Mismatch subs

[Steelers252006]

Just a quick one on this. If I wanted to buy say a Monolith 15 inch sub now and throw the second sub in later, would I have to buy at least another 15 inch sub to mate it properly, or does some leeway exist there? Thanks.

PS. I’m still going back and forth. I think I’ve narrowed this to two Monolith 15s (or one for now), two HSU VTF 15 MK2s, or one SVS Ultra PB16 banger with its mate in time to come ata later time.

 

[lovinthehd]

The diameter of the driver isn't necessarily defining a match in terms of design/performance. I would more concentrate on two identical subs rather than mixing different subs.

 

[ryanosaur]

Whatup, Man!?
Quite simply, mismatching subs are difficult to set up properly. It can be done, but will require great skill and knowledge to implement well. Setting up two matching subs, requires some care and attention, too. But two matching subs is almost plug-and-play easy, compared to using two mismatched subs.
If you think your head is swimming now with just speaker and sub specs...

Keep it on the simple side for yourself. There really isn't anything to be gained from mismatched subs, but a lot to lose.

Though I don't have anything against SVS, I would still recommend considering a smaller pair from them. The PB4000s would own your room by all accounts, and be much more affordable. I still like the Hsu VTF3 or VTF15 recommendation for you!

Cheers!

 

[Steelers252006]

Whatup, Man!?
Quite simply, mismatching subs are difficult to set up properly. It can be done, but will require great skill and knowledge to implement well. Setting up two matching subs, requires some care and attention, too. But two matching subs is almost plug-and-play easy, compared to using two mismatched subs.
If you think your head is swimming now with just speaker and sub specs...

Keep it on the simple side for yourself. There really isn't anything to be gained from mismatched subs, but a lot to lose.

Though I don't have anything against SVS, I would still recommend considering a smaller pair from them. The PB4000s would own your room by all accounts, and be much more affordable. I still like the Hsu VTF3 or VTF15 recommendation for you!

Cheers!

Yeah, those HSU pairs I'm starting to warm up to, too. I'm about to have a few buddies over and crank out either the Pens game or the Duke game. Got two cases of beer in my beer froster sitting at 28 degrees calling my name, too. Can it get any sweeter?

 

[Steelers252006]

Yeah, those HSU pairs I'm starting to warm up to, too. I'm about to have a few buddies over and crank out either the Pens game or the Duke game. Got two cases of beer in my beer froster sitting at 28 degrees calling my name, too. Can it get any sweeter?

BTW, been reading a little about the comparison between the HSU 15 inch subs. They say the MK2 does not have the port "chafing is it" and hits with a little more power down low, but overall there's no real discernible differences at the mid range listening levels. That sound about right?

I gotta know this, too, and this may be the dumbest question ever posted on this board: Why is it that certain volume frequencies, such as bass, are measured in the negative? Like when I read reviews, people are like and it was shaking the walls at -15. That makes me think to myself WTF...!!? LOL.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

BTW, been reading a little about the comparison between the HSU 15 inch subs. They say the MK2 does not have the port "chafing is it" and hits with a little more power down low, but overall there's no real discernible differences at the mid range listening levels. That sound about right?

I gotta know this, too, and this may be the dumbest question ever posted on this board: Why is it that certain volume frequencies, such as bass, are measured in the negative? Like when I read reviews, people are like and it was shaking the walls at -15. That makes me think to myself WTF...!!? LOL.

The the master volume(MV) when set to relative.

IE: MV at -15 etc...

 

[ryanosaur]

and you should consider changing over to that. as you work on getting your system integrated and fully dialed in it will help communications with everybody.

 

[ryanosaur]

BTW, been reading a little about the comparison between the HSU 15 inch subs. They say the MK2 does not have the port "chafing is it" and hits with a little more power down low, but overall there's no real discernible differences at the mid range listening levels. That sound about right?

The VTF3mk5HP and the VTF15Hmk2 are almost identical. They use the same driver and amp. The difference is in the cabinet design and how that allows the driver to operate; lower extension being the main result on the VTF15.
Port noise or chuffing is something that happens when ports are too small for the air to move in. Iirc the Hsu redesign of the VTF15 uses larger ports to help prevent that problem.

 

[lovinthehd]

BTW, been reading a little about the comparison between the HSU 15 inch subs. They say the MK2 does not have the port "chafing is it" and hits with a little more power down low, but overall there's no real discernible differences at the mid range listening levels. That sound about right?

