DSW micropro 4000 (so-so) CSi A6 (awesome)

[Gcorput]

I bought one of the discontinued DSW 4000 subs from the Polk ebay site and a new center channel CSi A6. I hooked it up yesterday and was disappointed with the output (don't know what I'm doing) until I ran the auto calibration.

While it's running the auto calibration it sends out test tones that rattle the house like nothing I or my family have ever experienced before. I'm in the basement and kids were two stories up in a 5200 sq. ft house and they were terrified wondering what was going on. Then after running the sub calibration test I re-ran the receiver auto calibration test, not sure if I was supposed to do this or not.

After the sub auto calibration I knew it had some serious power but couldn't figure out why I can't get it to work this way with sample music I was playing or in Uncharted 2 on the PS3. I'm using the LFE signal and as I played PS3 for some time the sub seemed to get better but nothing like the auto cal test.

I need to figure out how to access what this sub has to offer (or maybe its the signal I'm sending to it??). I tried the different settings on the remote for sub placement and phase control, just wish the remote worked.

It has a remote control, worst thing ever. My kids barbie house has a better remote control. I can't get it to work unless I'm within 4 feet of the sub, I'm even looking down the remote like aiming a rifle to make sure I'm hitting the little window on the sub. What a piece of crap. I might look into the IR repeater thing but not sure if I feel like spending half a day figuring out what I need to buy to make that work. Maybe Polk could put some part numbers in the manual on suggested IR repeaters.

From an Industrial Design point of view Polk nailed it on this sub. It looks great, smooth corners and lines all in a finish rivaling the bathroom mirror. Amazing to me how much time Polk spent on the appearance of this product but obviously no time on the remote control. Sort of like Audi cars, look incredible but lacking in the technical functional area.

Onto the center channel CSi A6, this is an excellent item to have as it makes my entire home theater system come alive. You really want one of these, actually, you NEED one of these.

So I think I need to learn more about subwoofers to make the 4000 work like it should. Here's all the other stuff I'm running (maybe some of this is the problem?????)

Receiver: sony DH810
TV: sony 52" 800 model w/internet
PS3
Fronts: 1970's infinity 8" woofer bookshelf (from when I was a kid!)
Rears: Yamahas
Center: Polk CSi A6
Sub: DSW 4000

[mdaudioguy]

Welcome to Club Polk! I agree about the remote... the disparity in quality between the sub and the remote is baffling. But..., the auto setup mode built into the sub let's you know what it's capable of. Keep working with it, and tweaking the adjustments - both on the sub and the AVR. Eventually you'll get it dialed in. Remember, a sub's performance should blend into the overall sound, supplementing the low end below the levels that your other speakers can handle. You don't want the sub playing so loud (in comparison to the other speakers) that it draws attention to itself, beyond the room-rumbling effects piped in from the LFE channel.

I don't think any of your other gear is the problem. You have run the sub's auto-setup WITH the included mic, right?

[shack]

It's all in the way your AVR is sending the signal to the sub. You probably have several DSP settings. Each one lets you set the signal strength to the sub via the LFE channel. Your PS3 also has settings for the sub...but again it all depends on how you are passing the signal through your AVR. It isn't just plug-n-play.

[jbooker82]

What are the cross over setting in the avr for the sub and other speakers? Do you have the switch on the back of the sub "yes for LFE"?

[cnh]

WELCOME TO CLUB POLK!

I think shack has pretty much laid it out. I am currently demoing a MicroPro 1000...the much smaller sibling of your sub and for an 8" it does a good job in a small to mid-sized room (not too big). I can't imagine that a 4000 series wouldn't kick HT butt. They are NOT plug and play subs--as shack points out. I had to tweak it a bit. And yes, that remote is a bit funky but it is negotiable?

Check your settings on 'everything' and spend some more time with it. Try the various ROOM settings, the 4 phase options, and your volume settings (I have mine set at 25?).

Good Luck...maybe you should also give Polk CS a call and run some of your questions by them?

cnh

[mdaudioguy]

Also, speaking of the remote, at one time I had 2 Micropro subs in house, and 1 of the remotes was very unreliable (had to point it just right and press the button numerous times, and that was when it was actually working - frustrated the heck out of me), while the other remote was fine. I called Polk (see # in top right corner) and they sent me a new one, which worked fine. Call them on Monday. That will go a long way toward giving you peace of mind while you're tweaking this thing.

Btw, I had bought 2 MP 2000s for a stereo setup with a pair of LSi7s, but eventually scrapped the whole idea, because I didn't really have a good place to set it up. I played the 7s by themselves for a while, but never ran the subs, except for the auto-setup... impressive output for their size, IMO.

[Gcorput]

Thanks for the welcome and suggestions on the 4000 sub everyone. I've been monkeying around with the receiver menus as well as trying different settings on the sub using the POS remote.

It's starting to sound better and while the kids were watching "How to Train Your Dragon" the upstairs kitchen table and chairs as well as the dumb crap my wife has on the kitchen countertops is moving or vibrating loudly.

I'm still going to look into this IR remote thing and try to fix this remote problem, as long as it isn't something overly complicated.

Thanks again!

[mdaudioguy]

It's starting to sound better and while the kids were watching "How to Train Your Dragon" the upstairs kitchen table and chairs as well as the dumb crap my wife has on the kitchen countertops is moving or vibrating loudly.

Sounds like it's beginning to act as it should! It seems you're on your way to getting it dialed in.

I'm still going to look into this IR remote thing and try to fix this remote problem, as long as it isn't something overly complicated.

Like I said, the fix for me was easy - Polk dropped a new one in the mail. Call them, describe the issue, and I'm sure they'll make it right.

[danz1906]

Welcome to the Club!

[DVOuSS]

when i bought my first micropro4000 i felt the same way...i felt the sub was lacking in solid LFE reproduction and during many portions of many movies the sub sounded distorted and weak. Through experimenting with the onkyo settings, the sub settings, and location i finally got it lined out....then i bought another one...WOW!...with the addition of the second sub, I cant even describe the difference, and i am in no way shape or form an audiophile but i love the way it sounds.z..and feels.

[DMara]

when i bought my first micropro4000 i felt the same way...i felt the sub was lacking in solid LFE reproduction and during many portions of many movies the sub sounded distorted and weak. Through experimenting with the onkyo settings, the sub settings, and location i finally got it lined out....then i bought another one...WOW!...with the addition of the second sub, I cant even describe the difference, and i am in no way shape or form an audiophile but i love the way it sounds.z..and feels.

Very glad you like the microPro 4000, DVOuSS