AVS › AVS Forum › Audio › Subwoofers, Bass, and Transducers › Why have a subwoofer shootout ?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Why have a subwoofer shootout ? - Page 3  

post #61 of 1163
2/8/04 at 5:46am
Thread Starter 
All good questions, and things I should have pointed out...

1. When possible, I will post results each night, the only exception is when I am out of town on business...do far, They have been here Friday the 6th and Saturday the 7th... and two posts.

2. Both subs were calibrated with the AVIA disc, the RAD Shack Meter... and a couple hours of work.

3. The Hsu in in Max Extension, one port open, the SVS in the Middle Extension, two ports open... I had to decide on something, and this seemed the fairest, because the pair of Hsu's have two ports, two 12 inch drivers... etc...

4. My son does switch each night... in other words, BOTH subs will be listened to each night...We just don't know in which order...

and so everyone knows... from the first two nights, there have been some differences noted... but both are SO good, I will definitely be keeping both company's subs...

AVS Top Picks

post #62 of 1163
2/8/04 at 6:52am
Give John Coletrain "Giant Steps" or Miles Davis "So What" a try. These both have nice walking/driving bass-lines that test, dare I say, the "musicality" of the subs.

At the end of your session, you need to try to calibrate both subs in a way you can do a quick cable-switch and hear A vs B within a few seconds of each other. That's when the fun really begins. You'll tire your son out in minutes...

Have fun!
post #63 of 1163
2/8/04 at 7:01am
Thread Starter 
All three subs are plugged into a Monster power strip... all he needs to do, turn off Sub(s) "A", take out RCA's, plug them into sub(s) "B" , and turn it/them on...

takes maybe 30 seconds... and we will do that later... but only to music tracks...

thanks for the disc ideas...

And we will also use some Randy Travis Cd's... his voice will go quite deep in a lot of his stuff, and if a sub is not accurate ( I know, I have said this before...) he sounds drunk...
post #64 of 1163
2/8/04 at 8:54am
"though either sub was really good, and better than we got from the 25-31 pc plus"

Does / did the 2531 + have a port plugged and SS filter set to 20 hz?

The reason I ask is that a 2531+ should have no trouble extending to 18-20 hz with one port plugged at the spl's you are listening. Of course the others could be extending still further. I am just curious as to the 2531+ setting.

BTW,

I am enjoying your impressions thus far.
post #65 of 1163
2/8/04 at 9:24am
Thanks for the clarity Craig. The mystery aspect should keep everyone interested.

E
post #66 of 1163
2/8/04 at 9:37am
The Dharman pair from ADIRE is going to have four open ports, so you may have to adjust the other models appropriately. :) Is there a good area to place the Dharmans with all the other subs in place?
post #67 of 1163
2/8/04 at 11:05am
Thread Starter 
I am basing that comment vs. the box subs strictly on memory ... not blind listening... so I would not take that to the bank...it was more a feeling. It is in the normal 25 hz setting... I will hook it up against a single VTF3-2 this week, and set both to max output... and see what happens there...

E... The hardest part of the mystery for me... will be finding out that tone deaf part...lol

Markotran... It may make sense to try the Hsu's with all ports open... both tuned to the lower 20's... and the SVS with all three ports... very good point...
post #68 of 1163
2/8/04 at 12:45pm
Thread Starter 
We listened (meaning my wife and I) to the following...:

Two Against Nature... Janie Runaway, Gaslighting
David Sanborn............Hideaway and Snakes
Pink Floyd .................. Us and Them

The Sanborn and Steely Dan were selected for the great bass guitar work matched up with a lot of bass drum...

In this comparo, Sub "A" was the better performer... It not only had a more relaxed bass presentation, it was also a bit deeper, although "B" had a bit more articulation in the upper bass... which was most noticeble on Snakes... My wife caught it first... You could make out the notes in the upper bass with a more see through quality with "B" than with "A".


But as things went deeper, "A" took over very clearly... it had an effortless quality that, for instance, on Gaslighting, seemed an extra 1/2 octave deeper than "B" ... Plus through the mid bass, "A" sounded less like a sub reproducing a guitar, and more like the bass player was here, than did "B"

That being said... again both were terrific sounding set-ups... but overall... for the music only... it looks like this...

