Is the sub I just bought good?

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
http://cgi.ebay.com/SVS-Powere...VWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

EDIT: Well, that didn't last long

What is that a computer subwoofer?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
http://cgi.ebay.com/SVS-Powere...VWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

EDIT: Well, that didn't last long

What is that a computer subwoofer?

No, it's a HT sub for small to medium sized rooms
http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-pb12nsd.cfm

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

No, it's a HT sub for small to medium sized rooms
http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-pb12nsd.cfm

It could be used for a pc though.

I was on a yacht and the owner had a Carver surefire sub hooked to his notebook. I'm pretty sure that's a small HT sub too but it sounded quite decent. Definitely better than Blows or Logijunk. :laugh:

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

No, it's a HT sub for small to medium sized rooms
http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-pb12nsd.cfm

It could be used for a pc though.

I was on a yacht and the owner had a Carver surefire sub hooked to his notebook. I'm pretty sure that's a small HT sub too but it sounded quite decent. Definitely better than Blows or Logijunk. :laugh:

Well by that logic I guess just about every subwoofer is a computer sub then

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Try this for exercise. (sub duty)

Be advised, it has lots of really low content as can be seen here.

Okay, this is serious folks, this needs to be fixed. Thanks Rubycon for bringing this to my attention...

So I have my HTPC hooked up to my receiver with 6 channels being fed into the receiver (Front L/R, Rear L/R, Center, Sub) and when I go into my sound card audio utility, I can test each channel individually and they all work perfectly! However, NOTHING is being sent to my sub when I played that MP3! Absolutely nothing!

So now I know this is more of a computer issue than home theatre, but how do I fix this? Until I figure it out, I'm never going to know when my PC will output to my sub and when it won't!!!

HELLLLPPPP!!!!!

Edit: Okay, sorry, forgot super important pieces of info.... Am running Vista Home Premium, WMP, all updates, Realtek HD sound card, and my receiver is obviously not pulling bass off of any channel other than the sub channel to send to my sub.

Thanks in advance!
-Jax

 

[Rubycon]

Sorry my knowledge of HT is limited but it sounds like (pun not intended!) you have a HPF (high pass filter) somewhere in the software. I know with some DVD software players/mixers there is an option to turn off LFE or set speaker size to small. This would reduce low frequency output depending on the alignment used by the programmer. (ex Butterworth 24 db/octave - signal is 24dB lower at a frequency half of the setupoint in the case of a HPF)

You can determine the filter setpoint by using a sweep. There's plenty of them on the download page at realmofexcursion.com. I have generators that can make them as well.

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Well by that logic I guess just about every subwoofer is a computer sub then

Those are TINY though! Most PC subs just make farting noises when pushed with authority!

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Sorry my knowledge of HT is limited but it sounds like (pun not intended!) you have a HPF (high pass filter) somewhere in the software. I know with some DVD software players/mixers there is an option to turn off LFE or set speaker size to small. This would reduce low frequency output depending on the alignment used by the programmer. (ex Butterworth 24 db/octave - signal is 24dB lower at a frequency half of the setupoint in the case of a HPF)

You can determine the filter setpoint by using a sweep. There's plenty of them on the download page at realmofexcursion.com. I have generators that can make them as well.

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Well by that logic I guess just about every subwoofer is a computer sub then

Those are TINY though! Most PC subs just make farting noises when pushed with authority!

I just ran a 10Hz tone and it was played beautifully by my towers but zilch from my sub.

Edit: Again, I can go straight to the Realtek configuration software and it makes my sub make a lot of rumbling!

/cry

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: Jaxidian

I just ran a 10Hz tone and it was played beautifully by my towers but zilch from my sub.

/cry

If you heard it coming from your towers most likely you were hearing 3rd (30) order harmonics as no mains are going to produce 10Hz that's going to be audible to humans. The threshold at 16Hz for most is about 84dB without room gain and many speakers are completely unloaded at this frequency so their woofers are just butterflies in boxes at that point.

Is the sub passive or active? Check to be sure the sub is actually getting a low level signal to its amp.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Well by that logic I guess just about every subwoofer is a computer sub then

Those are TINY though! Most PC subs just make farting noises when pushed with authority!

What's tiny? Computer subs?

I do find it amusing when people complain about the size of their "big" computer speaker subs.

https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp.../Random/Log_vs_SVS.JPG
That's the PB12's little brother (PB10) under a typical "big" computer sub.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Jaxidian

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Sorry my knowledge of HT is limited but it sounds like (pun not intended!) you have a HPF (high pass filter) somewhere in the software. I know with some DVD software players/mixers there is an option to turn off LFE or set speaker size to small. This would reduce low frequency output depending on the alignment used by the programmer. (ex Butterworth 24 db/octave - signal is 24dB lower at a frequency half of the setupoint in the case of a HPF)

You can determine the filter setpoint by using a sweep. There's plenty of them on the download page at realmofexcursion.com. I have generators that can make them as well.

