CSX-15 owners thread... let's hear from owners!

I have had my CSX-15 since the end of October. My sunroom and dining area are a combined 16'x26' with an open kitchen L'd off the back half of the dining area. I'm having a lot of difficulty getting things sorted out and so far have not been able to achieve anything remotely resembling a flat response. So you other guys need to post your successes so I won't feel like I'm fighting a losing battle.

Anyway, the crossover network seems to lower the input level considerably. I'm running around 70% on the volume control w/xover enabled and set at 90hz. I used REW to generate pink noise with low cut 20hz and high cut 80hz. (I'm assuming that produced random noise with frequencies confined to that band which is inside the xover setting.) Output increased 8 or 9db when I flipped the xover into bypass. I thought it odd that the crossover network would attenuate the signal to that degree. If my results or conclusions seem flawed on that let me know.

I'm leaving the bass boost turned all the way down. I think it is centered aound 45hz and I sure wish that it was adjustable. The phase worked best at 0 degrees with the sub side by side with the left main speaker.

I'm having problems with a very large peak from 60 to 90hz that forces me to lower the sub levels causing the 40hz and lower stuff to disappear. Some cancelling around 32hz is a problem too. I am trying everything I can think of that might help flatten things out.

The receiver appears to have a weak 12db/octave crossover at 90hz. Add the nasty room peak and you would think that the mains were going full bore well into the 50's and only falling out by the mid to low 40's. (Hey, maybe thats why I was always pleased with the bass output before I had a sub and only listened to music.) Turn on the sub and add its output to the already stout midbass region and well, nada below 40hz.

I experimented with the sub crossover and found I could lower the excessive levels in the 80 and 90hz range a little bit with a setting of 75hz. Crossover settings between 40 and 75 didn't seem to have much of an effect on the measured output but subjectively I thought the sound in "Fellowship of the Ring" was muddy with no impact. In bypass I had some nulls as high as 305hz where the sub seemed to be contributing to the problem. I finally said phooie on it and set it at 90hz.

In the next few days I hope to experiment with a BFD and see if it can help cut the midbass and let me get more out of the low end.

Yes, briefly. Not to any great detail though. Jake at Cadence stated...
I understand the advice given a theoretical context of two crossovers stacking which could create a hole between the sub and mains coverages. However, I do not have a "hole" in the crossover region, I have a "whole lot" of the crossover region!


There may not be any sub problem. It could be a measuring problem, a room problem, a sub problem or some combination of the three. I just don't know yet.

2-CSX 15s run in a 17x28x10 room, half of which is the family room that is open to a kitchen and dinning area.

I found that after adding the second it really improved the sound. Got rid of some nulls in the room.

x-over set to bypass, use the AVR (onkyo 805) x-over @ 80Hz for all speakers.

Phase control set to 180 due to having them at the back of the room on either side of the couch (WAF).

Bass Boost set to 0.

Volume set to about 9:30 on the dial.

I just got the Cadence CSX-15 from a certain online auction site for $319.20 shipped; let's just say it ryhmes with schmeebay I had one 10% coupon from schmeebay, and another 10% coupon from Cadence ( tenoff ). I called Cadence to ask for their coupon after I had paid through Paypal and they sent me a refund check. You just don't get that kind of service anymore, and it was greatly appreciated.

I just calibrated it with the Pioneer VSX-01TXH Elite and it shakes the house.
I can't believe this sub is under $400, I have heard $600+ subs that don't sound as clean and powerful as this one.

The best purchase I have made in a long time; and no, I don't work for Cadence.

Let's hear some more impressions. How does it compare to the H100 and other bargain kings?

Well add me to the list of CSX-15 owners. I am upgrading from an Onkyo 10" sub that came with my HTIB about 5 years ago. I could not resist the CSX-15 for the price I was able to get it for. Talk about a bargain if it performs anywhere near what I expect.

My system will now be complete with:
Polk Rti70 fronts
Polk Csi40 center
Polk Fxi30 surrounds
Cadence CSX-15 subwoofer
Onkyo SR502 receiver (next thing to be upgraded)

I can't wait to fire up a Blu-Ray on my PS3 to see how this system sounds!

Well that's good to hear. I am pretty sure I'll be impressed. I have very little to compare it to.