I just received my new Denon 3808 and am thoroughly enjoying it. The last major HT piece awaiting an upgrade is my sub. I'm considering an Epik Caliber.

Regardless, my current subwoofer is an 8 year old RCA 15" powered sealed unit that I bought used 6 years ago. The original owner lost the remote, so I have had to adjust the volume manually.

So on to the silly question - do most modern subs come with remote controls for volume? If so, does any one actually use the remote, or do most people prefer to leave the volume in a fixed position, say after room calibration?

I just received my new Denon 3808 and am thoroughly enjoying it. The last major HT piece awaiting an upgrade is my sub. I'm considering an Epik Caliber.

Regardless, my current subwoofer is an 8 year old RCA 15" powered sealed unit that I bought used 6 years ago. The original owner lost the remote, so I have had to adjust the volume manually.

So on to the silly question - do most modern subs come with remote controls for volume? If so, does any one actually use the remote, or do most people prefer to leave the volume in a fixed position, say after room calibration?

Usually people calibrate the subwoofer with their system and leave it. If you want to make minor changes in subwoofer level, you can do so by bumping up the subwoofer level in your AVR by a couple dB. Once you have the subwoofer calibrated carefully, you shouldn't need to touch the "level" control on your sub again.

Very few have remotes. Some Velodynes come to mind. Most don't have remotes and most of us leave the volume on the sub set once calibrated.

Very few have remotes. Some Velodynes come to mind. Most don't have remotes and most of us leave the volume on the sub set once calibrated.

Are you following me again? Just kidding :p

We always seem to post right behind each other. At least we didn't say the exact same thing this time :)

Thanks guys. I've been fine-tuning my sub volume via the receiver like you all mentioned. But I find that during the day, I turn it down so I don't piss off the wife. In the afternoon, I can turn it up pretty loud, but have to back off again at 8pm when the kid goes to bed.

I wasn't sure if the db+/- adjustment from the receiver was the "proper" way to do so, if that makes sense. How does that play with the sub's own amp? And does modifying the signal from the receiver introduce any noise or distortion?

You will only run into problems on the receiver end if you turn up the sub out too much. I wouldn't go over +4 or 5.

Thanks guys. I've been fine-tuning my sub volume via the receiver like you all mentioned. But I find that during the day, I turn it down so I don't piss off the wife. In the afternoon, I can turn it up pretty loud, but have to back off again at 8pm when the kid goes to bed.

I wasn't sure if the db+/- adjustment from the receiver was the "proper" way to do so, if that makes sense. How does that play with the sub's own amp? And does modifying the signal from the receiver introduce any noise or distortion?

Distortion comes from over driving the amp. The best way to prevent that is to leave enough headroom on both sides. (the receiver/pre pro and sub amp.) If you calibrate your system properly and all your speakers are balanced, both the gain level at the sub and the line level/LFE output from the receiver should be fine. Most experts recommend that during set up you start with -5 on the receiver's line level out, when making your initial volume settings on your sub. However, less powerful subs may perform better with a setting closer to 0. Once every thing is set, use the receiver output to fine tune your sub according to your source and taste. Most receivers remotes have a sub level function so you can do all your settings from your listening position.

Ian

Thanks guys. I've been fine-tuning my sub volume via the receiver like you all mentioned. But I find that during the day, I turn it down so I don't piss off the wife. In the afternoon, I can turn it up pretty loud, but have to back off again at 8pm when the kid goes to bed.

I wasn't sure if the db+/- adjustment from the receiver was the "proper" way to do so, if that makes sense. How does that play with the sub's own amp? And does modifying the signal from the receiver introduce any noise or distortion?
Receivers have what's termed a dynamic range compression, one usually uses that for "night" viewing when you don't want the loud sounds of an explosion, etc. You may find it's an easier way to adjust than constant up and down db adjustments on the sub.

Receivers have what's termed a dynamic range compression, one usually uses that for "night" viewing when you don't want the loud sounds of an explosion, etc. You may find it's an easier way to adjust than constant up and down db adjustments on the sub.

There is also a midnight mode which is bit different from your dynamic compression setting. It's a one click of the button function and it will reduce audio peaks on Dolby Digital Sound tracks without losing the dynamic range.

Ian

Just picked up a REL T1. Any suggestions for good bass music tracks for setup?

When your sub makes a loud BRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! noise you have a problem :eek: :D

When your sub makes a loud BRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! noise you have a problem :eek: :D

Thanks, I think that's something that has been weighing heavily on the minds of everyone in the subwoofer community for a long time, now we know and can move on.

When Mr. Leggs' post ends with an emoticon of any kind, you don't even need to read the post to know you have a problem ;).

But for the record, Raymond's right :cool:. That isn't a good sound to have your subwoofer make. Though I still have no idea what that post had to do with the topic of this thread...

Distortion comes from over driving the amp. The best way to prevent that is to leave enough headroom on both sides. (the receiver/pre pro and sub amp.) If you calibrate your system properly and all your speakers are balanced, both the gain level at the sub and the line level/LFE output from the receiver should be fine. Most experts recommend that during set up you start with -5 on the receiver's line level out, when making your initial volume settings on your sub. However, less powerful subs may perform better with a setting closer to 0. Once every thing is set, use the receiver output to fine tune your sub according to your source and taste. Most receivers remotes have a sub level function so you can do all your settings from your listening position.

Ian

My post on sub noise was a responce to the above post LOL, Seince that distortion comes from overdriving and sooner or later the sub will fry and go BRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTT! :eek:

When Mr. Leggs' post ends with an emoticon of any kind, you don't even need to read the post to know you have a problem ;).

But for the record, Raymond's right :cool:. That isn't a good sound to have your subwoofer make. Though I still have no idea what that post had to do with the topic of this thread...