass. Do not change if this happens, or
choose option 1.
0
Refer to "2. Speaker" - "Crossover" (P37) in the Setup
menu for details.
0
When you play source material that contains no
information in the LFE channel, the subwoofer produces
no sound."

 

[Andy Dewhurst]

1. Thanks for the excellent suggestions.
2. I reset the TX-8270 to out of box condition / setup.
3. Entered speaker parameters & network settings.
4. System now functioning as desired.
5. In the future, when I make a hardware change to this receiver & am going to reset the unit. It appears the system got confused when I relocated it from another room. “Learning is now cheap” painful!
6. Thanks again for all your help!
Andy

 

[lovinthehd]

1. Thanks for the excellent suggestions.
2. I reset the TX-8270 to out of box condition / setup.
3. Entered speaker parameters & network settings.
4. System now functioning as desired.
5. In the future, when I make a hardware change to this receiver & am going to reset the unit. It appears the system got confused when I relocated it from another room. “Learning is now cheap” painful!
6. Thanks again for all your help!
Andy

Awesome! Was about to get to the reset thing if nothing else panned out....as with a lot of modern electronics even a soft reset can do it, sometimes the hard reset is needed, tho. If you tried to use the same settings with two different rooms/speaker setups, that can indeed be an issue.