RSP1098 2CHPCM with SUB

[ghostbuster]

Holy moly, never believed in adding the sub with 2CH stereo cd's (REL Stadium III). But recently took the time to do some tests with it, and after a while trying different things i have to say my soundstage improved drastic. So much better bass without being too dominant. I'm happy to discover this, it sounds like i have a whole new set and rediscover cd's i have disquallified in the past with a too thin sound.

[BassThatHz]

Even on the same disc, you can often find songs mixed hotter or colder than the others.

I run three pre-amplification stages, one is the master, one for the main speakers and another for all the subs. This way I can vary the input sensivity level remotely and isolated from the rest of the audio chain.

Which allows for 60-100db of dynamic bass, while simultaneously listening to treble and mid-bass at only 60-80db (or whatever you want). The subwoofer output gain remains fixed, typically between 3-5 out of 10.

Once you get the bass and treble balanced (optionally on a per song basis) you can then just adjust/mute the master volume as needed.

I've been running three equalized subwoofers for years now like this; one on the Left channel, one on the Right channel and one for LFE during movies.

The music just flows out naturally, you shake your head and ponder how it's even possible that bass can improve the treble and reduce the listening fatigue at the same time.

I truly believe that it is the weakness and distortions in bass reproduction that is directly correlated to causing listener fatigue and the lack of engagement, the system is not truly balanced.

I use the SDX-15 subwoofer driver and it makes it sound so much more realistic (if done correctly). I have put them in a 120l box, rosenut colored; built for $700CAD each, with a 1300watt amp included.

As you can see from the stuff below, it holds its own amongst the best. I previously thought my HGS-10 Velodyne was good... until I heard these.


Here is a list of common subs that were tested a while back:

CSS SDX-15

http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/subwoofer-tests/8158-diy-css-sdx15-sealed-100l-new.html

JL F113

http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/subwoofer-tests/8152-jl-audio-fathom-f113-new.html

REL III

http://www.avtalk.co.uk/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=18354&start=0&rid=4589&SQ=1227837145

SVS PB13-Ultra Sealed

http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/subwoofer-tests/8147-svs-pb13-ultra-sealed-new.html

DD-15

http://www.avtalk.co.uk/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=14733&start=0&rid=4589&SQ=1227836688

Here is the break down of the Total Distortion, when matched by SPL and Frequency at reasonable levels:

LMS-18 40hz @ 90-107db with 0.8 - 1.8% THD (100db 1.5%)
DD-18 40hz @ 90-107db with 1.1 - 3.9% THD (100db 1.5%)
SVS-13 40hz @ 90-109db with 1.5 - 5.0% THD (100db 2.9%)
SDX-15 40hz @ 90-109db with 1.1 - 9.0% THD (100db 3.0%)
JL F113 40hz @ 90-110db with 2.0 - 9.0% THD (100db 2.5%)
DD-15 40hz @ 91-104db with 1.0 - 3.0% THD (100db 2.8%)
REL III 40hz @ 90-99db with 2.0 - 9.0% THD (99db 9.0%)

LMS-18 30hz @ 90-108db with 1.5 - 2% THD (100db 1.8%)
DD-18 30hz @ 89-103db with 2-5% THD (100db 2%)
SVS-13 30hz @ 89-109db with 1.5-9% THD (100db 3%)
SDX-15 30hz @ 86-107db with 2-11.5% THD (100db 5.8%)
JL F113 30hz @ 90-108db with 3-16% THD (100db 7%)
DD-15 30hz @ 90-100db with 2-4% THD (99.9db 3.9%)
REL III 30hz @ 87-97db with 2-7% THD (98db >7%)

LMS-18 25hz @ 90-108db with 2.3 - 6% THD (100db 3.8%, 95db 3.0% )
DD-18 25hz @ 87-100db with 3-7% THD (95db 3.9%)
SVS-13 25hz @ 86-106db with 3-28% THD (95db 3.5%)
SDX-15 25hz @ 84-107db with 4-18% THD (95db 8.9%)
JL F113 25hz @ 90-105db with 5-21% THD (95db 7.5%)
DD-15 25hz @ 91-96db with 2-7% THD (95db 1.9%)
REL III 25hz @ 86-95db with 2-6% THD (94.9db 6%)

LMS-18 20hz @ 90-107db with 3.5 - 11% THD (100db 8.1%, 95db 5.1% )
DD-18 20hz @ 84-95db with 5-11% THD (95db 11%)
SVS-13 20hz @ 85-100.5db with 5-23% THD (95db 7%)
SDX-15 20hz @ 83-97db with 8.5-24% THD (95db 21%)
JL F113 20hz @ 88-101db with 7-22% THD (95db 12.5%)
DD-15 20hz @ 90-93db with 3-14% THD (94db >15%)
REL III 20hz @ 82-86db with 14-28% THD (Fail, 90db >35%)

LMS-18 15hz @ 87-104db with 7 - 15% THD (95db 12%, 90db 9% )
DD-18 15hz @ 76-90db with 7-15% THD (90db 15%)
SVS-13 15hz @ 81-93db with 10-27% THD (90db 26%)
SDX-15 15hz @ 78-92db with 9-29% THD (90db 27%)
JL F113 15hz @ 78-94db with 11-26% THD (90db 18%)
DD-15 15hz @ 86-89db with 7-24% THD (90db >24%)
REL III 15hz @ 70-76db with >40% THD (Fail)

LMS-18 10hz @ 81-98db with 10 - 24% THD (87db 15%, 80db 9% )
SVS-13 10hz @ 76-81db with 26-30% THD (80db, 30%)
SDX-15 10hz @ 73-77db with 24-27% THD (80db, ~31%)
JL F113 10hz @ 79-84db with 22-26% THD (80db, 23%)

[Isaac]

I am a 2-channel person and I can't live without my subwoofer. To me music just sounded too thin without it. Once a well suited subwoofer is calibrated and adjusted to a system you can't imagine not having it.

[ghostbuster]

I am a 2-channel person and I can't live without my subwoofer. To me music just sounded too thin without it. Once a well suited subwoofer is calibrated and adjusted to a system you can't imagine not having it.

Oh yes, i have big front speakers, but they can never be compared to the big beefy bass of my subwoofer. It took some time to integrate it to my needs, but now i must say i enjoy listening to my cd's so much more.