4 uls-15 mk2’s vs 4 pb-2000’s

[lovinthehd]

REW is simply freeware to enable you to take measurements, and with some gear, implement some eq. There is a learning curve, especially if you're challenged with computers as you've said. Just takes time and patience. Measurement is one thing, being able to do something to shape it is another, so you'd need gear to implement it. You can also use what's built into your avr for setup/req. Forgot, what is your avr?

 

[Reckel]

REW is simply freeware to enable you to take measurements, and with some gear, implement some eq. There is a learning curve, especially if you're challenged with computers as you've said. Just takes time and patience. Measurement is one thing, being able to do something to shape it is another, so you'd need gear to implement it. You can also use what's built into your avr for setup/req. Forgot, what is your avr?

Yamaha 860. What else do I need besides mic, downloading rew and a laptop?

 

[Reckel]

Yamaha 860. What else do I need besides mic, downloading rew and a laptop?

You talking using the manual eq in my avr?

 

[lovinthehd]

Yamaha 860. What else do I need besides mic, downloading rew and a laptop?

You talking using the manual eq in my avr?

To measure, get a usb mic like the miniDSP Umik-1 or the Dayton UMM-6. Download of REW is free but always good to make a contribution. Laptop and hdmi cable to connect to the avr. While you might use the eq in the avr to tweak, for subs a better tool is a miniDSP 2x4HD. Some Yamahas have an extended PEQ for sub range I think I read, not sure. Check your manual for what your onboard eq can do and what it can't. The minidsp unit would go in between your sub preout and sub, but if you wanted to eq higher than sub frequencies without external amps you're stuck with what the avr has on board.

 

[Reckel]

To measure, get a usb mic like the miniDSP Umik-1 or the Dayton UMM-6. Download of REW is free but always good to make a contribution. Laptop and hdmi cable to connect to the avr. While you might use the eq in the avr to tweak, for subs a better tool is a miniDSP 2x4HD. Some Yamahas have an extended PEQ for sub range I think I read, not sure. Check your manual for what your onboard eq can do and what it can't. The minidsp unit would go in between your sub preout and sub, but if you wanted to eq higher than sub frequencies without external amps you're stuck with what the avr has on board.

I assume all the measuring needs to be done from my main seat? So I obviously need to buy 4 new sub cables that are long enough from my seat to avr and a long hdmi cable? My avr has a manual peq setting where I can manually set each channel including sub but I’ve never messed with it. Looking at my old kenwood eq, I see it and understand how to use/set it up but looking at the manual one in my avr I just don’t totally understand how to set it. If I understood the manual one on my avr I’d try it. You willing to help me out if I can’t figure something out or don’t understand something when I get rew and minidsp?

 

[lovinthehd]

Generally you'd measure around your main seat (or other seats you're concerned about). Your sub cables should be long enough to move them as necessary around your room as connected to the avr, not your seat particularly. HDMI cable long enough to go from laptop to avr, probably easiest to position the laptop near your seat, tho. Before you buy anything, I'd master using the PEQ in your avr as that would somewhat prep you for using REW or other eq (and you already have it and can use it when your subs arrive if you wish). Your avr manual says it has four bands for the sub, so it may be sufficient to do some basic eq, but didn't see what the frequency range of the "sub eq" was either. There are better REW/minidsp guides available than me , I refresh with guides when I need to revisit it, don't have it memorized by any means. The REW site is helpful and even has links to several guides on the home page. AVNirvana is the official forum for REW; there are some good guides on avsforum, too.

 

[Reckel]

Generally you'd measure around your main seat (or other seats you're concerned about). Your sub cables should be long enough to move them as necessary around your room as connected to the avr, not your seat particularly. HDMI cable long enough to go from laptop to avr, probably easiest to position the laptop near your seat, tho. Before you buy anything, I'd master using the PEQ in your avr as that would somewhat prep you for using REW or other eq (and you already have it and can use it when your subs arrive if you wish). Your avr manual says it has four bands for the sub, so it may be sufficient to do some basic eq, but didn't see what the frequency range of the "sub eq" was either. There are better REW/minidsp guides available than me , I refresh with guides when I need to revisit it, don't have it memorized by any means. The REW site is helpful and even has links to several guides on the home page. AVNirvana is the official forum for REW; there are some good guides on avsforum, too.

