Just Got my B&W DB1

[UnxpectedError]

First off, I'm a bit overwhelmed with the whole setup procedure for this subwoofer. There are so many options to consider:
1. There is the Audyssey XT in my Marrantz Pre/Pro. What does this do exactly? Does it simply select crossover point or does it actually do is own room compensation for the sub and modify the signal being sent to the sub?

2. Theres the B&W Subapp program which has its own Room EQ. At this point i'm assuming this one is a must since the sub sounded very noticably better to my ear after I ran this. But after running this should I also run the audyssey in the marrantz? I did, but it didn't make any noticable difference.

3. The B&W SubApp program has built in Crossover, slope and phase presets for my 803 diamonds but after selecting those settings there did not seem to be a way to actually see what these settings are? I could not notice any difference after selecting these settings.

4. I assume I have to be careful that my crossover is not being done twice by both the B&W program and the Marrantz? I can turn off crossover in the SubApp Program thats no problem, but then I can't use the built in presets for my 803D's. If i want to use these presets what should i do in the Marrantz? Simply select the highest crossover possible(250hz)?

So far, to my ear the best results I have had were to turn off the Crossover settings in the SubAPP program, run the Room EQ in the SubApp program and then set the crossover in the marrantz to 120Hz.

Now I know from reading on here that 120Hz is excessivly high, in fact after running the Audyssey in the marantz it selected 60Hz as the crossover point, so obviously 120 is not a proper blend. BUT.....to my ear at 120Hz there was just so much impact and punch to the midbass that (to me) my system sounds by far the best it ever has.

Now I also have a Rythmik FV15HP for direct comparison. And with it I selected 80Hz as the crossover. For the heck of it I hooked up the Rythmik and tried 120Hz but the bass sounded muddy and very unatural unlike the DB1. So at the end of the day is 120Hz an obsurred setting for this system?

Well it was a fun day thats for sure. And I am a very happy camper. I was worried that with all the Hype of the Rythmik and the bashing of B&W that the 4000$ DB1 might be a downgrade. And who knows maybe it was in overall output for Movies(Yet to be determined), but certainly not to my ear in music, which is what I was after. And the Rythmik was just way, way, way to big, and Ugly to boot. This B&W is small, beautiful, and producing the most fantastic sounding bass i've ever hear for my music anyways.

If any of you have any comments for me about the setup they would be much appreciated, hopefully i'm doing this right.

Anyways I think I'm finally done building this system(Year Right). Its taken me 2 years and $18000 And most of this gear is either used or B-stock. Yes B&W is not the best value, but it is certainly not the worst either.
Here is my system and yea i need to clean up those wires I know:

Marantz AV7701 Pre
Emotiva XPA5 Amp
B&W 803D Fronts
B&W HTM2D Center
B&W CM5 Surrounds
B&W DB1 Sub

 

[UnxpectedError]

Nobody on here has a DB1?

I'd like to talk to others who have setup one.

 

[fuzz092888]

If the speakers aren't plugged into the sub ignore the crossover, phase and whatever else is on the sub. If you can set the crossover to off or bypass it. Run the B&W roomEQ and then the Audyssey afterwards if you want. Audyssey sets the delay, crossover, and also applies some equalization to the subwoofer and to all the speaker channels. You may or may not hear a difference and you can turn it off, but you should definitely run it so that all the delays are set correctly.

If 120 sounds best to you then leave it.

 

[Jeepers]

Check http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php?10838-Pictures-of-your-B-amp-W-Set-up&p=582080&viewfull=1#post582080.

That person has 2 DB1's, maybe he can help.

 

[JonnyFive23517]

I would recommend bypassing all crossover and filters in the BW software and let Audyssey do the work. I haven't heard BW software, but the Audyssey XT in my Marantz does a great job.

With such a nice system there should be no need for such a high crossover. I'm guessing some of the impact you're mentioning is either a resonance that you're feeling, or something improperly set up on the tower speakers that the 60hz-120hz region is set too low. I'd imagine those towers crossed at 60 or 80 would be pretty sweet sounding. I'd investigate this further.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Congrats on the DB1.

I would set the XO to 80Hz and try 3 different options and pick the best one.

1) DB1's Sub EQ alone , Audyssey OFF
2) Audyssey Dynamic EQ alone (Audyssey vs. Flat vs. Audyssey Bypass L/R), DB1's Sub EQ off
3) DB1's Sub EQ + Audyssey Dynamic EQ

Then after that, try XO from 80Hz - 120Hz and pick the best one.

As long as you think the DB1 sounds better, that's all that matters.

Sheer output isn't everything, just like speaker measurements isn't everything.

