Subwoofer on a budget.

[Pogre]

Thanks a lot this is a clear example of the dangers of being ignorant, all you need is someone with a bit of conviction behind his words mixed with some charisma, and you end up giving away your money or your freedom, that is the typical story behind cult members lol.

A clear example of how so many audiophile myths continue to propagate and flourish in the industry. There's A LOT of money to be made appealing to folks' biases and expectations. Some of those guys will overcharge by the thousands and people will pay. It's insidious because the placebo effect and expectation bias is real and it's powerful.

I do believe a person who has been primed genuinely can "hear the difference" even where there isn't one. This is something that can be (and has been) measured and tested for. Change some of the conditions, like blind trials and testing and those perceived differences magically melt away and folks can't tell which is which. Guys like him take advantage of this phenomenon to push the narrative and line their pockets.

 

[qba]

A clear example of how so many audiophile myths continue to propagate and flourish in the industry. There's A LOT of money to be made appealing to folks' biases and expectations. Some of those guys will overcharge by the thousands and people will pay. It's insidious because the placebo effect and expectation bias is real and it's powerful.

I do believe a person who has been primed genuinely can "hear the difference" even where there isn't one. This is something that can be (and has been) measured and tested for. Change some of the conditions, like blind trials and testing and those perceived differences magically melt away and folks can't tell which is which. Guys like him take advantage of this phenomenon to push the narrative and line their pockets.

Well said Pogre!

 

[qba]

I found a tool on the SVS site that you can match your speakers model to their subwoofer with the best matching specs.

I entered my Sony SSCS5 and this is the result I got as the second option, the first one was for AV receiver.

Setup #2: 2-Channel Application
In this application, the loudspeakers and subwoofer will be connected to a 2-channel stereo pre-amplifier (not an AVR). Many 2-channel enthusiasts prefer to operate the loudspeakers over their full bandwidth, and only want to use the subwoofer below the natural bass roll-off frequency limits of the loudspeaker. Below are the recommended steps to ensure proper set-up and performance from your loudspeakers and SVS subwoofer:

• Connect a subwoofer cable to the A/V Receiver subwoofer channel output jack, and to the L or R input jack of the subwoofer. Set the subwoofer volume control to mid-point
• Set the subwoofer amplifier's low pass filter frequency to 60 Hz. Set the subwoofer amplifier's low pass filter slope to 12 dB/octave. This is the optimal low pass filter setting for your SVS subwoofer when operating your Sony SS-CS5 Bookshelf Speaker loudspeakers full bandwidth.
• Play some familiar music source material, and then adjust the volume of the subwoofer until it blends seamlessly with the loudspeakers.

SEE DIAGRAM BELOW FOR LOW PASS FILTER LOCATION ON THE SUBWOOFER AMPLIFIER

 

[lovinthehd]

I found a tool on the SVS site that you can match your speakers model to their subwoofer with the best matching specs.

I entered my Sony SSCS5 and this is the result I got as the second option, the first one was for AV receiver.

Setup #2: 2-Channel Application
In this application, the loudspeakers and subwoofer will be connected to a 2-channel stereo pre-amplifier (not an AVR). Many 2-channel enthusiasts prefer to operate the loudspeakers over their full bandwidth, and only want to use the subwoofer below the natural bass roll-off frequency limits of the loudspeaker. Below are the recommended steps to ensure proper set-up and performance from your loudspeakers and SVS subwoofer:

• Connect a subwoofer cable to the A/V Receiver subwoofer channel output jack, and to the L or R input jack of the subwoofer. Set the subwoofer volume control to mid-point
• Set the subwoofer amplifier's low pass filter frequency to 60 Hz. Set the subwoofer amplifier's low pass filter slope to 12 dB/octave. This is the optimal low pass filter setting for your SVS subwoofer when operating your Sony SS-CS5 Bookshelf Speaker loudspeakers full bandwidth.
• Play some familiar music source material, and then adjust the volume of the subwoofer until it blends seamlessly with the loudspeakers.

SEE DIAGRAM BELOW FOR LOW PASS FILTER LOCATION ON THE SUBWOOFER AMPLIFIER

Did you get the SB1000 or the SB1000 Pro?

 

[qba]

Did you get the SB1000 or the SB1000 Pro?

The SB 1000 Pro, according to the tracking details it should be here by the end of day today

Forgot to mention in the "SVS Subwoofer Matching Tool" if you select my speakers it displays 3 subwoofer options:

SB-1000 Pro
PB-1000 Pro
SB-2000 Pro

So I think after all this research we may have narrowed it down to the correct SVS sub for my room size and speakers.

 

[Pogre]

use a single coax cable like I was planning from the subwoofer output in the receiver, but in the subwoofer don't connect it to the "LFE" because probably will bypass the settings from the buttons in the back of the subwoofer and the subwoofer app.

I forget what you're using for a receiver, but if it has bass management then bypassing your sub amp's internal filter by using the LFE input would be the way to go. If you don't have bass management with your receiver (ability to set a crossover) then you would want to use your sub amp's filter.

 

[Pogre]

Did you get the SB1000 or the SB1000 Pro?

Much earlier in the thread he said the Pro was a better deal up there in Canadia.

 

[qba]

I forget what you're using for a receiver, but if it has bass management then bypassing your sub amp's internal filter by using the LFE input would be the way to go. If you don't have bass management with your receiver (ability to set a crossover) then you would want to use your sub amp's filter.