Deep Bass... "A" gets a 9.... "B" gets an 8
Middle bass.."A" gets a 9 ...."B" gets an 8
Upper bass..."A" gets an 8 ..."B" gets a 9

Tonight we will watch some form of movie...
post #69 of 1163
2/8/04 at 1:11pm
Fascinating stuff Craig. I'm really enjoying this. A lot of hard work on your part, but a lot of fun too, I'm sure. Thanks.
post #70 of 1163
2/8/04 at 2:15pm
Thread Starter 
Rijax would understand... We live 90 miles apart... and we have about 6 more weeks of winter... then 3 weeks of rainy season... This is a rather nice distraction...

QUESTION FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN ADIRE...

Would you rather see the pair of Dharmans ?

Or the Acoustic-Visions Denali, which uses the Tumult Driver and two Passive 18 inch radiators... ???
post #71 of 1163
2/8/04 at 3:13pm
Quote:
Originally posted by craigsub
QUESTION FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN ADIRE...

Would you rather see the pair of Dharmans ?

Or the Acoustic-Visions Denali, which uses the Tumult Driver and two Passive 18 inch radiators... ???
WITHOUT A DOUBT, the Acoustic-Visions Denali with the Tumult Driver. Now that would be a VERY interesting comparison! :D
They take 3 weeks for delivery though!

Best Regards,
Patrick
post #72 of 1163
2/8/04 at 3:16pm
Thread Starter 
By then everyone I Pi**ed off here will have forgotten...:p

Thanks Patrick... anyone else ?
post #73 of 1163
2/8/04 at 3:20pm
I'll test the waters ,

How bout some classical music demos ??

OK , I'll go first .....how about.. StraVinsky's THE FIREBIRD SUITE , and THE RITE OF SPRING ??

Please make suggestions on your favorite piece that would sound spectacular with these subs.......anybody...??
post #74 of 1163
2/8/04 at 3:27pm
Craig, get some horns on the mix...some kind of deep solo...see which "poops" out:)
post #75 of 1163
2/8/04 at 3:34pm
Thread Starter 
Can you give me specific Discs to purchase ?
post #76 of 1163
2/8/04 at 4:23pm
test a few tracks off this disk...(the have WM to use for trial on amazon) some deep stuff here...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...56908?v=glance
post #77 of 1163
2/8/04 at 5:03pm
Thread Starter 
Big Phat Band... great name !

I also just hooked up a total Stereophile Class A system... McIntosh MA-6900 AMP, Infinity IRS Sigmas, Tube Cd Player... for later listening in a more "hi-rez" mode...

Tomorrow during a break, I will stop by a huge Barnes and Noble... They have the largest collection of Classical... and pick some stuff up !
post #78 of 1163
2/8/04 at 5:22pm
I'm ordering a few as we speak...good old dvd empire has a lot of dvd-a titles IN STOCK...a few others (CC etc) have good pricing, but not in stock on a lot of things. I too just picked up a new pair of speakers...I'll have a full review sometime in the next 2 weeks...one word..simply amazing...I'll save the rest for my review on these "hidden gems":)
post #79 of 1163
2/8/04 at 5:25pm
Thread Starter 
Threecard... Making people wait until you get done to tell them what is going on... You might as well do a blind listening test and not post which you are listening to until you have it completed...:D
post #80 of 1163
2/8/04 at 5:55pm
*lol*...sounds like someone else on the forum...just above my post to be exact:) I really just got them set up today, and took a time out to order some dvd-a and cd's for the testing myself...it'll 6 in 2 days...pretty bad:) Shed me a little light...at least it won't be 2 WEEKS :)P lol...back to ordering...anything you've run into that has some glow to it..post it:) 3C
post #81 of 1163
2/8/04 at 5:59pm
I am late to this party. You have not told us which subs comprise "A" or "B"...on purpose or did I miss something?
post #82 of 1163
2/8/04 at 6:03pm
Thread Starter 
I won't make you read through 80 posts...

Each night, before the listening sessions... My son hooks either the Hsu's or the SVS up... and the listeners don't know which is which...

After we listen and take notes, he switches them (he is 12 and loving this)... and we listen some more, then bore the AVS forum with the results...

We will not know which was which until after all our notes are posted...

a true blind test... makes sense ?

