Anyone here have experience buying/placing Subwoofers?

Off-topic Chatter
141

Update!

 

Subwoofer
Learned something interesting. Apparently the HSU VTF-15H MK2 subwoofer has an A/B amplifier. I think that’s pretty unusual for prebuilt powered woofers. Might sound better acoustically, but could have the drawback of increased heat buildup. The power draw could potentially be a consideration too.

Strongly leaning towards a Monoprice 15" open-box due to performance/dollar. I could buy a third party warranty for it from Squaretrade (now Allstate) for $150 for 3 years. Still cheaper than buying that model new and reduces the gamble. That’s an option anyway.
 

Rear Channels
I have received the factory refurbished Cambridge Audio SX-60s. There are a few marks in the matte texture only visible from a particular angle, and there are a couple of places on the lower front edges of one speaker where there are some flaws in the veneer. Not bad! Those flaws should be almost unnoticeable with the grilles on and the speakers sound just like the first pair.
 

Cabling
The speaker cabling is arriving Friday. Just one issue, I didn’t realize I had ordered aluminum wire with copper cladding. Rookie mistake, I’m sending it back.

 

1 Thank
142

Cool, Keep us updated on your adventures!
All the Best,
Jeff

1 Thank
143

Thanks Jeff for the frequency sweep video! I can definitely hear (feel) 20 Hz output on my Infinity equipped DIY sub.

1 Thank
144

I guess Amazon is writing off the cost of returns because shipping is too high or something. They are refunding me the cost of that speaker cable but are not requiring me to send it back.

Feels weird…I’m halfway worried at some point they might try to charge me for it again. I have no use for it and don’t want to store it.

FWIW, I once got shipped duplicate items for an order. (Just an extra blu-ray mind you) A customer service rep told me not to worry about it. About a week later I got a threatening email telling me to return it or I’d get charged. So that’s my basis for being worried about this “ohhh don’t worry about it” approach.

1 Thank
145

I have tried to return a few items over the years with Amazon when they told me I didn’t have to return the item.
Each time, I was never contacted about the issue again.
I mean, most of the time, I have to return the item, but the few times they said to keep the item, there were zero negative consequences for me. :+1:

1 Thank
146

Glad you liked it. DYI subs give lots of “woof” for the $$. And lots of fun to build,
Check out REW. A free app that can do, well, magic as far as testing speakers.

You don’t need the calibrated mike just to play with it. REW can act as a sound source to generate all sorts of signals.
Has a room modeling function that lets you move the sub/speaker and the listening position. Then plots the theoretical freq. response in that configuration.
Add a second sub and see where it will make the smoothest response.
Can’t deal with odd shaped spaces unfortunately.
Kind of a steep learning curve. There are a zillion videos and articles on how to run it.
All the Best,
Jeff

147

Just to make your decision harder. :innocent:
Here is a review of the new RSL 12".
$800 shipped. A couple of these might do nicely.
All the Best,
Jeff

2 Thanks
148

Well the time for deliberation has ended, at least for now. Today Monoprice had a 20% off coupon that applied to the Monolith M-15 Mk2 bringing it down to $1200. (and I pulled the trigger)

This made more sense to me than buying the open box with a 90 day warranty and then spending $150-200 to get a third-party warranty for 3 years. This way I get the 30 day return guarantee AND the 5 yr replacement warranty.

I selected this model because I think to get comparable 12hz performance you need to spend twice as much elsewhere and I want that movie performance. Hopefully I chose right.

2 Thanks
149

You made the right choice.
You won’t be disappointed. Monoprice is one of the top contenders in “woof for the bucks”. With the discount - you probably couldn’t get better performance with anything else. And the full warranty is a big plus.
Now the adventure of finding the sweet spot for the sub begins.
You are going to love it!
All the Best,
Jeff

1 Thank
150

The suspense is killing me! It hasn’t even shipped yet. I guess these ship straight from the manufacturer via freight so it kinda cuts out the middleman compared to some other brands.

