Opinions on sub selection

[mike c]

wow, all of you are from Florida ...

 

[mazersteven]

What did you think, I did, here in South Florida.

Ooooo South Florida

I should have gotten it right the first time. LOL

 

[cbraver]

wow, all of you are from Florida ...

Haha, yeah, lots of Florida replies here.

"I'm straight out the county of Dade,
3-0-5,
playa M-I-A"
--Trick Daddy

Haha

 

[Halon451]

Thanks guys - I talked with the wife last night. I think I've managed to reduce the WAF issue to a degree, as far as size is concerned. Maze - I had already looked at the SB-12 and thank you for the link. Thank god she understands that I'm not just buying something because of it's size, I'm buying something that will give me what I need, and it just happens that it is of substantial size.

I find myself leaning towards any of the SVS selections at this point, or the Emotiva dual sub system - the extra couple hundred $$ would be well worth the self-calibration feature since I have such a non-ideal room layout and configuration.

 

[100r1]

LOL, funny.
No, I'm talking about the real deal.

What did you think, I did, here in South Florida.

TOYS!!!! LOL.

EDIT;
I have some pics of it somewhere, but here is a listing of one that I had done some interior painting (also some topside repairs, etc...).
It was owned by Second City VP, Len Stuart.
1999 sales. 120' 1993 Broward M/Y SECOND CITY
http://yachtsalesandcharters.com/previous_sales.html

There actually is a company in Hollywood Fla. called Model Expo Inc. and they build models for clients like Royal caribbean cruise lines, Carnival cruise lines etc. of their New Ships for display at share holder meetings and display in the corporate lobby. Not your 3 foot plastic job but 12 foot hand built scale replicas for $ 10 - 15K

 

[Gasman]

Yes, I have been to many offices (and even houses) that have a model of the yacht. A lot of brokers have them here.
But that is a far cry from 6+ million.

 

[Halon451]

Okay, here's an update on my sub selection dilemna.

I've narrowed it down to either the SVS PB12-NSD, the Hsu VTF MK3 or VTF2 MK3, and I really can't get that Emotiva dual sub setup out of my mind, although it hasn't come out yet, so reviews are next to nil.

WAF issue concerning size - not a factor. As long as it doesn't occupy an entire half of the room or something, it's going to be okay.

What I really liked about the SVS PB12-NSD is that it seems to have a very flat response down below 20 Hz, and starts to roll off around 18 Hz (I'm assuming from the graph). It gets a little jagged up around the 90+ Hz range, but my crossover will be set below that, so it's not a concern.

Granted, this is the anechoic response chart - and my room sucks, but I suppose it's better to start with a known good response and tweak the room itself once it's in place.

Thoughts?

 

[annunaki]

Okay, here's an update on my sub selection dilemna.

I've narrowed it down to either the SVS PB12-NSD, the Hsu VTF MK3 or VTF2 MK3, and I really can't get that Emotiva dual sub setup out of my mind, although it hasn't come out yet, so reviews are next to nil.

WAF issue concerning size - not a factor. As long as it doesn't occupy an entire half of the room or something, it's going to be okay.

What I really liked about the SVS PB12-NSD is that it seems to have a very flat response down below 20 Hz, and starts to roll off around 18 Hz (I'm assuming from the graph). It gets a little jagged up around the 90+ Hz range, but my crossover will be set below that, so it's not a concern.

Granted, this is the anechoic response chart - and my room sucks, but I suppose it's better to start with a known good response and tweak the room itself once it's in place.

Thoughts?

It seems to me as though you answered your quandry. Get the SVS and a Behringer Feedback Destroyer (BFD) or DCX2496 and you should be able to dial in very smooth response..

 

[Halon451]

Granted, I say that about the SVS because I haven't seen the response graphs of any of the other subs. For some reason they don't offer them on the website like SVS does.

Do you think having the Emotiva dual sub combo would even out the bass response in-room? I don't mean from a frequency standpoint, but from an overall sonic standpoint.

 

[annunaki]

Granted, I say that about the SVS because I haven't seen the response graphs of any of the other subs. For some reason they don't offer them on the website like SVS does.

Do you think having the Emotiva dual sub combo would even out the bass response in-room? I don't mean from a frequency standpoint, but from an overall sonic standpoint.

Quality dual subs will almost always perform better than a single unit. With proper placement and eq the bass will sound fuller and blend better overall. Not to mention it will probably sound deeper as well.

The SVS may be able to dig a few hz lower and potentially at a slightly higher volume at the very lowest frequencies, but that alone will not be enough to overcome the advantages of a dual sub eq setup.

 

[Halon451]

Thanks man. It's a tough call at this point. Are there any other dual sub systems like the Emotiva on the market that you know of?

 

[avaserfi]

Thanks man. It's a tough call at this point. Are there any other dual sub systems like the Emotiva on the market that you know of?

The Emotiva system just happens to be dual sub. Any two powered subs coupled with a good equalized like the DCX2496 would work very well.

So don't limit yourself to something that comes in a neat package just get two quality subs and the EQ (if you need it).

