Problems with my new pb10 nsd

[tonymontana1984]

i just got the svs pb10 but i'm not getting a lot of output for it
i checked the settings in my receiver
i have a pioneer svx 23thx
need some help

thanks

 

[trnqk7]

One thing I've noticed with my pc-12nsd is that unless the producers of the material intended for there to be a lot of bass, you won't "hear" the sub as much. Now, when it rumbles, it rumbles. Did you check the gain on the sub? I have mine set at not quite halfway, but more than a third. Make sure in your receiver that you have the sub out turned up a few db's...6 or 10db is not uncommon. Hopefully this works for you...have you listened to a lot of truly bass heavy material?

 

[j_garcia]

Have you calibrated the sub/system?

 

[tonymontana1984]

yeah i checked all the settings on my receiver
i don't know i dot get bass out of it but not the amount
that i want
i was expecting more out of this sub

 

[Adam]

Following up on what John asked, have you run the auto calibration routine on that receiver? The VSX-23THX has a nice system for that (I own that receiver, too). It did a great job of setting up the distance, volume, and phase of my speakers and subwoofer.

If you haven't run that auto routine, then I highly advise it. After you run it, I recommend that you check the speaker settings and reset your speakers from LARGE to SMALL (if that's appropriate, which is usually is). The MCACC system, as well as the other auto routines, often set speakers to LARGE even if they are bookshelf speakers. Other than that one quirk, I think that the MCACC system on the VSX-23 worked great for me.

That's just a place to start. Setting up the sub for optimal performance can be done later. There are a couple of articles under the Audioholics "Tips & Tricks" menu on their main website that cover that topic.

 

[GlocksRock]

have you also tried moving the sub to a different location in the room?

 

[tonymontana1984]

i ran the calibration set up
can't really move the sub
i have it in the corner
it sounds a little better now
what are the best settings as far as phase and cutoff frequency
for the people who have this sub?
i have to admit that the sub works well with my speakers
i have aperion
is this how a good sub is supposed to be where it doesn't drown out the speakers?
i just want a little bit more output

 

[croseiv]

i ran the calibration set up
can't really move the sub
i have it in the corner
it sounds a little better now
what are the best settings as far as phase and cutoff frequency
for the people who have this sub?
i have to admit that the sub works well with my speakers
i have aperion
is this how a good sub is supposed to be where it doesn't drown out the speakers?
i just want a little bit more output

You may be sitting in a null at you listening positon. But don't for get you can always increase the subs level in the AVR.

 

[j_garcia]

is this how a good sub is supposed to be where it doesn't drown out the speakers?

Yes, that is exactly how a good sub should sound. I've heard this many times when people move from a boomy sub to a good one. I've experienced it first hand myself. A good sub should only call attention to itself when it is supposed to

 

[fredk]

What program material are you listening to (eg: movies vs music)? How big is your room?

 

[tonymontana1984]

my room is about 12x10
i'm listening to some classic rock
can anyone tell me about the ideal phase and cutoff frequency
right now i have it at 80 htz cutoff and 90 phase

 

[j_garcia]

The x-over should be about one octave below your speakers -3dB point and phase should be 0 in most rooms if the sub is near the mains. What are your other speakers?

 

[fredk]

my room is about 12x10
i'm listening to some classic rock
can anyone tell me about the ideal phase and cutoff frequency
right now i have it at 80 htz cutoff and 90 phase

So the PB10 should have good output in your small room.

With classic rock, you will not get anything (or very much) below 40Hz. If your main speakers have good bottom end response down to 40Hz, you will not notice any difference with the sub with the mains set small vs. just the mains running full range.

It could be that the sub is working fine.

Can you play movies on your system? Anything with decent LFE will allow the sub to stand out compared to only the mains. If not, see if your local library has any pipe organ music. Again, with considerable output down into the low 20s and sometimes below, you should hear a big difference with the sub on.

 

[Adam]

The VSX-23 has a feature called Phase Control. It adjusts the phasing of your speakers and sub based upon the auto set-up results. So, my advice is to set the phase knob on the sub anywhere that you want, run the auto calibration routine on the receiver, don't adjust the phase knob on the sub, and leave the Phase Control on the VSX-23 turned on.

 

[fredk]

The VSX-23 has a feature called Phase Control

Thats very cool! this is one thing I cannot play with in my system. Well, only 0 and 180, but where's the fun in that.

 

[Adam]

Thats very cool! this is one thing I cannot play with in my system. Well, only 0 and 180, but where's the fun in that.

I agree! I didn't know that it had it until I was reading through the owner's manual. Turning it on and off makes a noticeable difference in my system. To think that I just cruised through life with the phase set at 0 on my sub.

I don't know if Audyssey uses a similar algorithm, but I think that it adjusts phase as well (but I'm not certain).

 

[tonymontana1984]

thank you guys for your help
my sub works like a champ now
i don't know what it was
i guess it just needed some time to "warm up"
i guess i was just used to boomy bass