Any comments on this graph

**tdusman** · **02-04-08, 07:25 PM**

Hi,

I have a new SVS 20-39pc+ that I am trying to setup. This is my first time using REW and I am not sure how this graph looks??? This my sub w/ the mains, any suggestions? I have tryed to flatten the response using the phase, but to be honest I am not really sure what I am looking for.

Thanks,
Terry

**brucek** · **02-04-08, 07:47 PM**

The phase affects the area around the crossover frequency.

So, if your crossover is 80Hz, then make adjustments to the phase to get the smoothest transition between the sub and mains around 80Hz (~70Hz-90Hz).

Overall your response is very, very good......

brucek

**tdusman** · **02-04-08, 08:14 PM**

I am using the bass management in my amp, it's a Denon 3801, it is supposed to be at 80 but when I ran just my mains it appeared as if the crossover is closer to 70. I think that this is the smoothest response I can get. Would I get any benifit from a BFD?
My setup is in the living room and I cannot move anything else around and I cannot add any bass traps or other treatment.
Is there anything I can do about the null at 23hz? I have the SVS setup for 16hz, it is much flatter than 20hz in this room.

Thanks

**brucek** · **02-04-08, 08:27 PM**

Quote:

Would I get any benifit from a BFD?

Not that you'd notice.

Quote:

Is there anything I can do about the null at 23hz?

It's hardly deep enough to even talk about.

brucek

**tdusman** · **02-04-08, 08:34 PM**

Thank you very much!
Maybe now I can stop obsessing and start enjoying

**clausdk** · **02-05-08, 08:07 AM**

I envy your room!

well done.

**tdusman** · **02-05-08, 08:23 AM**

Quote:

clausdk wrote:

I envy your room!

well done.

Luckily for me my wife has been busy studying for an exam so I have had the last 2 weeks to "play" without interruption

Now I must resist the urge to tweak it more because I know I will screw it up somehow…

**clausdk** · **02-05-08, 08:26 AM**

Quote:

tdusman wrote:

Luckily for me my wife has been busy studying for an exam so I have had the last 2 weeks to "play" without interruption

Now I must resist the urge to tweak it more because I know I will screw it up somehow…

Hehe excellent!

I also recently got to the point where it was so good I was afraid to tweak anymore in fear of ruining it!

I recently also tried toggling the BFD on and off....oh boy what a difference. I truely can't thank this forum enough for the wakeup call I got on bass and all the things I've learned - and still learning

**tdusman** · **02-05-08, 10:16 AM**

I have one more follow up question.
With the setup I have above I am finding that music doesn't sound as good anymore, is this where I should be using the "house curve"? I primarily use itunes for music should I just play with the EQ to see if that helps?
I watched Stardust last night and it sounded fantastic! I am not sure if it was just this movie or if it was the tweaking or both but I found the range in this movie to be remarkable.

Thanks again!

**brucek** · **02-05-08, 12:13 PM**

Quote:

With the setup I have above I am finding that music doesn't sound as good anymore, is this where I should be using the "house curve"? I primarily use itunes for music

Don't take this the wrong way, but have you found this problem started after you changed to itunes music? I wouldn't really qualify any encoded music such as AAC (.m4p/.m4a) or .mp3 etc as critically listenable. These formats are great on the go, but have you tested your system with a CD and still find that it 'doesn't sound as good' ?

I think you'll find that a simple tone control adjustment can offer the same effect as a house curve. Most receivers still have tone controls or loudness buttons. Have you given that a go?

brucek

**tdusman** · **02-05-08, 01:02 PM**

Quote:

have you tested your system with a CD and still find that it 'doesn't sound as good' ?

I think you'll find that a simple tone control adjustment can offer the same effect as a house curve. Most receivers still have tone controls or loudness buttons. Have you given that a go?

brucek

What is this "CD" you speak of?

I haven't tested it with a CD yet, music seems to lack bass with the most recent changes. When I looked at my previous attempts with REW there was a drop off around 50 Hz now that its flatter it just seemed a little bright. I have been mostly testing with different Jazz compilations.
I didn't want to mess with anything in the amp as I like how it sounds for TV/Movies which is 90% of my usage.

