[enzo]

Im currently trying to decide between a PSB Subsonic 7 which has a 0 or 180 degree phase switch, or a Sunfire True Subwoofer Super Junior Which has a continously adjustable 0-180 degree phase switch.

How important is it to the setup process to have a continously adjustable versus a simple 180degree switch?


The reviews say that the subonic performs better, but i am concerned with the setup part of the install.


Thanks

 

[showard]

If you go with a 0/180 phase subwoofer you will be somewhat limited in where you want to place the box. Only a few spots will sound as good as it can. If you go with a fully adjustable subwoofer you have greater freedom to place the subwoofer and still have it sound as good as it can once you adjust the phase.

 

[davidylyl]

To my ears and in my HT, a sub with a 0/180 switch is fine. The wave length of an 80 Hz tone is about 13.6 ft. Because the WL is so long, small differences in phase caused by placement are not that noticeable (to me, anyway). Or put this way, the quality of the sub's output, in terms of accuracy and range, are much more noticeable to my ears than perfect phase matching with my mains. Also, consider that the sub can be in perfect phase with all 3 fronts in only one listening position - the spot equidistant from all 3 fronts. Example: For a person sitting 2 feet to the left of the sweet spot in a room with a corner placed sub, the sub is roughly 50 degrees out of phase with the L front speaker (very roughly, OK? I started doing the drawings and measurements for this in Visio, and it started getting out of hand). The point is that in any home theater (except those that have a sub sitting below each main speaker, and even that's a problem - but I won't bore you with it), the sub will be in perfect phase with the 3 fronts in only that one spot. The reason that this isn't a big deal is because of those long wave lengths. My ears, at least, just aren't that sensitive to phase problems in this range.

 

[enzo]

Thank you, i appreciate everyone's input on this subject. I guess i shall have to go test them out and see which sounds better!