Topic: Subs in the house?

[scervin]

Congrats!  That sub is probably the best I've heard for music.  I'm holding out for either the UFW-12 or REF Sub as the 10" didn't fill my large room.  Right now I'm using SVS 25-31 PC+ tuned to 22Hz.  The thing is a beast for HT, but for audio it is a little messy.

SC

[wboswell]

I gets better and better every time I turn it on...  I'm a dumbass so it took me a while to figure out that it sounds better with the speakers set to "small" on the NAD and having the ufw-10 do all the LF work.  Less strain on the NAD-more power for the mids and uppers.  Haven't done any spl tests yet so its still not being as efficient as I should.

[Jason B]

I forgot to mention that I am dealing with a hum coming from the speakers.  I'm planning on taking it down, piece by piece to try to isolate the hum, but I'm guessing that it has something to do with the fact that 1) all of the cables are in such a mess or 2) something being improperly wired.  I made all the connections in a hurry on Christmas Eve and haven't had a whole lot of time to play with it since.

William,

Put all of your equipment, including the sub, on the same circuit. Also check to make sure that if you have satellite, your dish is properly grounded. So many idiots from dish network come and install a dish, and never bother to ground it.

Congrats on the new equipment!

[nickgregory]

So many idiots from dish network come and install a dish, and never bother to ground it.

'thats the damn truth...the directv guy installed my dish 4 years ago and never grounded it...had to ground the damn thing myself when I noticed he had not done it...

[wboswell]

I'm stumped with the hum...  I have all components plugged into the same circuit.  I unplugged each component, then speakes, one at a time, powered up the unit after each connection was removed, and the hum was there until the last speaker was unplugged.  Obviously there was no hum when there were no speaker connections.  I don't think its a ground loop issue b/c I didn't have a hum with my Denon unit.  I believe its an analog thing and associated with the internal fans on the unit.  They are audilble when the unit powers up...

The weakest link is the power stip I have the components plugged into, but that'll have to do for now.

The only analog connections are an s-vid from the NAD to the TV, the component out from the 2900 to the NAD, and the 5.1 connection out of the 2900 to the NAD.  All else are digital (DA-30mkII, 2900 for redbook, Charter digital cable box has a digital out).

I don't remember it being nearly as noticeable until I connected the unit to the TV for set up.  The first few days I had it, I just plugged it up an went with it.  Then I made a video connection from the TV to the NAD so that I could use the onscreen display to set the speaker distance, etc...  that's when the hum became more noticeable to me anyway.  I may have just not picked up on it until then, and I'm thinking this is the case.

The sound is just great, but the barely audible hum grates on me when watching TV.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!


     

[twoodruff]

So far so good with the sub.  Unfortunately, I can't isolate the sub as the only improvement in sound as I also added an NAD T763.  The NAD pushes 100watt/channel while my former pushed 80(Denon) watts/channel.  The combination of the two turned my room into a whole new beast.

The sub does not shake the foundation..  but that's not really what I was looking for.  I wanted to feel Matt Apts kick drum in my chest and the UFW-10 does that very well.  For HT, its presence is certainly felt, but its much more of a defined rumble rather than window pane rattle.  In a smaller room, I know it would do a better job, but for now, I have no complaints. 

I've only had it for a few days so as it breaks in, I'm sure I'll have more to say...

edit...
I forgot to mention that I am dealing with a hum coming from the speakers.  I'm planning on taking it down, piece by piece to try to isolate the hum, but I'm guessing that it has something to do with the fact that 1) all of the cables are in such a mess or 2) something being improperly wired.  I made all the connections in a hurry on Christmas Eve and haven't had a whole lot of time to play with it since.

congrats on the new sub

[scervin]

I'm stumped with the hum...  I have all components plugged into the same circuit.  I unplugged each component, then speakes, one at a time, powered up the unit after each connection was removed, and the hum was there until the last speaker was unplugged.  Obviously there was no hum when there were no speaker connections.  I don't think its a ground loop issue b/c I didn't have a hum with my Denon unit.  I believe its an analog thing and associated with the internal fans on the unit.  They are audilble when the unit powers up...

