Auto Setup of HSU VTF-3 HO

[mshantz]

Received a new HSU VTF-3 HO subwoofer today (replaced an old Velodyne F-1200-B). I used the microphone based acoustic optimizer on a Yamaha RX-V2600 receiver to evaluate and adjust the entire system (L,R: Vandersteen 2ci, C: Vandersteen VCC-1, SL,SR Mordaunt-Short Avant 903S, BL,BR: Mordaunt-Short Avant 902, Sub: HSU VTF-3 HO).

The RX-V2600 auto setup had me set the sub's volume at less than half. The end result seemed pretty well balanced but the sub was on the weak side (eg on the beginning of Star Wars III). The HSU seems to be idling. I can always manually turn up the sub but I wondered if anyone has any comments on using auto setup for the sub. That HSU sounds so good when I crank it up but maybe the novelty would wear off.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

My sub seems well balanced using the YPAO. Just go back in on the manual side and check the "size" and crossover as it will set the size to LG and usually get the crossover wrong. Also make certain you disable the crossover on the sub or turn it as high as it will go.

For movies, I run my sub about 4db hot.

 

[majorloser]

Also, make sure you have the switches on the sub setup for whether you have a turbo on your HO or not. If you don't have a turbo and have it set to maximum extension you will need to have one of the ports plugged. Otherwise you can damage the driver.

 

[j_garcia]

I run my sub about 2dB hot also, mainly for lower level listening. Calibrated may be "correct" but it may not meet your personal tastes and a little fudging is OK. When I had my VTF-2, I found that it sounded better in max extension for movies, but cleaner in max output for music.

 

[mshantz]

I don't have the turbo so I have one port plugged and max extension. I have Crossover set to out. I use the Yamaha RXV2600 subwoofer Pre Out to the sub. My L,R Vandersteen 2ci are large.

The YPAO sets it up as follows. Crossover 200Hz, Size: L,R large, BL,BR large, Bass Out: to both SWFR and L,R, Levels: L,R +9dB, C +6.5, SL,SR +5, BL,BR +4, HSU sub -9dB

So I like Greg's suggestion of boosting the sub level 4dB and I could set the crossover down to 100Hz. The quality of the sub seems pretty amazing. A 16Hz organ on their test CD sounds perfect. I probably just need that extra 4dB on the HT rumble. If you notice anything I'm doing wrong please let me know.

This forum always gives excellent advice. Thanks.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Change the size to "small", crossover at 80hz and "bass out" to sub only. You may also want to turn the sub gain down a tad so the AVR will set it around zero so the sub wont turn off during quite movies or music.

I don't have the turbo so I have one port plugged and max extension. I have Crossover set to out. I use the Yamaha RXV2600 subwoofer Pre Out to the sub. My L,R Vandersteen 2ci are large.

The YPAO sets it up as follows. Crossover 200Hz, Size: L,R large, BL,BR large, Bass Out: to both SWFR and L,R, Levels: L,R +9dB, C +6.5, SL,SR +5, BL,BR +4, HSU sub -9dB

So I like Greg's suggestion of boosting the sub level 4dB and I could set the crossover down to 100Hz. The quality of the sub seems pretty amazing. A 16Hz organ on their test CD sounds perfect. I probably just need that extra 4dB on the HT rumble. If you notice anything I'm doing wrong please let me know.

This forum always gives excellent advice. Thanks.

 

[mshantz]

YPAO thinks my L,C,R,BL,BR are all large. But I set them all to small.
YPAO sets the crossover at 200Hz. I set it to 80Hz.
YPAO sets level of subwoofer at -4dB (HSU volume control about 1/6, one tick from min)
I set this up to 0dB
YPAO sets level of L,R at +4dB, C +2dB, SL,SR +1dB, BL,BR -.5dB
YPAO sets Bass Out to both frontLR and SWFR. I set it to SWFR.

Now Beethoven or Bust "Rage over a lost penny", "Fur Elise", "Sonata 18", and Ode to Ludwig have great bass. More bass than normal balance, I think. Now I'll test it on some Movie. I'm surprised that the HSU volume setting is so low. What is that 500W HSU amp doing?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Sounds like you are getting close. I would still turn up the sub a tad and rerun the YPAO. You may need to do this a few times until you get the AVR sub level around zero (+/-2 WOULD BE FINE) The rest sounds pretty typical of the auto calibration.

 

[j_garcia]

Yep, sounds close. Even with manual calibration, you have to do a little messing with the two controls as they are interactive. Adjusting the sub up and shooting for around zero is what I would do as well.

 

[Gimpy Ric]

I owned a VTF-3 HO w/Turbo for about 9 months before I thought I needed an Ultra to match the Piano Black of the rest of my speakers . You picked out a fine sub. Very musical, and powerful. I drove mine hard several times and NEVER bottomed out the woofer. The Hsu test CD was fun with the pipe organ music, everything in the room would shake.

Enjoy your new sub! Seems like the guys have given you good advice already, so I won't add anything about setup, except I always ran mine at 80 Hz. crossover mains set to small.

Ric