Official Epik Subwoofer Thread - Page 417

Originally Posted by TnTBigman

Hi michwill36,

What receiver are you running? Mabye you're running it too hot. After 1 o'clock on the Empire's volume knob it starts to sound muddy even with my receiver's sub level out at -2.5. Make sure you've got it plugged into "LFE in" and not "Crossover" at the back of the Empire. It might also help too if the Empire's Crossover knob it turned all the way to 150Hz.
Like Hksrv4 said, you'll have to play around with placement and listen from the Listening Position (LP) to find the best spot. A first step would be to place the Empire at the LP and go around the room noting the spots where the bass sounds good. Hopefully you'd be able to place the Empire there. Lets us know your findings.

Originally Posted by dondino

I concur with this. It took me a couple of WEEKS to get my positions right. Even today I want to try different spots. I like the trial and error though.

When I first got my Empires, I heard all this extra "stuff" coming from them and I was like wth is that? My old velo just did a bad job at producing good midbass. This is what I was hearing and at first thought, this isnt bass! But then with some trial and error, and some bfd eq, I am now appreciating what real bass is.

A good test for this is the gas station scene in terminator salvation blu ray. OMG, the robot sounds are incredible. I crossed over at 100hz and the midbass (as well as the sub 20hz) is just awesome. A couple of other good ones to try is the U-571 depth charge scene and the opening scene of Star Wars ep2 ... the big ship flyby and when it explodes after landing. Good demo stuff there.

It might take you a day or two to learn to appreciate the different sound of the Empires. I strongly suggest a form of EQ as well such as the bfd1124 if you don't mind the learning curve.

Originally Posted by jmurfk

I plan on putting an Empire in a 20x24 room with 11' ceilings. I'm coming from a bose base module, lol. Right now I only want a single and may add a second later. Just want to hear and feel the bass.

What are some of your experiences with a single empire in a large room?

Originally Posted by michwill36

ive got an integra 7.1 receiver 6.3 model. i had it plugged into the crossover. i got it plugged into lfe now. i can hear muddy voices coming out when im watching tv. why is that? i got volume at 11 oclock position too. i have my crossover on reciewver at 100.

Originally Posted by michwill36

ive got an integra 7.1 receiver 6.3 model. i had it plugged into the crossover. i got it plugged into lfe now. i can hear muddy voices coming out when im watching tv. why is that? i got volume at 11 oclock position too. i have my crossover on reciewver at 100.

Originally Posted by TnTBigman

Whats the distance from the speakers to the main listening position? We share nearly the same volume room, but mine's is more rectangular (37x15x10). My LP is 13 ft and the Empire does pretty well on it's own.

Originally Posted by dpc716

My room is 18x22, 14 ft cathedral ceiling, half open to the rest of the house. I have one empire in the front right corner, firing front to back, about 2 ft from the front wall, 17 ft from where I sit. The gain is 11:00, LFE is -3 at the receiver. This gives a 79 db test tone w/the rest of the speakers at 74. The bass is so clean it doesn't seem hot at all. W/ the MV at 0 (louder than I usually have it) I get 110-112 db peaks at the LP during movies.

I'll admit I was a bit underwhelmed with the Empire at first, but I don't know if it was break in or tweaking, but I like it more every time I listen to it. I can't think of a better out of the box bass value under $1000.

Originally Posted by jmurfk

I'm probably around 12'. You have one empire it that size room, and your satisfied with the output?

Originally Posted by dpc716

My room is 18x22, 14 ft cathedral ceiling, half open to the rest of the house. I have one empire in the front right corner, firing front to back, about 2 ft from the front wall, 17 ft from where I sit. The gain is 11:00, LFE is -3 at the receiver. This gives a 79 db test tone w/the rest of the speakers at 74. The bass is so clean it doesn't seem hot at all. W/ the MV at 0 (louder than I usually have it) I get 110-112 db peaks at the LP during movies.

