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reading is still too high then turn down the sub’s amp volume a little with
each run.
But what’s “too high”?? Tastes vary, and so do movie soundtracks, but
your SVS is capable of tremendous levels of low distortion, low frequency
bass — far more than most commercial subs. Take advantage of this,
especially if you like action movies with lots of “.1” channel (LFE) action,
and give the sub a bit more “bump” during calibration. Keep in mind too
that the human ear is relatively insensitive to low frequencies. This, coupled
with the fact most folks don’t watch movies at Dolby Digital reference level
(fairly loud), means raising the bass up a few dBs usually yields a more
satisfying movie and music experience.
What sub levels do we recommend? If you watch movies at relatively
moderate sound levels, a good start is a range of +1dB to +3dB above your
other channels (as measured with your sound meter). This means the test
tone will waiver about 78 dB for the subwoofer portion of the calibration run
(88dB with Avia). (Note: You may want to rotate the sound meter SPL
meter dial to 80dB to get a good reading with these higher levels.) Note too
that many modern surround sound receivers allow a variety of different
subwoofer level settings, depending on the “listening mode” you are in.
With “Dolby Digital” as your “mode” use the above calibration routine. You
may well find that CD “Stereo” music calls for a lower bass settings adjusted
by ear. The above is a guide… experiment. The louder your master volume
though, the more you should back off the subwoofer’s level to compensate.
Audible distress is a sign to lower things a bit. Avoid your driver bottoming,
resulting in a loud “clack”!
Location and measurement. You should take the above measurements
from your typical preferred seat for watching movies. Be advised, strong
bass levels can vary tremendously simply by moving your seat or your
subwoofer a few feet. Such is the nature of long wave-length, low bass
sound. Don’t hesitate to try different locations and different levels for your
subwoofer. Setting levels which are too high (and often, too low) is the most
common subwoofer setup error.
Powered Box amp. We looked the world over for the best
performing sub amp that’s still affordable. What resulted is an SVS custom-
designed, North American-made amp with amazing build quality, and just
the features folks with today’s digital surround sound systems need.
Volume/Gain. Use gain (in conjunction with your receiver’s subwoofer
output level control) to dial in a bass calibration to your liking. Start
calibration with the sub’s volume 1/4 to 1/3 of the way up (turned clockwise
from the left).
Phase. Think of long bass waves as conflicting or enhancing each other,
depending on the timing of their arrival at your listening location (either
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SV Subwoofers
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