Definitive Technology Mythos Series Thread - Page 65

Originally Posted by mvp2005fan

A few questions please: What crossover are you using? Are you running them as "large" or "small"? Are the STS's sitting too close to a wall or a corner? Is adding a separate sub an option?

Originally Posted by Mamadu

Thanks for your reply. Currently I am running STS with LFE, the crossover is set by Audyssey to 40Hz. I also tried them with THX crossover of 80Hz and as full band without internal subs. The result is the same. The scene is flat and there is no good separation between different instruments. Piano doesn't sound like a piano sitting in the same room. Behind a closed door? Maybe...

I can't find "large" or "small" settings in Onkyo 807. Am I missing something?

The thing is that I have connected my old Techincs speakers as surrounds to the same receiver and if I run "all channel stereo" I defintely get much more information from surrounds than from STS fronts.

Regards,
Anton

Originally Posted by mvp2005fan

Knightsabre7, that's a really good point I had overlooked--when all else fails, check the connections

On a similar note--does the STS have a phase control for the sub section on the back? That might also have something to do with the subpar sound he is getting.

Originally Posted by mvp2005fan

Actually, I was thinking you meant perhaps Anton might have wired the STS's backwards (has happened to nearly all of us, I think).

Originally Posted by awanders

For those of you that have compared the Mythos Eight and the Mythos Ten. Is there a major difference/improvement in sound quality from the Ten over the Eight?

I have Mythos Ones all around, on a 7.1 system, an Eight for center, and Klipsch KSW12 for sub.

Just can't help but wonder if I am missing something by not have a Ten for center.

Originally Posted by mvp2005fan

Hi, Anton:

To see if there is a speaker issue, I would first defeat Audyssey so its equalization isn't part of the equation. I would also temporarily disconnect your surrounds, center, and any other speakers, and get yourself some test material with a good full range 2-ch stereo signal.

Since you are using LFE set the STS's to "Large" (full range) and make sure "Yes" is selected for the sub setting in the receiver. (I'm assuming you are using the low level inputs here).

Second, if you go to heavy on the subwoofer level knob on the STS, it can muddy things up--so you might back down on that and increase it in small increments gradually as you test things. Since your other "subless" speakers sound better, I'll bet this is part of the issue.

Finally, I've read one review where if you put the STS too close to the wall, you can also lose some clarity. You may have to find a position that strikes a middle ground between bass reinforcement and clarity. If the STS are in corners or right up against a wall, that would certainly have a big influence on the way they sound. (It is one of the potential compromises of this design that the ideal place for subs is not necessarily the best place for the mains).

In any event, the above should allow you to evaluate whether the STS's are functioning properly and what they will sound like in your room.

If you like the sound, then you can add back the other speakers and balance all of the speaker levels, etc.

I hope that helps somewhat. Please let us know what happens.

Originally Posted by knightsabre7

No, there isn't a phase control, only volume. There's always the slim possibility that the mids or sub were wired backwards internally though.

If all else fails I'd say to contact DefTech directly. They have good customer service and should know the speakers better than any of us.

Originally Posted by RC1991

Have you considered any of the Epik subs? I have a sealed Vanquish with my One's and Eight and it sounds great - blends seamlessly. I listen to a lot of music in addition to HT - if you need a bit more punch because you do more movie listening you could check out the ported Sentinel - a lot of people in the Epik thread have been very pleased with the Sentinel. Both are currently on sale as well though it's taking a few weeks for them to fill all of the orders because of the sale.

BTW - nice looking system you have - is your TV on the stand itself? I think it is but from the front it loks like it could be mounted on the wall. How did you get it elevated above the CC? I wanted to move my CC to the top shelf but I can't get quite enough elevation from the TV and it's stand (Samsung) so that the CC wouldn't quite distract from the screen.

Originally Posted by fquails

Great price on the SCII. I paid full price for mine. I feel like a total sucker now.

I currently use both the SCII and PC12-NSD. The SCII is great for music because of its sealed design and small 8" driver. I have it handling 40hz-80hz (receiver's crossover @80hz plus an external subsonic filter @40hz). What makes it very good for music, though, makes it quite insufficient for movies. Its specs indicate a frequency response down to 14Hz, but my in room response shows a lower limit of around 25hz. DefTech's own measurements show an actual frequency response of 25hz-125khz +/- 3db. In my experience, the SCII can get very strained when playing loud heavy movie LFEs It actually bottomed out (rattling, flapping sound) when I was watching "The Dark Knight", which is why I got the external subsonic filter.

When watching movies, I activate the PC12-NSD, which I have set to handle 40Hz and under using the sub's built-in crossover. My in room frequency response goes down to around 16hz. Most people can't hear frequencies below 20Hz (including myself)--these are frequencies you can FEEL. The PC12-NSD excels at lower bass frequencies, literally shaking the house effortlesssly.

I have been re-watching movies the past week. The PC12-NSD has got me watching more movies now, as each movie seemed totally new to me!. Saw War of the Worlds last night, and I heard and felt stuff that I never realized was there! Same thing with "Master and Commander", especially with the canon shots. The deep, deep bass frequencies had my couch and walls shaking, and the corner loaded PC12-NSD did it effortlessly.

I did try the PC12-NSD for music (80hz and under), but wasn't entirely pleased. It was too sloppy for my taste. The 12" driver coupled with a ported design, resulted in bass that was not tight/accurate enough for music. But if your primary purpose is movies and gaming, the PC12-NSD is the better choice over the SCII.

Note that the above opinions are subjective, and are based on my own listening preferences, personal taste, and the acoustics in my listening environment. People like different sounds, and room acoustics play a major part in how your audio gear will perform. Who knows, the SCII might go waaay deeper in your room than it did in mine.