( I want to see STEREOPHILE try this...:p )
post #83 of 1163
2/8/04 at 6:03pm
He is waiting till the end...when his son reveals the subs...switching them daily:)
post #84 of 1163
2/8/04 at 6:12pm
That is a great idea...reduces the flames until the end. I also compared my 2 VTF3's against the SVS PB2-Plus....I kept the results to myself....but it will be interesting to see if we agree. Suprisingly...there were measurable differences!
post #85 of 1163
2/8/04 at 6:26pm
Thread Starter 
What type of measurements did you take ? Ie... Equipment/software... etc... ?

So far, We have run a sweep at 110 db from 80 hz to 20 hz on the pb2+ ... using LEAP software... it was pretty informal...

But when the listening portion is finished, we will do much more extensive stuff... max spl's from 80 to 16 hz...

And from what I have heard from these subs so far... I don't see too many flames in the future... (he says hopefully)
post #86 of 1163
2/8/04 at 7:21pm
Quote:
Originally posted by craigsub
By then everyone I Pi**ed off here will have forgotten...:p

Thanks Patrick... anyone else ?
Actually you might Pi** a few more people off if you startup another shootout with the Denali which costs a good $600 more than the SVS and the 2 HSU's. ;)

Still, it would be a great comparison to add a sub with Passive radiators in the mix. But, then again the Tumult, really is in a class by itself! It looks like I talked my brother into getting a Denali for his new HT, and I can't wait to hear it!

I have a Stryke Mini-Thunder which has a AV12 MKII, and 2 12" PRs, and it shakes my 4,500 cu foot room (concrete floor no less) with authority for movies. Yet it still sings beautifully for music. If you could only get a couple of these! ;)
Unfortunately for the "Shootout" the Mini-Thunders are also custom made subs!

Anyway, it's going to be a REAL treat to hear that Tumult based Denali! :D

Best Regards,
Patrick
post #87 of 1163
2/8/04 at 8:47pm
Thread Starter 
I am going to see what Dan Wiggins thinks about the idea, and go from there. I do have two of the SVS, even though only one is hooked up now...

the Denali has what could be a higher WAF rating... something to consider for my bride...

And for tonight, we watched Rock Star... which is not the usual "deep bass" reference.

The wife person likes the movie, and it does have its moments... like When the explosion happens at the end of the first Steel Dragon Concert... and both subs played it nicely... deep and powerful

Another thing that they revealed : There was a big difference in the quality of the bass between the "tribute" bar and small arena band, and the real "Steel Dragon" band... and both subs were up to the task of letting you know when the big boys were playing...

For tonight, it was a total draw... 9's all around...
post #88 of 1163
2/8/04 at 9:10pm
By the way...your wife gets a 10 for putting up with this!
post #89 of 1163
2/8/04 at 9:33pm
Quote:
Originally posted by craigsub
I am going to see what Dan Wiggins thinks about the idea, and go from there. I do have two of the SVS, even though only one is hooked up now...

the Denali has what could be a higher WAF rating... something to consider for my bride...
Craig,

Indeed, Dan might be able to hook you up faster with the Denali. In fact either Dan or Kyle from Acoustic-Visions might have one to loan, now that would be VERY cool!

If one PB2-Plus (or 2 HSUs) can't keep up with it, then you could compare 2 SVSs to the Denali! ;)

It is a nice piece of furniture, definately something to consider with that VERY tolerant wife of yours! Not only that, but you would never hear any port noise either! :D

Patrick
post #90 of 1163
2/9/04 at 4:18am
Thread Starter 
She is 5 feet, 7 inches, a size six, long strawberry blonde hair (so she officially calls herself a redhead), as beautiful as the day we met (actually more) ...This November will be 15 years married (that alone qualifies her for sainthood), and yes, she has most of a redhead's "fire".... and she considers this to be a perfect "boy having fun" idea...

And no, She does not read these, so this is not a cheap attempt at getting a new Krell amp....lol

Today, I will be stopping by a Barnes and Noble which has a huge classical/jazz cd/sacd/dvd audio area... any good ideas ?

Thus far we have Gordwin Goodwin's Big Phat Band...
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
This thread is locked  

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › Audio › Subwoofers, Bass, and Transducers › Why have a subwoofer shootout ?