Dayton sub-120, first reaction

[ChunkyDark]

First thing first I calibrated my setup using my Yamaha 663's auto-setup. I listened to some bass heavy Green Day (couldn't find Primus), and was promptly totally underwhelmed. I told myself that due to not being able to find my owners manual the frequency still wasn't set right, so I'm sure it'll get better. The whole time having that sinking feeling thinking this is why people say it's boomy and you get what you pay for.
Having a few minutes left before my wife and daughter went to bed I decided to throw in the first Matrix and play the hotel shoot up scene.
Wow.
Not only did the extremely bass heavy music sound great, but the explosions blended so well with the surrounds you would have thought they were producing the lows. The bass from the music in the scene not only sounded smooth and full, but you could feel the pressure from the big booms.
In the process of shutting down the receiver that I realized I turned on “straight” mode when playing the Green Day earlier, thereby bypassing the sub almost entirely I'm looking forward to experimenting more with the music tomorrow. My guess is that lack of bass when listening to that first track was just a case of user error and should be cleared up with a good nights sleep.
I'm not sure if I would call it a “kick in the chest” bass feeling, but honestly if it was that much I'd probably turn it down anyway. Sacrilege in this section i know

A very nice co-worker has offered to let me borrow his Beringer feedback destroyer and a good mic so I can properly calibrate. I'm planning on doing a proper write up with graphs and everything! And as a teaser, let's just say i took some very reveling pics of the sub as it was getting unpacked

Thanks for all the help getting the system up and running,
ChunkyDark

 

[Alex2507]

I can't wait to hear what you think of having two of them.
You may not know it yet but a second one is on the way.
It's only a matter of time. You're doomed.

 

[ChunkyDark]

Ok, bit a correction from my first post. It wasn't the straight setting, that still utilizes still the sub, I had actually turned down the frequency. I blame lack of sleep and ADD meds

This morning I had a chance to listen so Ode to Joy, one of my favorite pieces of music. Listening critically I noticed that the low end wasn't as clear as it could be, specifically the tuba wasn't quite right. The low range of the male singers sounded good though.
When I wasn't attuning to the lows and just let the music wash over me I didn't notice the lack of clarity and just really enjoyed the music with the expansion the sub brought to it.

I'm looking forward to doing some more tuning and testing!

 

[ChunkyDark]

I can't wait to hear what you think of having two of them.
You may not know it yet but a second one is on the way.
It's only a matter of time. You're doomed.

This morning my wife said to me "When you said it was big, I didn't think you meant it was that big" With a wolfish grin I started my crud and obvious come back, but she cut me off with a "the sub" and a muffin to the head.

I reminded her my first choice was the beautiful MOHO x-sub that was half the size, but half again as much. I got an eye roll, but at least she didn't throw anything

 

[GlocksRock]

If she thinks the Sub-120 is big, wait to you upgrade to an SVS sub! I just moved my sub 120 to a new location in the house, and it's being used with a pair of Energy bookshelf speakers in a 2 channel setup. I was previously using it in my bedroom system, and it does put out some decent bass, and it's a good sub for the money, but I have had to send back 2 plate amps to partsexpress in under one year, so that didn't make me happy. But their customer service was excellent, and the turnaround time was reasonable. I still find the sub-120 to be boomy, but then again what do you expect from a $150 12" sub. I do like it the best with my 2 channel system, since I listen to a lot of hip hop/rap, the subs boominess actually works out in my favor.

 

[j_garcia]

Glad to hear you like it. Congrats on the purchase. As you already said, it may be boomy, but I don't think you can beat it for the price.

 

[cinebba]

congrats on the purchase

 

[lsiberian]

If she thinks the Sub-120 is big, wait to you upgrade to an SVS sub! I just moved my sub 120 to a new location in the house, and it's being used with a pair of Energy bookshelf speakers in a 2 channel setup. I was previously using it in my bedroom system, and it does put out some decent bass, and it's a good sub for the money, but I have had to send back 2 plate amps to partsexpress in under one year, so that didn't make me happy. But their customer service was excellent, and the turnaround time was reasonable. I still find the sub-120 to be boomy, but then again what do you expect from a $150 12" sub. I do like it the best with my 2 channel system, since I listen to a lot of hip hop/rap, the subs boominess actually works out in my favor.

Nah we gotta do better than that. he needs 2 Kappa builds.

However it is a good idea to build up lots of brownie points. The sub is well worth it.