Oh yeah, and I picked the cylinder for the smaller footprint. I was just looking at your pics. Aesthetically, I think the PB12-NSD (box design) would blend better would your setup.

Originally Posted by mvp2005fan

Agree with fquails on this one--sorry (You did get a great price though!)

I just think sonically, you'll be happier with something that reaches down lower than the SC II. (Comparing FR's is always hazardous to be sure , but I was a little surprised how much they varied between the PB12-NSD and the PC12-NSC on the SVS website. Based on these, however, the cylinder might fit with your Mythos fronts a little better in that it plays the higher frequencies a little better--at least in theory.)

Originally Posted by Mamadu

Thanks for your reply. Currently I am running STS with LFE, the crossover is set by Audyssey to 40Hz. I also tried them with THX crossover of 80Hz and as full band without internal subs. The result is the same. The scene is flat and there is no good separation between different instruments. Piano doesn't sound like a piano sitting in the same room. Behind a closed door? Maybe...

I can't find "large" or "small" settings in Onkyo 807. Am I missing something?

The thing is that I have connected my old Techincs speakers as surrounds to the same receiver and if I run "all channel stereo" I defintely get much more information from surrounds than from STS fronts.

Regards,
Anton

Originally Posted by mrjktcvs

Oh, is the 7 series showing what Audyssey sets up? My 875 is like a black box, no way to change Audyssey settings.

Originally Posted by Jafarko

As a middle aged newbie to the audio scene I have been reading these forums and others for a few months. We moved into a new house recently and I decide it was time to purchase some quality audio products for HT doubling for our HiFi also.

Yesterday I went to the local sound shop and auditioned the STS and ST series Def Techs. This shop has been in business many years and have one heck of a reputation for knowing their products. I was amazed when comparing the Def Techs to Paradigm Studio 100 or B&W 805s how un-robust or narrow they sounded. Don't get me wrong they reproduced sound with great accuracy (my ear) and were very crisp.

What shocked me even more was even the B&W CM5 produced a wide sound with great body. When the center channel (Mythos 10) was introduced to the ST's the sound was definitely fuller but not spectacular. I came away thinking some settings had to set wrong for me to like a small book shelf speaker over such a large tower made by a reputable company.

I have toyed with the Idea of purchasing Focal 826v but in the end I think I just got hooked on B&W!

Originally Posted by Jafarko

As a middle aged newbie to the audio scene I have been reading these forums and others for a few months. We moved into a new house recently and I decide it was time to purchase some quality audio products for HT doubling for our HiFi also.

Yesterday I went to the local sound shop and auditioned the STS and ST series Def Techs. This shop has been in business many years and have one heck of a reputation for knowing their products. I was amazed when comparing the Def Techs to Paradigm Studio 100 or B&W 805s how un-robust or narrow they sounded. Don't get me wrong they reproduced sound with great accuracy (my ear) and were very crisp.

What shocked me even more was even the B&W CM5 produced a wide sound with great body. When the center channel (Mythos 10) was introduced to the ST's the sound was definitely fuller but not spectacular. I came away thinking some settings had to set wrong for me to like a small book shelf speaker over such a large tower made by a reputable company.

I have toyed with the Idea of purchasing Focal 826v but in the end I think I just got hooked on B&W!

Originally Posted by Mamadu

Thank you guys for all your help.

The magic combination is Full Band + Dynamic Level set to Light. Now it performs as it should (though my wife still says there is a room for improvements since she used to enjoy a somewhat deeper and wider scene in the Division Bells by Pink Floyd, but this is another issue )

The funny thing is that these settings are not suggested by the Audyssey and I don't relly believe in artificial improvements like Dynamic Level.

Anyway, I feel much better now

Originally Posted by Jafarko

As a middle aged newbie to the audio scene I have been reading these forums and others for a few months. We moved into a new house recently and I decide it was time to purchase some quality audio products for HT doubling for our HiFi also.

Yesterday I went to the local sound shop and auditioned the STS and ST series Def Techs. This shop has been in business many years and have one heck of a reputation for knowing their products. I was amazed when comparing the Def Techs to Paradigm Studio 100 or B&W 805s how un-robust or narrow they sounded. Don't get me wrong they reproduced sound with great accuracy (my ear) and were very crisp.

What shocked me even more was even the B&W CM5 produced a wide sound with great body. When the center channel (Mythos 10) was introduced to the ST's the sound was definitely fuller but not spectacular. I came away thinking some settings had to set wrong for me to like a small book shelf speaker over such a large tower made by a reputable company.

I have toyed with the Idea of purchasing Focal 826v but in the end I think I just got hooked on B&W!

Originally Posted by Mantis10

The Mythos ST speakers working together as twin subs can reach a low of 21.37hz at -3db. The fall happens are 23hz from 85db to 84db. I watched the SPL fall even more at 22hz to 83db. At a 20hz the speakers basically are now past the -3db which measured in my room at my listening position at -5db which on SPL was 80db and holding...

...I'd love to test the STS... With the slighty small driver and cabinet I', gonna go out on a limb and say they will not reach 21.37 hz with the same output the ST has. We shall see.

Originally Posted by MD Boy

You both mentioned the PB and PC12-nsd, and now I'm pondering between these two. Though I think the PB might flow better with my layout, the PC might be more, 'unique'. I know everyone says they sound the same but based on your personal opinions, do you prefer one over the other?

Originally Posted by MD Boy

***So, anyone looking to buy a new SCII? I got a great deal on it at BB two weeks ago and I'm selling it for exactly what I paid for it.

If not, I'll just take it back and get a refund - just figured I could pass the deal onto someone else looking for a SCII and not wanting to pay full retail.