The weakest link is the power stip I have the components plugged into, but that'll have to do for now.

The only analog connections are an s-vid from the NAD to the TV, the component out from the 2900 to the NAD, and the 5.1 connection out of the 2900 to the NAD.  All else are digital (DA-30mkII, 2900 for redbook, Charter digital cable box has a digital out).

I don't remember it being nearly as noticeable until I connected the unit to the TV for set up.  The first few days I had it, I just plugged it up an went with it.  Then I made a video connection from the TV to the NAD so that I could use the onscreen display to set the speaker distance, etc...  that's when the hum became more noticeable to me anyway.  I may have just not picked up on it until then, and I'm thinking this is the case.

The sound is just great, but the barely audible hum grates on me when watching TV.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!


     

If using grounding plugs go out to your local hardware shop and grab a cheater plug.  It will accept the 3-prong plug, but has no ground to the outlet.  For less than a buck I find its good to at least give it a try if all else has been checked.

SC

[wboswell]

If using grounding plugs go out to your local hardware shop and grab a cheater plug.  It will accept the 3-prong plug, but has no ground to the outlet.  For less than a buck I find its good to at least give it a try if all else has been checked.

SC

I am already using a cheater plug from the power strip to the outlet... 

[Tim]

damn that's bizarre william. Jason and Scott already said what I had to contribute.... weird.....

[wboswell]

I picked up a few more cheater plugs for the components that didni't already have them, and that hellped alot.  Another source of the hum is probably due to the speaker cable (DH Labs) is bundled with the power cables as they exit the armoir that the equipment sits in.  Another hole for the stuff to exit will do the trick - I hope!

[scervin]

Yes, I make sure all power cables are run a good 8" away and never parallel to speaker cables or interconnects if I can help it.

SC

[MBecker]

what software version are you using on the NAD.  I had tons of issues with mine and finally got a Arcam after returning 4 different NADs.  Go over to ecoustics and read the message board, the hum is VERY typical of the 7x3 line, and it seems like the problem hasn't been solved 100%.  Its unfortunately because they sound great, when you don't get the hum (or in my case pops).  Good luck trying to fix it. 

[Massive Dynamic]

To extend this thread a little, is it worth the expense to get a sub that goes lower than 25 Hz?  There are a lot of budget subs that get to 25, but not lower.  The Hsu VTF-3 and ACI Force are comparably priced units that will go to 20 Hz or lower.  Anyone replace a budget sub with a full-range sub and feel it was worth the effort?

FYI, I sometimes listen to industrial, gothic, and new age-type synthesizer music, and I'd hate to miss the full effect of what's recorded. My room is 12 x 19, and I'm running GMA Europas, which barely dip into the 40s on their own. Thanks.

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

I have not replaced a budget sub with a better sub, I went for a decent sub to start.

The depth of reproduction is just part of what a better sub can do.  The budget subs (based on very limited auditions but a lot of research before I got my sub) usually suffer from loose bass.  Most of those are geared toward HT applications where people want to feel the explosion or dinosaur foot steps.

The higher end subs intended for audio will throw really tight bass.  Deep is one thing but you want that bass to be tight like the thump from a kick drum.  If you are into industrial and gothic, you will appreciate tight bass.  It will be much closer representation of what you get in the clubs. 

I don't know about the ACI you mentioned, but the hsu has a good reputation.  You should also look into Rel and Vandersteen.  Also the newer velodynes are pretty nice.  I have a vandy and know someone with a velodyne so I can recommend both from firsthand experience.  The vandy is not a HT sub, it's intendeed for music so it is really tight.  The velodyne I have heard is in an HT system and is tuned for that more than music but it is very tight and responsive.