 

[lsiberian]

First thing first I calibrated my setup using my Yamaha 663's auto-setup. I listened to some bass heavy Green Day (couldn't find Primus), and was promptly totally underwhelmed. I told myself that due to not being able to find my owners manual the frequency still wasn't set right, so I'm sure it'll get better. The whole time having that sinking feeling thinking this is why people say it's boomy and you get what you pay for.
Having a few minutes left before my wife and daughter went to bed I decided to throw in the first Matrix and play the hotel shoot up scene.
Wow.
Not only did the extremely bass heavy music sound great, but the explosions blended so well with the surrounds you would have thought they were producing the lows. The bass from the music in the scene not only sounded smooth and full, but you could feel the pressure from the big booms.
In the process of shutting down the receiver that I realized I turned on “straight” mode when playing the Green Day earlier, thereby bypassing the sub almost entirely I'm looking forward to experimenting more with the music tomorrow. My guess is that lack of bass when listening to that first track was just a case of user error and should be cleared up with a good nights sleep.
I'm not sure if I would call it a “kick in the chest” bass feeling, but honestly if it was that much I'd probably turn it down anyway. Sacrilege in this section i know

A very nice co-worker has offered to let me borrow his Beringer feedback destroyer and a good mic so I can properly calibrate. I'm planning on doing a proper write up with graphs and everything! And as a teaser, let's just say i took some very reveling pics of the sub as it was getting unpacked

Thanks for all the help getting the system up and running,
ChunkyDark

This is a sealed design so you won't be getting the deep lows you probably crave, but its still a great sub for the price.

 

[just-some-guy]

i am desiding whether to get another 120 or 2 of something else.

 

[Alex2507]

i am desiding whether to get another 120 or 2 of something else.

I had to make a similar decision with an Infinity PS10. It was a quick decision because $200 would put me into the 2 sub game and 2 of anything else that I was really interested in was going to be a grand no matter what. Maybe I just let the $200 tide me over until a grand became available. That decision practically made itself for me.

 

[just-some-guy]

I had to make a similar decision with an Infinity PS10. It was a quick decision because $200 would put me into the 2 sub game and 2 of anything else that I was really interested in was going to be a grand no matter what. Maybe I just let the $200 tide me over until a grand became available. That decision practically made itself for me.

that pretty much says it all. what i would LOVE to see, is a DIY that is not as KILLER as the INF. but still pretty good, and at a lesser cost. then i would do 2, always wanted 2 subs.... heck, i would be willing to do it myself. but i know squat about designing speakers.

 

[Alex2507]

Enjoy the 2nd Dayton.

 

[Deadeye]

that pretty much says it all. what i would LOVE to see, is a DIY that is not as KILLER as the INF. but still pretty good, and at a lesser cost. then i would do 2, always wanted 2 subs.... heck, i would be willing to do it myself. but i know squat about designing speakers.

Direct your browser to the Pass DIY site and check out El-Pipe-O
I built 2 using 12" woofers. With the Eq circuit (I use the active) they go down to 18Hz or so.
What more can you ask? Deep, cheap, clean and very easy to build! It won't let me post the url. It's passdiy
The complete PDF file is listed as under the year 2002 as: The Legend Of El-Pipe-O

 

[alexwakelin]

Direct your browser to the Pass DIY site and check out El-Pipe-O
I built 2 using 12" woofers. With the Eq circuit (I use the active) they go down to 18Hz or so.
What more can you ask? Deep, cheap, clean and very easy to build! It won't let me post the url. It's passdiy

I think this is it: http://www.passdiy.com/pdf/el-pipe-o.pdf

Those things are crazy looking.

 

[unpredictableAX]

Just curious if this is indeed the woofer being discussed.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-635

 

[just-some-guy]

yep .................

 

[lsiberian]

that pretty much says it all. what i would LOVE to see, is a DIY that is not as KILLER as the INF. but still pretty good, and at a lesser cost. then i would do 2, always wanted 2 subs.... heck, i would be willing to do it myself. but i know squat about designing speakers.

You can cut costs on the Infinity build. By getting a 12.1 non mid VQ and even using MDF. You could also use a cheaper amp/eq combo or even use a Bash Amp. You would need to mod the build for that though.

1 Kappa build would smoke almost any number of Daytons in the lowest octave.

 

[just-some-guy]

I think this is it: http://www.passdiy.com/pdf/el-pipe-o.pdf

Those things are crazy looking.

i think thats overkill for me.

 

[Alex2507]

1 Kappa build would smoke almost any number of Daytons in the lowest octave.

There is no doubt about that.

However the advantage of 2 is a better response across a larger seating area for more of the frequency range. Personally I would go for the Kappa route if I was starting out with no sub at all. I only sit in one spot at a time and 98% of the time it's in the sweet spot.