Thanks Pogre, yeah I don't think the R-S300 I'm using now or the A-S501 that is coming in 4 or 5 days have bass management but I could be wrong.

 

[qba]

Much earlier in the thread he said the Pro was a better deal up there in Canadia.

Cheaper as in amazon.ca for some crazy reason the SB-1000 price was $1000, while the Pro $829, I think is because the SB-1000 is hard to buy now and probably some crazy seller in amazon say I want 1000 for it.

I could have bought the SB-1000 for $600 cash second-hand but I decided to pay way more for the 5-year warranty that comes with the new one and the app.

BTW I just order the SVS SoundPath Subwoofer Isolation System-4 Pack from amazon

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00NCSQ5GK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I read that not only stops the bass from being lost into the wood floor but it tightens the sound. What do you guys think?

 

[Pogre]

BTW I just order the SVS SoundPath Subwoofer Isolation System-4 Pack from amazon, I read that not only stops the bass from being lost into the wood floor but it tightens the sound. What do you guys think?

Heh. Well... I think they're a lot more reasonably priced than these Isoacoustics Gaia isolators that sparked some controversy here a couple of weeks ago...

Improve Your Loudspeakers Sound with this Tweak?

I never thought that decoupling my loudspeakers from the floor would have such a profound impact on their sound. IsoAcoustics GAIA Isolators showed me otherwise and there is real science behind them which we will explore in this review. I tried the GAIA isolators on both of my reference systems...

forums.audioholics.com

I think isolators fall firmly in the "your mileage may vary" category, and that's going to be largely dependent on your flooring. In most cases I don't think they'll offer a lot, but I do believe there's some real science behind the concept and likely some measurable differences. How audible it is I dunno, but if you have a loose, springy suspended floor prone to vibrations then they might offer some improvements.

 

[lovinthehd]

Thanks Pogre, yeah I don't think the R-S300 I'm using now or the A-S501 that is coming in 4 or 5 days have bass management but I could be wrong.

No, they don't.

 

[lovinthehd]

Much earlier in the thread he said the Pro was a better deal up there in Canadia.

That's what I thought, then with the lpf example he posted it seemed he had the older one....or its the svs tool?

 

[Pogre]

That's what I thought, then with the lpf example he posted it seemed he had the older one....or its the svs tool?

Prolly didn't help that I just started calling it "SB1000" in several posts without the Pro part because lazy.

 

[qba]

Heh. Well... I think they're a lot more reasonably priced than these Isoacoustics Gaia isolators that sparked some controversy here a couple of weeks ago...

Improve Your Loudspeakers Sound with this Tweak?

I never thought that decoupling my loudspeakers from the floor would have such a profound impact on their sound. IsoAcoustics GAIA Isolators showed me otherwise and there is real science behind them which we will explore in this review. I tried the GAIA isolators on both of my reference systems...

forums.audioholics.com

I think isolators fall firmly in the "your mileage may vary" category, and that's going to be largely dependant on your flooring. In most cases I don't think they'll offer a lot, but I do believe there's some real science behind the concept and likely some measurable differences. How audible it is I dunno, but if you have a loose, springy suspended floor prone to vibrations then they might offer some improvements.

Thanks Pogre, our floors are wooden but very firm, so maybe I should cancel the order. I don't think I'll be doing A B testing with these legs, so it would be based on hearsay anecdotes. But I'm willing to pay that money as long as there is some audio benefits to it.

 

[qba]

That's what I thought, then with the lpf example he posted it seemed he had the older one....or its the svs tool?

That picture is I guess an old image they haven't update at the bottom of the SVS matching tool.

 

[qba]

Prolly didn't help that I just started calling it "SB1000" in several posts without the Pro part because lazy.

Nah this post is getting long and is hard to keep track of what is what.

 

[lovinthehd]

Thanks Pogre, our floors are wooden but very firm, so maybe I should cancel the order. I don't think I'll be doing A B testing with these legs, so it would be based on hearsay anecdotes. But I'm willing to pay that money as long as there is some audio benefits to it.

Personally haven't had anything good rubber cabinet feet haven't resolved....and I'd experiment with materials from around the house to see if isolation does anything....if the stock feet of the sub aren't fine on their own.

 

[qba]

Is confirmed I just read "Status: Out for delivery - by end of day"

 

[qba]

I guess is the end of the day!!!!

 

[qba]

Thanks lot for all your time spent, I have to say it was worth it!!!, at first I did some testing with 2 or 3 Hi Res songs but other than the borrowed kitchen sub being louder I couldn't really notice a huge difference, but then I picked a Hi Res song that I knew it had complexed bass with quick changes (Temptation by Diana Krall), there was a clear difference between how the SB could keep up with all the changes and still keep the bass tight and clean vs the muddy sound of the other one.

Below is my kitchen sub that I was using at the office, I just bought this used online without knowing anything about the brand or doing any research because the kitchen is an open space and I just wanted some base for the ceiling speakers, but it sounds ok.

Now about the dimensions, wow I couldn't have bought anything bigger, this is pretty much the limit of what I can have under the table and still looks a bit big.

As Pogre mentioned this definitely has a little bit less bass, but when I raise the volume in the SVS app, that fixed it and is the same as the other one, and the other one was a bit too much bass even though I always had knobs as you can see on the pic.

If I ever want more bass on a song, should I use the app to increase the subwoofer volume or should I do it on the bass button at the front of the receiver?