 

[Pete_Hsu]

Halon, generally we try to have the frequency response measured/verified by reviewers, but I do have some measurements on the -2 Mk3 and -3 Mk3 that were taken outside (away from reflective boundaries). The -2 Mk3 in extended bass mode has a frequency response that is +/- 0.5db from 16-200Hz. The -3 Mk3 in extended bass mode has a frequency response that is +/- 1.0db from 15-200Hz. In other words, super linear!

 

[Halon451]

Looking at the back of the Behringer Feedback Destroyer - it accepts dual XLR inputs and outputs dual XLR, for (I'm assuming) balanced audio. I've never used one of these before, so let me see if I can get it right -

From the Receiver: (single sub out connection)
I would need an unbalanced RCA to Y-adapter, and two seperate RCA to XLR adapters into the left and right XLR inputs on the unit.

From the BFD:
Left and Right XLR output to RCA adapter cable to either a.) dual subs (left and right), or b.) into a single sub.

I'm basing this on the assumption that the unit tweaks the line level signal between the processor and the sub's amp.

Let me know if I'm way off base on this or if I've got the idea.

 

[Halon451]

Thanks Pete - my room layout and construction is bound to wreak havoc on any kind of flat response, so I figured it was wise to start with a sub I knew had a good flat profile in a controlled anechoic environment. At least that way I would know that the sub itself isn't the problem and that it eliminates multiple variables in trying to smooth it out.

15 Hz, huh?

You've got my attention.

 

[avaserfi]

Looking at the back of the Behringer Feedback Destroyer - it accepts dual XLR inputs and outputs dual XLR, for (I'm assuming) balanced audio. I've never used one of these before, so let me see if I can get it right -

From the Receiver: (single sub out connection)
I would need an unbalanced RCA to Y-adapter, and two seperate RCA to XLR adapters into the left and right XLR inputs on the unit.

From the BFD:
Left and Right XLR output to RCA adapter cable to either a.) dual subs (left and right), or b.) into a single sub.

I'm basing this on the assumption that the unit tweaks the line level signal between the processor and the sub's amp.

Let me know if I'm way off base on this or if I've got the idea.

That looks right to me. Using a parametric eq will allow you not only to flatten your frequency response, but also implement a house curve for movie watching (where the lower frequencies are more pronounced than others). Also, remember anechoic measurements are often lower than actual room measurements because of room interaction so the sub will go lower and be louder - especially if you add a second sub which will give you more output and more dynamic capabilities along side a better frequency response! I see no reason to get just one!

 

[Pete_Hsu]

Thanks Pete - my room layout and construction is bound to wreak havoc on any kind of flat response, so I figured it was wise to start with a sub I knew had a good flat profile in a controlled anechoic environment. At least that way I would know that the sub itself isn't the problem and that it eliminates multiple variables in trying to smooth it out.

15 Hz, huh?

You've got my attention.

HA HA, yeah, very linear!

Feel free to draw up a rough sketch of your room so that I can give some placement advice.

Sincerely,

 

[mike c]

somebody please verify if I'm correct

From the Receiver: (single sub out connection)
I would need an unbalanced RCA to Y-adapter, and two seperate RCA to XLR adapters into the left and right XLR inputs on the unit.

why would you use a Y adapter at this point? [UNLESS YOU WANT TO SEPARATELY EQ STEREO SUBS - if the left and right subs have different signals going to them - not split LFE]

if you only have a single sub or even dual subs (that you don't want to EQ separately) you should do this:

from receiver RCA ... adapter to XLR to one of the inputs on the BFD ... then output from BFD ... then adapter back to RCA ... here is where you use a Y adapter for dual subs

side note:
if you want more PEQ's you can connect the output of the first channel of the BFD into the BFD's second input and then use the output of the second channel ... then adapter to RCA

 

[Halon451]

why would you use a Y adapter at this point? [UNLESS YOU WANT TO SEPARATELY EQ STEREO SUBS - if the left and right subs have different signals going to them - not split LFE]

if you only have a single sub or even dual subs (that you don't want to EQ separately) you should do this:

from receiver RCA ... adapter to XLR to one of the inputs on the BFD ... then output from BFD ... then adapter back to RCA ... here is where you use a Y adapter for dual subs

side note:
if you want more PEQ's you can connect the output of the first channel of the BFD into the BFD's second input and then use the output of the second channel ... then adapter to RCA

Well, it was basically a haphazard assumption based off of looking at the rear view of the BFD. It has a left and right input, left and right output, and my receiver only has one subwoofer output. I had been using a Y-adapter for my JBL sub which had two (L and R) inputs, which I hear would net up to a 3 or 4 dB gain in output.

I would really prefer to keep it as simple as possible and not have to tweak too many things at once of course, so you're basically saying the same thing I was, except to run it through one channel of the BFD, or loop it through the second channel and then run it to the sub(s)?

 

[Halon451]

HA HA, yeah, very linear!

Feel free to draw up a rough sketch of your room so that I can give some placement advice.

Sincerely,

You've got it. Here it is.