151

When you finally hear what’s going on below 55Hz, - the way it’s supposed to be heard…
We’ll be able to see you grinning over the Internet.
Waiting is the hardest part!
All the Best,
Jeff

1 Thank
152

The subwoofer is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I’ve never had a Fedex Freight shipment before. Feels like some serious red carpet treatment compared to my experiences with their standard consumer service.

They actually called me and left me a coherent message about scheduling delivery. I called back and immediately talked to a person who scheduled it for me. Mind = :boom:

1 Thank
153

Well, the black beast has arrived. I knew it was large, I read the measurements, but I wasn’t ready! :joy:

During the first Audyssey setup I got almost nothing out of it. I think I had the gain on the subwoofer amp too low. After tweaking some receiver settings manually and cranking the sub amp some more, I have BASS. I had to pause the sub scene from Aquaman because I thought the neighbors were about to come knocking to ask about the simulated earthquake. Seriously deep power!

With the sub amp too low during setup, Audyssey set the gain to +10 on the sub. I think now that I have the amp situated better I should run the setup again. But first, I need to figure out where I’m putting this thing permanently. The footprint is large enough that it is might affect my plans for placing and spacing the fronts and rear surrounds. So I have to do some thinking before I finalize things.

154

There are lots of people that claim you should end up with a trim of around -10 (max is -12). A bunch of reasons, but pushing the internal gain too much can cause distortion from the AVR, seems to be the primary one. It also give you room to run the trim up from the options menu. In any case, I believe that the consensus is that it is better to run the sub amp hotter than to use gain from the AVR. I linked a great thread from AVSforum.com above that talks about this and much more when it comes to all things subwoofer.

The first few posts are a great primer and a great reference (in case you missed it):

3 Thanks
155

I agree, -8 would be OK too thinks I. But it’s a simple twist of the SW gain knob to dial it in.

CE. Welcome to the 30Hz and below club.
And I could see you smiling and hear the giggles all the way down in Texas…
Now to find the sweet spot vs room decor.
All the Best,
Jeff

1 Thank
156

I am following the thread.

I have the gain at a quarter of the potentiometer not quite half way.

The setting is very important start at the bottom and work your way up, don’t use the automatic setting it will go up a lot, that’s only good for speakers and I don’t use it either, I use measuring instruments.

That’s a lot and it usually goes up to that value when using the automatic mode of the amp, preamp or whatever you use.

I have never set up a sub that goes above 0, always below or at most at 0.

And if you have to turn it up that high it’s either bad or it’s not the sub you need.

As I said in some post, if you listen to the sub, it’s either not a good sub or the crossover is poorly regulated.

I see you have already bought it, now adjust it well and enjoy.

Remember that depending on where you put it it will be better or worse, you will have to look for the right place and it is done by testing, testing and testing.

It doesn’t matter where you place it, it doesn’t have to be right next to the main speaker, it will be where you feel it is best according to your room.

Once placed you will not know where it is, because it will seem to come out of each of the speakers, you will feel it and you will not hear it!

I hope you understand I used a translator. :man_facepalming:t2:

Edit: try putting it on nails, it makes the blow dry and short.

If you put it with the legs on the ground the hit will follow for an instant around the room blurring the next one.

Isolate it by making it touch the floor as little as possible.

157

For some strange reason, this thread has vanished from both my Off Topics Chatter and the main listing. I have to get there by finding the link in my POSTs etc.
At the time frame for the last POST here, it’s just not there in the list of threads.
Whisky Tango Foxtrot?
How about you?
All the Best,
Jeff

158

Figured it out. It was a setting in My Preferences…

I lied, Still having problems.

159

It’s still sorting to the top of latest, if there’s been a post, for me.

160

I’m sure it’s some setting in my account.
If I’m logged out - everything is normal.
I log-in, and it’s gone.
If I can’t figure it out I’ll go over to the “site” section.
Thanks,
Jeff