I'll admit I was a bit underwhelmed with the Empire at first, but I don't know if it was break in or tweaking, but I like it more every time I listen to it. I can't think of a better out of the box bass value under $1000.

Originally Posted by michwill36

hey getech what do u have your speakers set at? -3 damn why dou tou set it back that far ? i wonder if i could do audessey on a receiver several years old? my room is 22 x22 ft

Originally Posted by pcmike

Just checking in..... still just running a single Dragon (sealed 18") with zero problems to date. I still don't wish I had "more bass." I'm still as happy as can be. It's been a full year with this beast.

I just checked out Epiksubwoofers.com and apparently they don't even make the Dragon anymore? News to me.. can someone please tell me why they discontinued it? What have I missed in the past year?

Originally Posted by getech

It really isn't a bad sub for under $1k but it really can't produce the slam that most want in their home theater. You can buy two but most likely you would need 4 to make an impact. Just my two cents...

Originally Posted by getech

It really isn't a bad sub for under $1k but it really can't produce the slam that most want in their home theater. You can buy two but most likely you would need 4 to make an impact. Just my two cents...

Originally Posted by pcmike

Just checking in..... still just running a single Dragon (sealed 18") with zero problems to date. I still don't wish I had "more bass." I'm still as happy as can be. It's been a full year with this beast.

I just checked out Epiksubwoofers.com and apparently they don't even make the Dragon anymore? News to me.. can someone please tell me why they discontinued it? What have I missed in the past year?

Originally Posted by dondino

On a related note, those of you with Empires (especially duals) what position is your gain knob on the back? Mine is around 11:00 for each Empire but I have to cut back on the receiver's (onkyo 905) sub trim by around -9db. I'm thinking of getting that closer to 0 and reducing the sub gain to around 10:00.

I know, all of our rooms are different and will require different gains but was just curious. Also what size is your room.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by dpc716

I don't disagree... I didn't mention that on the other side of the TV I have a coat closet facing the back of the room. On the floor I have 2 svs PB10's, a velodyne spl1000R & 800R that I run with the empires just for movies. (the db measurement in my previous post was the empire alone). It's almost enough but not quite. It's a sickness!

Originally Posted by dondino

hehe, sounds like it is!

I don't get it though ... have you guys EQ'd your empires to give you the sound you're looking for? I mean, it's a sealed design just waiting to be tapped.

Let's not fault the capabilities of the sub if your EQ skills are lacking ...

Originally Posted by kevinzoe

Anyone know the slope of the Empire's low pass filter (e.g. 6/12/18/24 dB)?

Originally Posted by dondino

On a related note, those of you with Empires (especially duals) what position is your gain knob on the back? Mine is around 11:00 for each Empire but I have to cut back on the receiver's (onkyo 905) sub trim by around -9db. I'm thinking of getting that closer to 0 and reducing the sub gain to around 10:00.

I know, all of our rooms are different and will require different gains but was just curious. Also what size is your room.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by robobob

Don:

Don't have dual Empires but had dual Valors and have set gain structures for many amplifiers driving passive subs so I hope I can chime in.

Is there a specific issue you are trying to resolve? (If it ain't broke, don't fix it philosophy) I know we all like to tweak (do we all have OCD? ) just asking.

In my experience, where you have things set is better than the direction you are considering.

Comments on gain structure

More comments on gain structure

Originally Posted by getech

It really isn't a bad sub for under $1k but it really can't produce the slam that most want in their home theater. You can buy two but most likely you would need 4 to make an impact. Just my two cents...

Originally Posted by TnTBigman

Thats another factor that comes into play. I have my 6 year old Promedia Ultra computer 5.1 speakers in a 10x13x8 room and the pressurization is ridiculious. I've measured individual test tones there and 40Hz has a +10db jump from the rest at 75db. I can only imagine what a Tower or Empire would do there. Not everyone has the same dimensioned room, and some rooms are not ideal (opens to other spaces etc)- so same sub performance would vary. Not to mention one's sub history and tastes comming into play (perception).