Official Epik Subwoofer Thread - Page 600

Just received an Omnimic recently and finally had a chance to try it out today. I have dual Empires and an MFW Turbo in a non-dedicated open floor plan, about 6500 cu ft main floor. Antimode is being used to tame a couple peaks, using an older Onkyo with EQ XT.

Anyhow, here are a few graphs from my first attempt:



So there is a 1/6 and a 1/12 smoothing - not sure which is generally used. The base decay is there, though I can't really interpret it well enough to know if there is anything particularly good or bad going on.

All in all, I would appreciate any comments or suggestions. It looks like I have useable output down to 15hz, and seems like an overall fairly good response - but would sure solicit any ideas or feedback.

I probably would have been just fine with an Empire. I have a modest size room ("24x"15) and it was one of the subs I was looking at. I only have a spot for one subwoofer, so I went with the Submersive HP.

The SubM HP is just bananas. It is absolutely overkill, since I can't run it loud at night when I'm home after work, but it is just so good.

I could never get an Empire now after experiencing the SubM. However, I think the Empire is a great buy for the price. It could probably hold its own against the SubM at normal listening levels. When you get louder, those extra 1800 watts are just silly, in the greatest way possible. A cap is probably even more nuts.

Can you clarify are the two graphs of the same measurement with different smoothing or this is a comparison of two empires vs a MFW?

never mind, it's obviously the same measurement.
impressive imho.

http://www.epiksubwoofers.com/blog/
Shipping rates reduced. Not sure how much it was normally or if it's just for today.

For the last couple years our shipping costs were a flat rate on the Empire:
1 Empire: $139.00 Shipped
Dual Empires: $238.00 Shipped
Quad Empires: $399.00 Shipped

So is this a permanent rate change, or limited time only?

Somebody improve on your deal with DB Schenker or did DB Schenker offer you a better deal after you were shopping it around? (I'm in logistics)

^^ or trying to move Empires. Just saying.

Says FedEx Ground for me at checkout. Nice deal. An Empire shipped for under $900.

Might be the reason I get an empire instead of a vtf-15.

Karen:
Who is the new shipper and you did not include price for shippingI live in NH 03811 and interested in buying another EMPIRE as I have the first one you shipped to a consumer.I love my EMPIRE and another would just add to the sound. Thanks Bruce

If you actually go through the checkout process in the cart on their website (you don't have to enter any credit card info) you can see the shipping charge and the carrier (again, it shows FedEX Ground for me).

Looks like it is about $40 or so cheaper than before.

Hey Guys,

DB Schenker, our previous Empire shipping carrier, has ceased all US Domestic Ground Transport as of March 1st.

Empire's now ship with FedEx, as does our Legend subwoofers.

Shipping costs are different for everyone, based on the live FedEx rate generated at the time of order. To see your savings, visit the Empire product page, and add it to your cart. You can calculate shipping, by simply entering your state and zip.

We may change our shipping methods in the near future, but we do not have an expiration date on the current promotion.

Hope that helps.

Shows you how much us international guys pay attention to the domestic scene; my domestic department just told me that it was a surprise and strange move by Schenker since they had acquired a major US forwarder that had a significant domestic operation. I've had my experiences with Fedex ground, hopefully they've improved but if you continue to pack as well as my Empire was packed, then even Fedex would be hard pressed to screw one up (but they are talented).

Just wondering if anybody knows as to when or if Epik is going to offer any kind of a ported sub as I am an owner of the Epik Conquest myself? I find it a bit strange that Epik at one time offered a variety of designs and now only offers one design

Bob

They did have two ported 18" offering. But only lasted for a year. I was able to own a sealed one when they were selling them. You just have to wait for a used one for now.

I was very nervous when I bought my Legend because of it shipping FedEx ground, I'm not sure why but every large item I get delivered by them looks like it has been on an around the world journey and then sat on by an elephant.

But as you mentioned, the excellent packaging saved my Legend.

Actually, during that last year, they had 3 ported 18's... the Phoenix, Dynasty and Conquest. Sad to see they don't have any now.

Even after switching to FedEx, seems Epik still has no intention of EVER capturing Canadian customers.

Bravo...

Does anyone remember the Sentinel, a 12" ported sub with a 600 watt amp and an aluminum cone? I have a pair and think that they are unmatched for their size.

The amp relay in my Phoenix is acting up again and more frequent than in the past. I am thinking its time for an amp replacement I e-mailed Chad today and am waiting to hear back.

I have a Sentinel too, in a corner loaded position, and REW shows flat to 19Hz and down -4db at 15Hz. Impressive (although the very large room may have something to do with it).

I am not saying that it can hit crazy db at 15Hz. But since I usually listen to -10db from reference, there is enough headroom all the way to below 20Hz.

I sure hope that original amp is still available? I thought the new 600w amp from the empire is different, and might not match old footprint? Please let us know how this works out. Good luck!

Hello friends.

I just got an Epik Empire this week and got around to hooking it up today.

Before doing so, I made sure it was turned off and all the switches where where I wanted..., 0 phase, crossover all the way up (although I guess that is unnecessary with the two input jacks), and volume about 1/4.

I hooked up the Epik using the LFE input to my receiver, and Onkyo TX NR809, at one of the 2 sub preouts.

Then I turned on the Empire.

It started humming immediately, and is pretty loud at 1/4 volume.

I tried the other preout on my receiver, same result.

I tried a new cable, same result.

I am at a loss as to why it is doing this. Any suggestions would be appreciated, since I can't call Epik until tomorrow.

Thanks!

Justin

^^^ Never mind. I haven't solved it yet but after doing some reading, it appears I have a "ground loop" issue somewhere, that I need to sort out. Hopefully it is easy!


EDIT:

Narrowed it down to between the receiver and sub, nothing else is affecting it.

Ran to radio shack and bought a little ground loop isolator, which didn't eliminate but did reduce the problem. Interestingly, when audessey was running, there was no hum, and when the receiver is off, the hum is worse. SO, next I am going to try one of those unidirectional subwoofer cables since supposedly the sheilding isn't connected at one end and therefore should remove the ground loop. If that fails, blue jean cable has an isolation transformer I'll try.

Justin

I think he will have a replacement. I will keep you posted.

Just to follow up on this, in case anyone has this issue in the future, I spoke with Chad today and he gave me some tips and assured me that I'd be taken care of if it is a sub problem..., which is why I bought Epik in the first place.

ANYWAY, I've been pulling my hair out trying to figure this out. I have:

- Disconnected EVERYTHING from the receiver.
- I have tried THREE cables, including a "directional" or "balanced audio" cable.
- I have tried a "ground loop" isolator.

All to no avail.

So while thinking about what to do, I realize I never tried unhooking the sub from the RECEIVER end. Until now, I've always unplugged the cable at the sub end. So..., I pulled the cable from the receiver end and the sub STILL hums!

So then I pulled the plug from the sub and it stopped.... so it appears it IS a sub problem..., and for some reason it doesn't like ANY cable being hooked to it!

Unfortunately, I can't call Chad until Monday, but I'm sure he'll take care of it.

Justin

In my experience ground loop hums are caused by the circuit that you have the sub plugged into, not the sub itself. A quick way to test this would be to get an extension cord and plug it into a different outlet. Ideally try to find one on a different circuit or even a different "side" of your breaker box.

^^^^^

What he said.

Unplug all cables from the sub except the power cable. Turn it on. Does it hum??

Yes = bad amp
NO = Ground loop hum

(at least that's the case 99% of the time)