Best sub EQ under $400 - Page 57

The SVS EQ1 did wonders for my DefTech setup. I have the new 8080s all around and a Trinity sub. Flattened it and made it substantially tighter, richer, cleaner and more impactful.

Yes, but Aud alone didn't do as good a job (as measured via the XTZ Room Analyzer); i.e., it seems good to 'help out' Aud a bit before running it. (Now whether I could actually hear the difference, is another issue!)

I had an SMS-1, and the thing I liked most about it was the instantaneous display as one added filters. However I think the 8033 does a better job of smoothing out the sub region than I could do with the SMS-1. I thus sold the SMS-1, but then I had no (easy way) to measure the result of the 8033 and/or Audyssey. So I bought the XTZ for this. Thus the 8033 + XTZ replaced the SMS-1; a bit more $, but better (at least for me).

lot more than 400 ha.... wish I didn't sell it... oh well we'll see how the sms compares

I am currently using the Integra 80.1 to eq the sub. Can some who has experience using the anti-mode with the Integra 80.1/9.9 chime in with their experience. The reason I ask is that I have a Parasound P7 and would like to equalize the sub with the antimode. Thanks in advance.

Given the fact that the AntiMode 8033S sells for $495 at Simplifi, the title of this thread is no longer accurate.

The 8033C is still (just) under 400$, though. (I got a great deal on mine at the Montreal Festival Son et Image audio show--299$ taxes incl.). I suspect the price increase has a lot to do with changes in Euro/US dollar exchange rates (the price was about 40$ lower earlier this year, IIRC).

Even at full price, I would not regret my purchase. Anyone with an AVR that does not EQ the sub frequencies stands to benefit from an 8033 or some other EQ. Not the least expensive option, but hardly the most expensive one either and its ease of use is second to none among all the options I explored.

I just picked up a Antimode 8033c from Tim at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest but have not installed it yet. If you plan on using the dual balanced RCA outs for a balanced connection to your sub and live in the US, you may want to consider the following cable from Blue Jeans Cable (last item at the bottom of the page):

I just ordered mine today and it ran $32 shipped to Colorado for a 1 foot length. Other lengths can be specified on their website for a nominal increase in cost. Blue Jeans gets points from me for even offering such an exotic cable standard at such reasonable prices.

Does anyone here use an Antimode 8033 with a Velodyne SPL-1200 MKII?

Agreed. It's the most amazing upgrade in my audio system.

I don't want to run 2 cables for 2 subs....does the 8033 calibrate for 2 subs, ie 2 sub outs with one input?

No. The outputs are for 0 degree and 180 degree phase outputs.

You can use a Y-cable to connect two subs, you can use the 180-degree output and invert the phase on that sub (so it is in-phase again), or if the subs make it possible, you can also daisy-chain them. Anti-Mode calibrates the subs as a system (not individually) and does its best to straighten the room response.

Depending on placement you may also get better results if the other sub is out of phase. Totally depends on the room and placement. With symmetrical placement you can bet in-phase is better.

So, the phase sub outs on the 8033 are for subs that do not have the ability to switch phase? Most subs I have seen have this, so what is the point?

I have been asking around on the forum about eq'ing subs, and I am waffling on what receiver to buy. That is mainly because of Audyssey XT being able to eq the subs. But, it is not discreet either and I will have 2 subs. I have been Pioneer all my life and am having a hard time justifying getting away from Elite because of this. Products like the 8033 make my dilemma a little less so.

What about wireless subs? I am assuming you would just put the 8033 in line before the module, with the same results?

If you want to do better than the 8033 with Audyssey, then it has to be XT32, which is better than XT as it handles dual subs better, and has higher resolution filters (more like 8033). XT32 is also a big improvement for the main speaker EQ over XT.


Yes.

You can also create balanced XLR output using both 0-degree and 180-degree outputs (you can buy a ready-made cable or build your own). You get better protection against common-mode noise. Generally the unbalanced RCA is good enough though.


Should work with wireless in the same way. If you get one, let us know of your experiences.

