Power Sound Audio Discussion Thread! - Page 47

I don't have the soundcard needed to do that. But I don't have the capability to calibrate bass anyway (YPAO).

The XS30 has arrived unscathed.
My immediate response to seeing it was a fit of laughter at the sheer audacity of the thing. Everything about it is BIG. Those drivers are insane. No photos would do it any justice. Sitting next to it, the top is at the level of my shoulders.
Fortunately I bought a $30 handtruck, and 8' tie-downs with metal buckles at The HD. Leaving the grills off, I secured it with one strap, using a towel to protect the finish. I just wheeled it right into place.
After matching its volume with the Magnepans and M&K, all was ready.
I listened to Steely Dan's "Peg" first, and the difference was dramatic. I never understood "speed" in relationship to bass until today when I heard details in the bass I never knew existed. The kick drum was tight and intense.
I then listened to Blues Traveler's "Hook". That's when I noticed that the concrete slab my house is built on was banging on my feet.
The entire house is pressurized by the bass. Our living room is open on one side to the rest of the 2000sf house. And in the past bass would just get lost. You could find it by standing in various corners. But in the living room itself, it was like the bass would just disappear.
Now, and this is no exaggeration, it seems like the walls should be flexing. And this is simply with music, straight out of the box. I can't wait to put in some metal, jazz, and classical (Telarc 1812 Overture anyone?), let alone Cloverfield or War of the Worlds!

I should be listening more right now, but I felt it my duty to give you my first impression. I know there are alot of folks out there waiting to receive an expensive piece of equipment based on very little customer feedback, and the reputation of the company founder. I can say confidently that you have made the right decision with Power Sound Audio.

That's amazing!! Can't wait to get my PSAs.

Congratulations, Thanks for the update and try to give us some photo's. I would like to see your layout.

Check my profile. My camera battery is dead, so the photos are pre-PSA...
I did an experiment with the little Klipsch up front, and found that a dual setup was the way to go...

Very Nice, Thermoform

Great news indeed Thermoform...and thats a real nice setup you got there.

I am proud to be an early adopter. 10 years from now when the company is huge. I will remember it and know I helped it off the ground

You think that is funny. You should see when dual XV-30's are delivered.

Thanks all.
We'll be putting it to the test this weeked...

It definitely is. Saw my neighbor today, he asked "what the hell did you order that showed up on a freight truck?" I told him it was two subwoofers. He said how big are they that they needed to be shipped via freight? Brought him in the house and showed him, he thinks I'm nuts, but he wants to come over to hear them this weekend.

Nice clean setup Thermo! I bet they sound wonderful in there. Thanks for the first impression review.

Dual XV-15 Impressions:

Ok, here goes.

Delivery/Packaging:
Ok, if you have read the last two pages, you saw my growing disdain for FEDEX. After a long drive to the nearest distribution center, i had these bad boys loaded onto my Jeep Comanche and wrapped in plastic (hey, it rains a lot here). Of course, as soon as I began driving, the plastic got caught in the wind, nearly flew off, and I spent the rest of the drive with my arm out the wear window holding it down. Whatever, it worked. Dont judge me Anyways, had to make a pit stop at blockbuster on the way home to grab some movies, and made my way to the house.



My Bass buddy Leo. He is sure to let me know when the bass gets too intense... by running to guard another room in the house. Good dog.


Unloading these things by myself sucked. We'll just leave it at that. Opening them up, I discovered that they had, in fact, packaged these extremely well. Nothing special, but heavy duty foam on the four corners; No damage. i proceeded to unload them.



Appearance:
I really like the finish. Its a mix between the satin finish of my old Klipsch Sub-12 and the bumpy truck bed look of the ED sub. like a fine sandpaper. There were a few inconsistencies though (example pictured). The raised bump you see there is actually quite sharp when sliding your hand across it.




