AngelEyes said:
Hi Chaps,
Can you explain a few things to me that I am not clear on.
How were the subwoofers setup? Were they 'tuned' to the room with any kind of PEQ etc or just 'plonked' down in similiar positions?
Why was the Axiom tested with +5db and not the Ultra and why would you compare two subs at different settings?
Sorry if i am being a bit thick i am just trying to understand things a bit better.
Hi AngelEyes - some answers ...
1. The subwoofers were level matched with an Earthworks M30 Microphone, M-Audio Mobile-Pre for a soundcard and TrueRTA software. See #4 below for any differences between the two in regards to SPL.
2. They are both run from the same spot in position about 2-4 meters from each listener.
3. They were EQ'ed to within +/- 3 dB from across the band.
4. The EP-500 was used twice - once "flat" and once with a 5 dB bump centered at 25 Hz. Other than the "bump" at 25 Hz, it was the same SPL as the "regular" EP-500. The panel overwhelmingly favored the "Flat" EP-500 to the "25 Hz boosted" EP-500.
5. The Ultra was used twice - in 16 Hz and 20 Hz tunes. We found the 16 Hz tune to measure much flatter when using the higher resolution LMS software - and blind listening tests, including this one, have shown a preference for the SVS in that configuration.
I have been around blind tests since the late 1970's, and have found that doing something unexpected keeps panel members honest. By running only 2 out of a possible 6 subwoofers when the panel assumed there would be four subwoofers here, ALL guessing games were eliminated, and the panel had to go with sound quality.
This may also have gone unnoticed:
Three panel members have SVS as their ONLY subwoofers.
Two have sealed subwoofers - one Rocket UFW-10 and one custom built with Quad Tumults.
One owns a PC-Ultra and an EP-600.
Hope this helps to clear things up a bit !