I will let you know how it works wireless if I need to eq.....I believe I will pull the trigger on a couple of ULS-15's while HSU has that sale on. I don't want to have to run cables to get to where I want to put them because it would be a monumental pain. Hopefully the wireless will not have any interference, and hopefully I don't need any eq.

I appreciate all of the insight here guys. Thanks.

For those of you with an antimode, did you lose some slam? Obviously the peaks are now tamed but how many Dbs did you raise it if you did ?

I would guess that is room dependent. I re-ran my receiver's test tones to bring the sub in line with the 75dB standard it was at before but I didn't have to change the previous trim level by much (no more than 2dB--lower). I gained a lot of clarity and got rid of some boominess. Overall, though, I don't think I lost any "slam".

Same. Lost boominess and the bass seems even and "right". One of my best HT buys ever.

Yup. If anything, it makes the bass tighter.

Got the Anti-Mode 8033c this morning from PosLaju.
On opening, there is a big yellow paper which carries a warning to reduce subwoofer gain before calibration.
I will be using it for a dual SVS PC12-NSD.
I then will need to increase it, post calibration, as the sound level will be lower due to the lack of ringing mode.
Won't this screw up the calibration if the gains are not increased exactly the same for both subs ?
Any suggestions as to the best way to go about this aspect of the calibration.
Q. Pre Calibration, How much to reduce each sub by?. I have a RS analog spl meter. Will a 3dB reduction be enough
Q. Post Calibration. Do I level match to ~72dB individually, for a combined spl of, hopefully 75dB-76dB
Thank you.

When I ran my 8033, I used a bit of tape to indicate where my sub gain setting was before calibration. I then lowered it quite a bit (no numbers or markings, so I can't say by how much exactly). I then returned it to the same setting as before and used the AVR's test tone to return to 75 dB.

You want to it turn way down--it is quite loud during calibration. Sorry I can't help with the two sub thing, though. Only have the one.

Got my anti-mode last week. Another satisfied customer here. It fixed a lot of boominess from my a2-300.

Although I've said it before, I wanna say it again...

I love my Anti-Mode!

during calibration. They are not kidding when they tell you to turn it down when calibrating the Antimode..

I turned the gain down for each of my subs from the initial 11 o'clock position to 9 o'clock.
I placed the unit behind the center speaker, out of line of sight.
The test tones goes really low, almost subsonic.

Could feel the throbbing in my ears but no audible sound at times
There is no signal to indicate when the test ends, so I had to peek at the LED's to see if they were blinking or not.

Post calibration, used my RS meter to level match each individually to 72dB.
Combined output then measured ~75dB. The avr's sub trim was at 0 dB with the anti-mode active.

I did not run AudysseyXT after this as I wanted to hear if there was any difference with and without the Anti-Mode in the chain.

There is a noticeable drop in spl with the 8033, so for listening comparison, I had to reduce sub trim by -3 dB when listening to Audyssey MultiXT alone.

I must admit I was initially underwhelmed. Ran a few scenes from the AVS test discs.
The stomping footsteps in THE. HULK fight scenes felt muted. Gone was the booming shaking that I had felt previously.
In the War Of The World's pod rising scene, the sofa shskes but was more defined and came in jolts rather than a rumble.
I think I need to get used to clean bass, without the overhang and long decay.

As it was late ~11.45 pm, had to stop then. My better half needed to send the kids to school at 6.45am

Sorry for the long post! Guess new toys brings new enthusiam

The Antimode lets you quickly bypass its processing so you can see the difference it makes. A-B'ing is a cinch.

My test scene was the dinosaur stampede in King Kong. Much more defined stomping. With music, the added tightness was much appreciated. Try the A-B and see what you prefer.

But yes, sometimes we have to get used to clean, tighter bass.

I too was initially underwhelmed. Not that I didn't like what the 8033 did, but it did not seem like such a big change. To be fair, my response curve before running the 8033 was not really bad and what needed correcting was a rather broad hump rather than a sharp peak. However, I gave it a month and did another A/B. No contest. Cleaner bass trumps my previous sound. I won't go without at least the 8033's level of EQ for any sub again.

Eqd bass is different. I was use to more booming in my room so its going to take some time to get used to. Sms-1 was $379 at Christmas so I picked it up. Very easy to use so far.

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