I gotta know this, too, and this may be the dumbest question ever posted on this board: Why is it that certain volume frequencies, such as bass, are measured in the negative? Like when I read reviews, people are like and it was shaking the walls at -15. That makes me think to myself WTF...!!? LOL.

An explanation here about relative vs absolute volume scales https://denon.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/136/~/relative-and-absolute-volume-ranges

 

[shadyJ]

BTW, been reading a little about the comparison between the HSU 15 inch subs. They say the MK2 does not have the port "chafing is it" and hits with a little more power down low, but overall there's no real discernible differences at the mid range listening levels. That sound about right?.

ALL of these subs can chuff. The VTF15h mk2, PB16-Ultra, Monolith 15" THX.. the only one among these that I haven't heard chuff is the VTF-3 mk5, and that is only because I haven't had one in my possession for some heavy-duty testing. If the sub is tuned to deep frequencies, it can be made to chuff. The nice thing about all of these subs is that if chuffing really bothers you, you can just open all ports on them which greatly reduces chances for chuffing. Chuffing occurs at high volume levels in low frequencies. Something else you can do is simply have the sub face away from the listening position. Chuffing is something that is not easy to hear if you don't have a line of sight to the port.

 

[Steelers252006]

The the master volume(MV) when set to relative.

IE: MV at -15 etc...

What does set to relative mean? Heck, what's the master volume?

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

What does set to relative mean? Heck, what's the master volume?

Lol ok.
Master volume is the volume knob, the overall volume of the system. When you turn it up, you should see numbers in the screen/front display. Absolute goes for 0-100(not sure if it’s 100), relative goes from -79.5 to +18. This is the scale of volume.
As you go up in volume, the numbers go down, getting closer to zero. This is with the idea that a movie is mixed in the studio at a volume indicator of “zero”. So when you turn up the volume, the closer you get to zero, the closer you are to “reference”(the level of reference for which the level was at while being mixed). Zero is loud!

In many systems, -40 up to -30 is considered a comfortable level. -30 to -20 is pretty loud, and anything louder than -20 is too much for some. Some people do actually listen at reference, or -0 but your equipment, and ears need to be up to task.

Anybody else, please fill in the blanks. I intentionally tried to keep this as simple as I could.

 

[Steelers252006]

Lol ok.
Master volume is the volume knob, the overall volume of the system. When you turn it up, you should see numbers in the screen/front display. Absolute goes for 0-100(not sure if it’s 100), relative goes from -79.5 to +18. This is the scale of volume.
As you go up in volume, the numbers go down, getting closer to zero. This is with the idea that a movie is mixed in the studio at a volume indicator of “zero”. So when you turn up the volume, the closer you get to zero, the closer you are to “reference”(the level of reference for which the level was at while being mixed). Zero is loud!

In many systems, -40 up to -30 is considered a comfortable level. -30 to -20 is pretty loud, and anything louder than -20 is too much for some. Some people do actually listen at reference, or -0 but your equipment, and ears need to be up to task.

Anybody else, please fill in the blanks. I intentionally tried to keep this as simple as I could.

Hahaha, no, I get it. I was wondering why on my receiver I could set the volume two different ways. So do most people set it as relative then? Just out of curiosity, if you set 0-100, right, where on that setting would it equate to 0 on the relative scale?

 

[Danzilla31]

BTW, been reading a little about the comparison between the HSU 15 inch subs. They say the MK2 does not have the port "chafing is it" and hits with a little more power down low, but overall there's no real discernible differences at the mid range listening levels. That sound about right?

I gotta know this, too, and this may be the dumbest question ever posted on this board: Why is it that certain volume frequencies, such as bass, are measured in the negative? Like when I read reviews, people are like and it was shaking the walls at -15. That makes me think to myself WTF...!!? LOL.

My brotha!
Like Shady stated you can make any ported sub chuff at those deep bass frequencies if you push them hard enough

What you need to look at is the room size you have since your buying some heavy hitters whatever you buy I seriously doubt that you'll ever push those beasts hard enough to make em chuff. Your subs will have plenty of headroom in that room size so you won't to need to push the amp too hard to hit killer bass driver and amp aren't maxed out

Pretty sure your not going to have chuffing

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Hahaha, no, I get it. I was wondering why on my receiver I could set the volume two different ways. So do most people set it as relative then? Just out of curiosity, if you set 0-100, right, where on that setting would it equate to 0 on the relative scale?

Pretty sure it would be 80.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

http://www.acousticfrontiers.com/2013314thx-reference-level/

Scroll down. This is fairly useful.

Not sure if I said so but the link HD put up should help too.