Ok thx. I think my avr for sub goes down to 15-16hz and I think it went to 250 but I’d have to check

 

[2channel lover]

I just found where bought vtf3s last year. I would assume you still have them? Are they awesome? I’ll have mine Friday. Was it hard getting them setup?

Yes.

Yes...After about 6 mos of researching, I'd pretty much made up my mind to buy a pair of vtf 15h mk2 subs. The day I called to order I decided to let the sales guy do his job and see what he would suggest before pulling the trigger.

He said for your slightly under 2800 cu ft space, one ideally placed 15h mk2 would be more than enough, but ideal placement in most rooms is not a realistic spot...two 3 mk5 would be my suggestion for killer bass and he was 100% right. You'll probably work yours harder watching more movies, but these things are beasts!

Congrats!!! Have some help ready when they arrive. My HT space is an upstairs loft, I managed to get both up there with some smarts and sweat.

No...the Marantz pre/pro walks you through it and puts the sub through some test tones, etc. I had some flexibility on location so I moved them around, but ultimately flanking the TV was the best spot for music and movies.

Shown here flanking the TV...initially I had one along the TV wall and one near field behind the MLP and it was awesome for movies...localization really bothered me for music so this works best.

Subs are great in a 2.1 situation, but they really can take movies to another level...I can't wait to hear your thoughts.

Enjoy!

 

[Reckel]

Yes.

Yes...After about 6 mos of researching, I'd pretty much made up my mind to buy a pair of vtf 15h mk2 subs. The day I called to order I decided to let the sales guy do his job and see what he would suggest before pulling the trigger.

He said for your slightly under 2800 cu ft space, one ideally placed 15h mk2 would be more than enough, but ideal placement in most rooms is not a realistic spot...two 3 mk5 would be my suggestion for killer bass and he was 100% right. You'll probably work yours harder watching more movies, but these things are beasts!

Congrats!!! Have some help ready when they arrive. My HT space is an upstairs loft, I managed to get both up there with some smarts and sweat.

No...the Marantz pre/pro walks you through it and puts the sub through some test tones, etc. I had some flexibility on location so I moved them around, but ultimately flanking the TV was the best spot for music and movies.

Shown here flanking the TV...initially I had one along the TV wall and one near field behind the MLP and it was awesome for movies...localization really bothered me for music so this works best.

View attachment 26373

Subs are great in a 2.1 situation, but they really can take movies to another level...I can't wait to hear your thoughts.

Enjoy!

I like your setup, it looks sweet! I had to email someone from here my pics of basement to get them on here. I’m going to use a hand cart to get mine in the basement. My plan is to get two more in December since I’m running four subs now but we’ll see if I even need to. I’m planning on trying them up front first too just how you have yours, I’ve got two rows of seats, so we’ll see how they’ll sound. Did you use rew? I’m running 4 pl200s now so the vtf3s are going to be a huge step up in performance I’m guessing. I like your room

 

[Reckel]

Yes.

Yes...After about 6 mos of researching, I'd pretty much made up my mind to buy a pair of vtf 15h mk2 subs. The day I called to order I decided to let the sales guy do his job and see what he would suggest before pulling the trigger.

He said for your slightly under 2800 cu ft space, one ideally placed 15h mk2 would be more than enough, but ideal placement in most rooms is not a realistic spot...two 3 mk5 would be my suggestion for killer bass and he was 100% right. You'll probably work yours harder watching more movies, but these things are beasts!

Congrats!!! Have some help ready when they arrive. My HT space is an upstairs loft, I managed to get both up there with some smarts and sweat.

No...the Marantz pre/pro walks you through it and puts the sub through some test tones, etc. I had some flexibility on location so I moved them around, but ultimately flanking the TV was the best spot for music and movies.

Shown here flanking the TV...initially I had one along the TV wall and one near field behind the MLP and it was awesome for movies...localization really bothered me for music so this works best.

View attachment 26373

Subs are great in a 2.1 situation, but they really can take movies to another level...I can't wait to hear your thoughts.

Enjoy!