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Well by that logic I guess just about every subwoofer is a computer sub then

Those are TINY though! Most PC subs just make farting noises when pushed with authority!

I just ran a 10Hz tone and it was played beautifully by my towers but zilch from my sub.

Edit: Again, I can go straight to the Realtek configuration software and it makes my sub make a lot of rumbling!

/cry

Ok, well running 6 channel analog, your receiver's bass management is being bypassed, so you'll need your soundcard to do that for you.

Your software to control your soundcard may not have that functionality built into it, so that would be your problem.

Is there any sort of "bass redirect" option or something similar in your sound software?

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: Jaxidian

I just ran a 10Hz tone and it was played beautifully by my towers but zilch from my sub.

/cry

If you heard it coming from your towers most likely you were hearing 3rd (30) order harmonics as no mains are going to produce 10Hz that's going to be audible to humans. The threshold at 16Hz for most is about 84dB without room gain and many speakers are completely unloaded at this frequency so their woofers are just butterflies in boxes at that point.

Is the sub passive or active? Check to be sure the sub is actually getting a low level signal to its amp.

My towers' specs say normal frequency response is 50Hz+ so I bet you're right about the 30Hz.

By passive/active I assume you're asking if my receiver is powering it or if it powered itself - in this case it is active (powered itself).

The last thing you mentioned is what I think the problem is - I don't think it really is getting a signal at all! I think for some reason my pc is silent over the sub's channel for some unknown reason!

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Jaxidian

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Sorry my knowledge of HT is limited but it sounds like (pun not intended!) you have a HPF (high pass filter) somewhere in the software. I know with some DVD software players/mixers there is an option to turn off LFE or set speaker size to small. This would reduce low frequency output depending on the alignment used by the programmer. (ex Butterworth 24 db/octave - signal is 24dB lower at a frequency half of the setupoint in the case of a HPF)

You can determine the filter setpoint by using a sweep. There's plenty of them on the download page at realmofexcursion.com. I have generators that can make them as well.

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Well by that logic I guess just about every subwoofer is a computer sub then

Those are TINY though! Most PC subs just make farting noises when pushed with authority!

I just ran a 10Hz tone and it was played beautifully by my towers but zilch from my sub.

Edit: Again, I can go straight to the Realtek configuration software and it makes my sub make a lot of rumbling!

/cry

Ok, well running 6 channel analog, your receiver's bass management is being bypassed, so you'll need your soundcard to do that for you.

Your software to control your soundcard may not have that functionality built into it, so that would be your problem.

Is there any sort of "bass redirect" option or something similar in your sound software?

Ahah! That's it! The software has a "Bass Management" checkbox and that makes my sub rumble!

Thanks a ton!!!!!!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Jaxidian

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Jaxidian

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Sorry my knowledge of HT is limited but it sounds like (pun not intended!) you have a HPF (high pass filter) somewhere in the software. I know with some DVD software players/mixers there is an option to turn off LFE or set speaker size to small. This would reduce low frequency output depending on the alignment used by the programmer. (ex Butterworth 24 db/octave - signal is 24dB lower at a frequency half of the setupoint in the case of a HPF)

You can determine the filter setpoint by using a sweep. There's plenty of them on the download page at realmofexcursion.com. I have generators that can make them as well.

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Well by that logic I guess just about every subwoofer is a computer sub then

Those are TINY though! Most PC subs just make farting noises when pushed with authority!

I just ran a 10Hz tone and it was played beautifully by my towers but zilch from my sub.

Edit: Again, I can go straight to the Realtek configuration software and it makes my sub make a lot of rumbling!

/cry

Ok, well running 6 channel analog, your receiver's bass management is being bypassed, so you'll need your soundcard to do that for you.

Your software to control your soundcard may not have that functionality built into it, so that would be your problem.

Is there any sort of "bass redirect" option or something similar in your sound software?

Ahah! That's it! The software has a "Bass Management" checkbox and that makes my sub rumble!

Thanks a ton!!!!!!

:thumbsup:

Does it have any settings to it (like crossover frequency?), or is it just a checkbox?

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

What's tiny? Computer subs?