Sound:
Meh. Yeah. I know. And i really don't blame the sub woofer. I blame the bass-sucking cavern that is my house, and the terrible calibration of my Yamaha receiver. As usual it calibrate the XV-15s to -10db, which barely registered on the hearing scale. Sadly, I have the gain on the amp set to 3 o'clock, and the receiver set to +3 db. Just to hear my house quake.This probably sounds all wrong, but it is how I have to set it to get the best sound. I did the sub crawl and all! Just a terrible terrible room and seating position.


I spent a good hour moving them around the room, trying different spots.

Interestingly, As I sit in my office (this room I am typing in), an adjacent room, the bass is huge and fantastic. Really awesome actually. It wouldn't make any sense to move my sub in here though.

I am moving in two weeks anyways. Le sigh.

Overall, with what I am experiencing, these subs are an Awesome addition to my home theater. My overall review is not one of dissatisfaction at all. But...as of now, even with duals, I am not getting the "holy crap it makes my heart hurt" feeling many of you are describing. I will continue to tweak over the next few weeks.

Oh, also, unlike my ED. I am getting a nasty, but quiet pop sound each time I change sources, fast forward chapters, change from stereo to surround, etc.. getting annoying.

Wait wait wait....They still have Blockbusters left in the country?!

Also don't forget, PSA amps aren't as sensitive as other amps and need to be cranked up a little higher to get going. So that is probably why you have to have them set at 3 o'clock - that's where mine is set.

Nice set up though - what speakers are those?

Edit: NVM just saw your sig...

After a bit more calibration... and a bit of Dubstep, one of my lightbulbs just unscrewed itself. Win!

Ha, Congrats on the Dual XV15's mrsinister.

On A side note, I hope you get that popping problem figured out, I haven't had it with my XS30.

I also get the pop sometimes. But it doesn't bother me at all. Awesome setup btw. I have the craving for another xv15 after seeing all you guys. I'm probably moving soon too, so going to wait so I don't have to beak my back twice

I was getting that popping noise as well with my XS30 but after moving the sub around and fiddling with the connections it stopped (shrugs).

Same here. Weird

I got the popping noise, and called Tom. He told me to see if there was any way I could turn up the receiver's sub level and turn down the sub. My receiver was set at -9dB to match the mains. I dialed down both subs so each was 4db less than the mains, and reran YPAO which set the sub level at -2.5dB. The pop when pressing mute or pause is now gone.
Tom said that even if you have to set the receiver sub level above zero, it's not going to affect anything negatively. Just don't go to the extreme end of the setting.

You know come to think of it after I ran audyssey the pooping went away. It was when I took it out of the box with the amp on the sub too high that it was popping. That makes sense

That's the fault of the room and the placement, not the subs. Right off I see you have them both in the front of the room, and that's usually a bad idea.

New feature? Audyssey IBS?

When did Audyssey announce their integrated digestive system cure

Lol. I see what you did there

Popping occurs when the driver or amp or both run out of headroom, causing the driver to bottom out or the amp to clip. It means you're pushing the volume too high and/or boosting the low EQ too much, and it's your subs way of telling you don't do that or you will break something.

I know what your talking about but this sound he is describing is something else. What your talking about is what I have experienced on my HSU and will scare the holy hell out of you. What he's talking about is what I experienced on my XS30 and its a totally different sound. Its more like a subtle thud sound, its quiet but noticeable. Like if you were unplugging your sub and plugging it back in sound but a little quieter.

Agreeing with you, although better subs is never a bad thing.

Yesterday's effort was playing with phase, frequency limit potentiometers and the Anti-Mode. In doing so, the bass was extended and the null was reduced.. Today, it's, let's play musical subs, move them around the room to see what's what with what and see what happens with that 80Hz null.

The point of the above, good sound doesn't just happen.

In regards to the popping sound, it was discussed before on page 27, specifically post 799. I have personally never experienced the pop on my XV-15 or XS-30. I believe what Bill was talking about is drastically different than what these guys are describing.