I’ll definitely keep you posted, can’t wait till Friday so I can play

 

[2channel lover]

I like your setup, it looks sweet! I had to email someone from here my pics of basement to get them on here. I’m going to use a hand cart to get mine in the basement. My plan is to get two more in December since I’m running four subs now but we’ll see if I even need to. I’m planning on trying them up front first too just how you have yours, I’ve got two rows of seats, so we’ll see how they’ll sound. Did you use rew? I’m running 4 pl200s now so the vtf3s are going to be a huge step up in performance I’m guessing. I like your room

Thanks.

That hand cart is a good idea...the boxes were so large I was able to more or less push them up the stairs. Every room is different of course, but it's not a bad place to start.

Room is kind of a weird shape...only one sweet spot for a room that size is not very good, but the system works pretty well for movies off axis and is not terrible off axis for music. On axis, it's pretty good.

You might stay with 4, I'm eventually going to cave in to that guy on my shoulder and buy a 3rd one for near field..lol.

 

[Reckel]

Thanks.

That hand cart is a good idea...the boxes were so large I was able to more or less push them up the stairs. Every room is different of course, but it's not a bad place to start.

Room is kind of a weird shape...only one sweet spot for a room that size is not very good, but the system works pretty well for movies off axis and is not terrible off axis for music. On axis, it's pretty good.

You might stay with 4, I'm eventually going to cave in to that guy on my shoulder and buy a 3rd one for near field..lol.

Obviously I have 4 now but I think 4 vtf3s will sound awesome and be scary when bass hits

 

[lovinthehd]

Without my hand cart I resort to removing drivers to move 'em.

 

[Reckel]

Thanks.

That hand cart is a good idea...the boxes were so large I was able to more or less push them up the stairs. Every room is different of course, but it's not a bad place to start.

Room is kind of a weird shape...only one sweet spot for a room that size is not very good, but the system works pretty well for movies off axis and is not terrible off axis for music. On axis, it's pretty good.

You might stay with 4, I'm eventually going to cave in to that guy on my shoulder and buy a 3rd one for near field..lol.

Did you use rew or just use the avr?

 

[Reckel]

I was just going to slide them also but I don’t want to risk something snagging on the new carpet going down the stairs

 

[everettT]

Did you use rew or just use the avr?

REW is the right way to start, but if you use the crawl for the first sub, you can place the second parallel to it to get started, then repeat for 3 and 4. If you use rew you can dial it in very well. Depending on your needs you can do two as stereo subs and two for the room. That requires an external crossover dsp like minidsp or behringet dcx2496, both of witch are compatible with rew.

 

[Reckel]

REW is the right way to start, but if you use the crawl for the first sub, you can place the second parallel to it to get started, then repeat for 3 and 4. If you use rew you can dial it in very well. Depending on your needs you can do two as stereo subs and two for the room. That requires an external crossover dsp like minidsp or behringet dcx2496, both of witch are compatible with rew.

Ok thx. The problem I’ll have with crawling is that the vtf3s are big so idk if you saw the pics of my room on here but with those subs I’m not going to have a lot of options to place them. I’ll probably end up having 4 of them and 2 will be up in the front and 2 in the back like I’m currently running the pl200s. I don’t have room to place one on the side wall because of how seating is. If you went back a few pages you see the pics and see how it’s setup now

 

[everettT]

Drop the bill on a measurement mic, it’s so worth it just for understanding your room. When doing EQ, REQ can do good job EQing depending on the version used, but an external dsp/crossover and mic you can really dial everything in. Some people’s room don’t need any detailed adjustment so starting with the mic you can ascertain your needs.

 

[Reckel]

Drop the bill on a measurement mic, it’s so worth it just for understanding your room. When doing EQ, REQ can do good job EQing depending on the version used, but an external dsp/crossover and mic you can really dial everything in. Some people’s room don’t need any detailed adjustment so starting with the mic you can ascertain your needs.

I honestly will probably end up buying a umik-1 and downloading rew but the problem is I’ve never used anything like that before and I’m sure it isn’t easy to learn

 

[everettT]

I honestly will probably end up buying a umik-1 and downloading rew but the problem is I’ve never used anything like that before and I’m sure it isn’t easy to learn

It’s a lot easier than it was 10 years ago. Using HDMI allows for easy independent channel measurements. I bet in under 20 mins you will be taking measurements. When your ready I can link some simplified tutorials.