Setting up SVS pb10 without SPL meter?

[dracore]

Hi everyone,


I just received my SVS pb10-isd and I am really excited with getting it hooked up! However, I currently do not have an SPL meter yet --- will buy one soon but in the meantime, can you guys provide some tips on what I can start doing to get it to sound reasonable? Any tips on what adjustments I can do to the receiver and/or sub without using an SPL meter?

My receiver is a Kenwood VR-something.. not the greatest thing and came with my HTiAB but it'll have to do until I have enough money to replace it.

Although I was lucky to buy B-stock SVS, it's not gonna be cheap once I get canadian duties slapped on to my sub
:mad:


Thanks,
Herman

[gatemplin]

Welcome to CP,

Without a SPL meter you just have to do it by ear. I suggest you get an analog meter from Radio Shack. They are also good anytime you change equipment, speakers, placement etc.

You also need to setup the bass management in the receiver for your speakers. Good choice on the sub BTW. I'm about a half hour from RH. Bad snow storm today, eh? ;)

[PolkThug]

Just put your contols at their mid points. So, on the PB10 volume knob, don't go past the 12 o'clock position. If the subout level on your receiver varies from -5 to +5, then put it on zero or +1.

Regards,
PolkThug

[Willow]

Originally posted by dracore

Although I was lucky to buy B-stock SVS, it's not gonna be cheap once I get canadian duties slapped on to my sub
:mad:
Thanks,
Herman


I was told by a fellow canuck who ordered an SVS and we don't pay duty due to the NAFTA.....

[dracore]

Thanks everyone, I'll keep those points in mind!

gatemplin: yeah what a wacky snowstorm. All in a single day. We sure have been getting some strange weather this season. And to think, just a few days ago it was at 0 deg C and sunny.

Willow: really?? I think there'll be duties but I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope that they won't send anything to me.

[Willow]

seriously someone in Calgary if I'm not mistaken bought one and no duties to pay...can't remember who

[gatemplin]

Yeah Willow is right. Goods made in North America are excempt from duty. SV subs are made in Ohio. You will probably still have to pay a brokerage fee.

[Willow]

Originally posted by gatemplin
Yeah Willow is right.
.

phew.....I thought I was losing the rest of my mind

[gregure]

When I got my PB 10 I had to set it by ear as well. Been meaning to get an SPL meter, to go with my new copy of AVIA, but I haven't had a chance to set up my surrounds in my new place yet, so I haven't gotten around to it.
The rule of thumb is, what setting do you get the best bass output at?
For instance, I found that now that I have a great sub, I never set my towers to large. I set them to large for music/movies, but then set them at 80 Hz xover, and found that I got a much fuller, deeper bass response. Let's face it, the Polk 7" woofers are no match for the SVS woofer, so I take some of the wieght off them.
In addition, I found a setting on the sub's phase dial that worked best (at least to my ears) for me. The bass is tight, full, and deep, and really makes an impact on movies. I tooled with the dial a bit, and found that about 11 o clock was perfect, whereas if I put it at 3 o clock, the bass really lost some of it's impact. Have someone turn the phase dial as you stand in the middle of the room, and listen for the best response. Hope that helps.

[Berty]

Originally posted by Willow
I was told by a fellow canuck who ordered an SVS and we don't pay duty due to the NAFTA.....

I bought a PB10 and recieved it on december 23 2004 and I had to pay duty fee. Here are the detail of what I pay:

Price of the sub: 375 $US (B stock)
Shipping: 50.80$US
Total: 425.80$US
Price in $CAN on crédit card: 525.09$Can
Taxes et duty: 131.02$CAN

Total: 656.11$Can

I am very happy with sub and it's well worth the price.
It's calibrate with YPAO of my Yamaha for now but a friend will come with a SPL soon...:D

[Willow]

And this has nothing to do with you being in Quebec ?

so 650$ gets me a PB10 ? hmmmm I know it's bstock...who cares I'll keep that in mind down the road

[dracore]

I'm still waiting for any duties/handling fees to come my way.

So far it's $567.65CAD for B-stock. I must say though, B-stock is definitely worth it! It looks entirely brand new.

Now if I can just replace all my crappy HTiB speakers with RTi's.. I already replaced my center with a csi-5 so i'm partway there. The PB10 complements my system very well.

The bass was a little hard to get used to. Even with all the SPL tweaking, I didn't feel like there was a lot of thump even though some of the frequencies went off the scale. After boosting the bass to a few dBs more than the recommended, it felt more satisfying... and now my floor shakes :-)

But.. where's the "hit you in the chest" feeling?! Maybe people exaggerated this too much but I couldn't feel PB10 rumbling through my body -- just the floor. I also don't play things at reference level... I'd like to keep my ears thank you very much.


Dracore

[danger boy]

set all your speakers to small with the sub turned on. that will send all the low frequencies to the sub.

[dracore]

Yes it already is set to small

Or so I think it is... my Kenwood HTiAB receiver only shows "Front Normal" or "Front Large" I have it set for Normal.



Dracore

[Berty]

Originally posted by Willow
And this has nothing to do with you being in Quebec ?

so 650$ gets me a PB10 ? hmmmm I know it's bstock...who cares I'll keep that in mind down the road

It's bstock but you have to be very close to see the small wave in the black finish.

Here in Quebec we have 2 tax to pay (TPS and TVQ), I don't know in your province what kind of tax you pay, TPS for shure.

[Berty]

If somebody tried to send me a PM it have bin deleted by my wife, so please send it back to me.:confused:

[dracore]

Looks like the brokerage fee came in. $56.95.

This brings my total to $567.65 + $56.95 = $624.60 CAD

Not bad I'd say