**brucek** · **02-05-08, 01:23 PM**

Yeah, it's interesting that you find it lacking with music, but good with movies. It would usually be the other way around with your rather 'flat' response.

Usually the response you show is quite good for music, adding nothing to the intended source.

Movies on the other hand, have ridiculous synthesized soundtracks that scream for a big boost in the bottom end to shake the house.

A house curve really only boosts the bottom end to offer a rising bass as the frequency gets lower. A tone control will give the same result. You might try that. Or maybe even turn up your subwoofer amplifier a wee bit and see if you're satisfied...

brucek

**tdusman** · **02-05-08, 01:29 PM**

Ok I will try and see.
Thanks again, I am learning so much!

**thxgoon** · **02-05-08, 02:36 PM**

If you're using the analog out on your soundcard it may be rolling off the low frequencies as well. You can test it with REW but I'd just try a good old fashioned CD (if they exist anymore...jk).

**brucek** · **02-05-08, 03:08 PM**

Quote:

try a good old fashioned CD (if they exist anymore

Just a second here.... am I so out of it that I have missed something? What do you mean by that statement? Are the majority of people actually using sources of music on their main systems that isn't CD or SACD?

brucek

**tdusman** · **02-05-08, 03:22 PM**

I'm using optical from my soundcard.

I can honestly say that I have not used a CD in 3 years, I moved all my cd's onto my HTPC and now I usually just buy the songs I want, but I don't listen to music as much as I used to, I think I have around 20,000 songs on on the PC right now!

**thxgoon** · **02-05-08, 04:35 PM**

Ditto Brucek. The only cd's I listen to anymore are my 'hi fi' ones, otherwise I buy them on Itunes and stream them to my system via wireless network. I haven't bought a CD in probably 5 years. Kind of sad really...

**terry j** · **02-05-08, 04:41 PM**

I'm a bit confused too. First off, excellent looking response a' la natural Most would kill for that after room treatment and eq!

You obviously have no recent changes made by an eq unit, and presumably have not just added traps etc, yet your recent post is With the setup I have above I am finding that music doesn't sound as good anymore.

Is that solely a result of the change in subs? (I have a new SVS...) In that case, what was the response of the old setup? The answer to your questions may be contained in the difference, and it may simply be 'getting used to the new response'....????

**tdusman** · **02-05-08, 07:58 PM**

Quote:

terry j wrote:

I'm a bit confused too. First off, excellent looking response a' la natural Most would kill for that after room treatment and eq!

You obviously have no recent changes made by an eq unit, and presumably have not just added traps etc, yet your recent post is With the setup I have above I am finding that music doesn't sound as good anymore.

Is that solely a result of the change in subs? (I have a new SVS...) In that case, what was the response of the old setup? The answer to your questions may be contained in the difference, and it may simply be 'getting used to the new response'....????

First thanks!

When I said it doesn't sound as good anymore, I meant before the use of REW, I think I may have had the sub set to hot. I was using DVE to calibrate, it was way off. Now I used my amps pink noise to get the levels better.
I think you were also right in that I have to get used to clean tight bass, my old sub was a 10" JBL that was very boomy.

Now here is the a new chart after turning up the sub a bit(and a few other tweaks). I don't know if it's better or worse. I also managed to get rid of the peak at 80 hz. I think I should have left it alone, See idol hands are the devils playground.

Any thoughts on this? I think I can get back to where it was previously as I have saved all the settings

**brucek** · **02-05-08, 09:02 PM**

I know I'd like that a bit better, but everyone likes a different sound, so now it's up to you...

**tdusman** · **02-05-08, 09:19 PM**

I haven't had a chance to test it yet. I have spent about 3 hours tweaking and now I am watching a hockey game. I will have to test it later...

On a side note, I don't have a CD player. I have been using my computer for soo long. I didn't even think about it. I us my computer as my upconverter also and I have the xbox 360 for hd dvd and PS3 for blu-ray.I Just thought it was funny that if I want to play a cd I would use the computer anyway

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