I do find it amusing when people complain about the size of their "big" computer speaker subs.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/spmclaughlin/web/Random/Log_vs_SVS.JPG">https://mywebspace.wisc.edu......dom/Log_vs_SVS.JPG</a>
That's the PB12's little brother (PB10) under a typical "big" computer sub.

The surefires are tiny for HT subs. Computer subs are miniscule.

Of course I'm used to bigger stuff. Notice the stick of RAM on the right for size reference. :laugh:

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
:thumbsup:

Does it have any settings to it (like crossover frequency?), or is it just a checkbox?

Just a checkbox on that screen. I'll dig around and see if I can find some more advanced settings.



Now I have another question that may be down Rubycon's alley (based on her previous responses).

From that URL you posted about the sweeps, I downloaded and played an 79Hz sine wave and was playing with my sub's LPF dial on the back (it ranges from 50Hz to 200Hz and in the middle is marked as 80Hz). Now I'm not expecting the marks on the back to be perfectly accurate but at least ballpark accurate. I noticed that as I got closer to the 80Hz tick it started to drop off (as I would expect with an analog LPF). However, the next thing I didn't quite expect. After I had it all the way down to 50Hz, I was able to adjust the sub's volume knob and I heard very dramatic differences in volume as I turned it up and down.

So what's going on with this?

-Jax

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

What's tiny? Computer subs?

I do find it amusing when people complain about the size of their "big" computer speaker subs.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp.../Random/Log_vs_SVS.JPG"><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/spmclaughlin/web/Random/Log_vs_SVS.JPG">https://mywebspace.wisc..........Log_vs_SVS.JPG</a></a>
That's the PB12's little brother (PB10) under a typical "big" computer sub.

The surefires are tiny for HT subs. Computer subs are miniscule.

Of course I'm used to bigger stuff. Notice the stick of RAM on the right for size reference. :laugh:

If you have too many of those, I can take one off of your hands...

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: Jaxidian

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
:thumbsup:

Does it have any settings to it (like crossover frequency?), or is it just a checkbox?

Just a checkbox on that screen. I'll dig around and see if I can find some more advanced settings.

The closest thing I could find was going into the default Vista speaker config and it asked which speakers were full-range speakers so I told it all of them (as they are - my rears are damn near my sub's size ).

 

[Rubycon]

Check for phasing as well.

People take this for granted!

I won't get into delay lines for your room (probably not applicable anyhow. )

But I made this video and you can hear the difference it makes - each subwoofer has its own dedicated amp so the cancellation is completely acoustic! If this were a summed output the effect would have even been more pronounced as the cancellation would've occurred BEFORE amplification!

Phase demo

Please excuse the audio in that video - the sound of amplifier fans and steel ceiling panels rattling can be heard.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Jaxidian

Originally posted by: Jaxidian

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
:thumbsup:

Does it have any settings to it (like crossover frequency?), or is it just a checkbox?

Just a checkbox on that screen. I'll dig around and see if I can find some more advanced settings.

The closest thing I could find was going into the default Vista speaker config and it asked which speakers were full-range speakers so I told it all of them (as they are - my rears are damn near my sub's size ).

You probably don't want to set your speakers to full range unless setting otherwise makes the sub handle frequencies above the 80Hz range.

You'd want to have low frequencies from the speakers to be redirected to the sub rather than have the speakers try to play them and not be able to.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Jaxidian

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
:thumbsup:

Does it have any settings to it (like crossover frequency?), or is it just a checkbox?

Just a checkbox on that screen. I'll dig around and see if I can find some more advanced settings.



Now I have another question that may be down Rubycon's alley (based on her previous responses).

From that URL you posted about the sweeps, I downloaded and played an 79Hz sine wave and was playing with my sub's LPF dial on the back (it ranges from 50Hz to 200Hz and in the middle is marked as 80Hz). Now I'm not expecting the marks on the back to be perfectly accurate but at least ballpark accurate. I noticed that as I got closer to the 80Hz tick it started to drop off (as I would expect with an analog LPF). However, the next thing I didn't quite expect. After I had it all the way down to 50Hz, I was able to adjust the sub's volume knob and I heard very dramatic differences in volume as I turned it up and down.

So what's going on with this?

-Jax

The low pass setting isn't going to be a brick wall that doesn't let lower frequencies through.

When playing the 79Hz tone, you do get decreased output the lower you go with that knob though, right?

 

[Rubycon]

Just remember when troubleshooting audio like this cancellations in the room can make it sound like you have a problem with your signal chain, speakers, or both. Hence the phase video I posted.

Look for PHYSICAL evidence (voltage at speaker terminals or cone movement). Even a piece of paper over a port may work. Once the material interacts with the room, bad things can begin that will point you in the wrong direction.