***Official HSU owners/support thread!*** - Page 190

Yes after running Audyssey I get -12 db if it is around 9 o 'clock. I thought if its +/-5 or +/-3 that its ok to leave it there but Dr Hsu what you are telling me is that the sub gain should be at 9 o 'clock or less and be at the +/-5 or 3 in order to be correct?

If its too low like -12 you might have problems kicking on the sub out of sleep mode at lower listening levels. If its above zero you can clip the output on the receivers sub out at high listening levels.

That is confusing. With the sub at 10 o'clock, Audyssey set it to +5, and with the volume at 9 o'clock, Audyssey set it to -12??? However, your new reading sounds much more like what I expect. Now try setting the volume to like 8 o'clock and re-run Audyssey so Audyssey sets the sub out at closer to 0 dB.

Ok now I am confused if 10 oclock asks for a + and 9 oclock gives a -12 wont 8 oclock make it worse?

That's why everyone is confused with your results, turning down gain on sub should make receiver number increase.

i had the exact problem with my sub, but when i set gain to 7 o clock mcacc got it close to 0 db. two cents of words.

Like Luke said, turning down the sub volume should make Audyssey set the sub out at a higher level. If 9 o'clock is -12, setting the volume on the sub lower (e.g. 8 o'clock should make Aydussey set the sub out higher, e.g., 0 dB.

Actually guys now I'm confused if in the past I got a -12 or a +12. So basically if I did indeed got a + 12 at 9 o'clock then 8 o'clock should put me closer to zero ?

Yes

Using Audyssey MultiEq XT, my VTF15 requires about 8:30 on the gain knob to land around -2.0 db.

The best practice with Audyssey is to run, adjust the gain, and rerun until you land +3.0 to -3.0 db.

If Audyssey sets it at +5.0, you need to lower gain.

LMAO I don't know if you got a + or -?

Put up your room layout so Dr. HSU can give you some recommendations for placement.

If its a + number on receiver, turn up gain on subwoofer. If its a - number on receiver, turn down gain on subwoofer.

A boomy sounding sub is a setup issue or a frequency response issue such as from subwoofer or seat placement 9 times out of 10.

If its +5 you need to turn up gain on subwoofer and re-run.

In the past I had a + 3 but the sub gain was closer to 10 o'clock. So having said that is it ok to have a + 3 around 10 o'clock or does the gain have to be even lower like around 9 with a + 3 ?

Hey Folks - quick question for everyone.
My desktop system in my office consists of PC>>Optical to Emotiva XDA-1>>Emotiva miniX a-100>>Speakers.
I want to add a sub to the system just to fill in what the small bookshelfs can't provide. Is it correct that with a STF-1, I could run from the amp to the Hsu high level input, set the x-over to say 100hz, and run the speaker level output to the speakers? Would the miniX still maintain volume control over everything?

TIA

If you have to turn it up to 10 o'clock or higher and get +3, I would look for a better subwoofer placement. That's a pretty high gain setting it seems to me to get +3.

If you got +3 at 10:00 try 10:15- 10:30. Rerun and report.

The reason for concern on your settings is the combination of high gain on the sub and high output from the AVR may cause a headroom issue and unwanted distortion.

No. If you need +12 at 9 o'clock, then you need to set the sub to 11 - 12 o'clock to get 0 dB. Just check and make sure you get the sign (+ or -) right!

Yes and no. Yes, you can connect your Emotiva amp to the STF-1 and the STF-1 will pick up the bass, but note that the main speakers will be running full-range. The STF-1 does not keep bass out of the main speakers. The miniX will control the volume of both the sub and the main speakers.

An alternative will be to use an inexpensive receiver that has bass management that allows you to keep bass out of the main speakers and you will get much better overall performance. That way, connect the STF-1 to the sub out on the receiver.

Auto on is an issue for me. In general, will using a splitter in the back of the sub to plug into both rca ports encourage the sub to come on at a lower receiver volume?

You can always set it to 'on'. It does not consume any more power in the 'on' mode. In standby mode, the amplifier simply mutes the signal. All circuits are still on.

I ran Audyssey and it set my 15h to -2.5 db. From what I've read, it's generally accepted to increase the sub's out +3 db which would put me a +.5 db. My question is what setting do most of you actually run at?

Do you stay with the 3 db range or do you go far above that when watching movies?

Or is it a better suggestion to crank the gain ever so slightly and go for the 0 db output using Audyssey?

I like +3 dB for movies and flat for music.

I've had -3 before at almost 10 o'clock but Dr Hsu says 10 o'clock is too high that it needs to be 8 or 9 o'clock.

I'm 99.5% movies. I've been listening so far at 0 db at the most. I'll crank it to + 3 on my receiver and see what it sounds like tomorrow.


Thanks Doc.

This still does not answer my question. "What about using an rca splitter to hook into both rca ports instead of a single port? Some say you get a stronger signal and the auto on feature will come on sooner?" and "In general, will using a splitter in the back of the sub to plug into both rca ports encourage the sub to come on at a lower receiver volume?". But thanks anyway.

Dr Hsu this is regarding the issue with high gain with my sub and here are the sub crawl spl's for the room for sub placement. Were I have the sub placed now is where the 76,76,73,73,73,66,60 reading is.



68,68,66,75,75,71,66


68,74,66,72,67,64,60


75,76,70,72,70,64,64


76,76,73,73,73,66,60


76,72,71,75,64,64,66

Using both RCA inputs will boost the signal's gain a bit. It is functionally no different than turning up the sub out channel on the AVR.

I think Dr. Hsu answered your question. It is his recommendation, as designer of your subwoofer, to leave it 'ON' since it does not consume any additional power or affect the reliability of the amp. Using a splitter is a workaround that is just boosting the gain.

What are the levels in your AVR?
Where is your crossover?
Where is the LPF of LFE?

Better yet what sub is he using? Last I saw he wasn't currently using an HSU sub, probably why he didn't like the answer.

Shady has it right, adding a splitter will up the input. It would also work to lower the gain on the sub, and increase the receiver out level.

A splitter is a few bucks, Bond could always try if not getting the answer he wants.

I recently got a VTF2-MK4 after my Epik Sentinel crapped out. I use my home theater for both music and movies. I use the front 2 speakers and sub for 2.1 channel listening through an Emotiva USP-1 pre-amp and use the home theater bypass feature on it to also use the front speakers for movies.

I set the gain on the sub to about 12 o'clock to get the bass level to my liking for listening to music. The problem is that when I did an Audyssey calibration (onkyo 707), It gave me a -15db trim level for the sub. I don't want to have to adjust the gain on the sub each time I switch from music listening to movies, so I looked into possible solutions and read up on attenuators to reduce the subwoofer signal level coming from the AVR.

1. Will a line level attenuator work on the sub output?
2. If so, will it in any way damage the sub?
3. If this is safe to use on the sub. I looked up a few on Amazon (links below). Any suggestions on choosing between the 6db or 12 db?

http://www.amazon.com/Harrison-Labs-Line-Level-Attenuator/dp/B0006N41AG
http://www.amazon.com/Harrison-Labs-Line-Level-Attenuator/dp/B0006N41B0/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_1


And just for reference, the room is 13 x 17ft with openings to the hallway and kitchen.
media_room.pdf 216k .pdf file