I like the heck out of my RBH SX-1010 subs and I think they sound very tight and punchy, although they won't output as much as the top Rythmik, HSU, SVS, etc.

So it's good you find the DB1 to be tight and punchy for music.

 

[JonnyFive23517]

First off, I'm a bit overwhelmed with the whole setup procedure for this subwoofer. There are so many options to consider:
1. There is the Audyssey XT in my Marrantz Pre/Pro. What does this do exactly? Does it simply select crossover point or does it actually do is own room compensation for the sub and modify the signal being sent to the sub?

2. Theres the B&W Subapp program which has its own Room EQ. At this point i'm assuming this one is a must since the sub sounded very noticably better to my ear after I ran this. But after running this should I also run the audyssey in the marrantz? I did, but it didn't make any noticable difference.

3. The B&W SubApp program has built in Crossover, slope and phase presets for my 803 diamonds but after selecting those settings there did not seem to be a way to actually see what these settings are? I could not notice any difference after selecting these settings.

4. I assume I have to be careful that my crossover is not being done twice by both the B&W program and the Marrantz? I can turn off crossover in the SubApp Program thats no problem, but then I can't use the built in presets for my 803D's. If i want to use these presets what should i do in the Marrantz? Simply select the highest crossover possible(250hz)?

So far, to my ear the best results I have had were to turn off the Crossover settings in the SubAPP program, run the Room EQ in the SubApp program and then set the crossover in the marrantz to 120Hz.

Now I know from reading on here that 120Hz is excessivly high, in fact after running the Audyssey in the marantz it selected 60Hz as the crossover point, so obviously 120 is not a proper blend. BUT.....to my ear at 120Hz there was just so much impact and punch to the midbass that (to me) my system sounds by far the best it ever has.

Now I also have a Rythmik FV15HP for direct comparison. And with it I selected 80Hz as the crossover. For the heck of it I hooked up the Rythmik and tried 120Hz but the bass sounded muddy and very unatural unlike the DB1. So at the end of the day is 120Hz an obsurred setting for this system?

Well it was a fun day thats for sure. And I am a very happy camper. I was worried that with all the Hype of the Rythmik and the bashing of B&W that the 4000$ DB1 might be a downgrade. And who knows maybe it was in overall output for Movies(Yet to be determined), but certainly not to my ear in music, which is what I was after. And the Rythmik was just way, way, way to big, and Ugly to boot. This B&W is small, beautiful, and producing the most fantastic sounding bass i've ever hear for my music anyways.

If any of you have any comments for me about the setup they would be much appreciated, hopefully i'm doing this right.

1A. Using the included microphone and taking measurements at 8 positions, it sets channel level, distance, recommends a crossover frequency, adjusts subwoofer distance to compensate for sub processor delay and creates filters for use with Audyssey EQ. I have the same flavor on the Marantz SR6006, and I like it. It will modify the signal the sub by adjusting its timing, level, the crossover you confirm, and possibly using filters if you so choose to engage Audyssey. Before running the calibration, you must turn off all BW processing you mentioned.

2A. I did some preliminary reading about the SubApp program...but the manual is 300 pages long. You're going to need a mic for that, do you already have it? If not, I would first try Audyssey and the included mic with the Marantz before spending additional money. You would not want to use both this and Audyssey, IMO.

3A. I would think you should notice a difference. In addition, based on the acoustics of your room, one would want to play with the crossover settings a bit. If there's a big problem for your sub at 80hz, then it would make sense to move the crossover down to 60 and let the mains handle 80, for example.

4A.Y ou don't want the crossover done twice. The phase for the 803s could just be set to 0. One thing that irks me is that the crossover slopes are fixed in Marantz gear, I believe it's a 24db/octave low pass and 12 db/octave high pass. I've never had any problem with these choices, but the flexibility would be nice.

So I think you need to decide whether you want to do your processing in Audyssey vs with the BW software, and as I'm unfamiliar with BW software I can't give a fully formed opinion. Audyssey dynamic EQ is pretty awesome for movies though, so I'd at least give it a shot. Regardless, you definitely should not feel anything lacking in the 80-100ish hz range with a low crossover, so I'd dig into this further.

Have you experimented with sub positioning and or measured the sub at it's current location? It's possible you are in a null.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Just Got my B&W DB1

I know that Audyssey Dynamic EQ did a spectacular job on my system's bass response for music & movies. It utterly changed my perspective on Auyssey.

My subs (Funk 18.0 & RBH SX-1010) are all passive. So I rely 100% on Audyssey Dynamic EQ for my subs.

I absolutely love Audyssey Dynamic EQ for both music & movies.