KingKrell
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- May 19, 2006
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I have a BK XLS2000 sub set up as a music sub for CDs with the hi-level input. It goes down to 17hz. My AE Aelite (mains) speakers go down to 34hz. My room is not huge, but I got the BK a few years ago as it was one of the fastest in a reasonable price range and it helped bolster the bass.
Since the introduction of a Benchmark DAC 1, the integration and behaviour of the sub has change somewhat. I have noticed that with the sub off, bass is tight and much more extended and very directional. It sounds very, very good in the sweet spot now. In fact the sweet spot is enhanced in all frequencies.
Now, if I turn on my sub and slowly turn up the gain, it gets to a point where the bass lowers a few db. I tried this a few times and it definitely occurs. If I simply turn off the sub, bass will rise on the mains again. If I turn up the bass to match the loss in bass from the mains to match what it was, the bass is not as tight and warmer, but thick/solid sounding as the sub bass is being heard - this appears too high as it should blend. It's as if the sub is cancelling out the mains slightly and then replacing the bass with it's own which is not as tight, but thicker as I match for the lost bass. To be honest, the sub seems to offer no extension in the way it used to...
I thought it might be the phase setting, but changing the phase only really changes the volume and makes the sound thicken even more. it's best on 0. If I lower the cut-off the same thing happens, but tightness improves as the cut off lowers. However, the bass reduction is still occurring.
I'm wondering whether I'm better off without the sub as the sweet spot is a lot better since the introduction of the DAC 1!
Interestingly, if I walk away with the sub on, bass carries well throughout the room (and the house too). With the sub off and if you walk away the bass reduces a fair bit. If you walk far away, such as into the hall, bass comes back a bit but it doesn't carry much. This is good, in that I can listen at high volumes without annoying other family members, but bad in that it sounds worse if you want music on whilst you are doing something about the house.
Questions:
Why does the sub reduce/cancel out the bass at certain gain levels?
Why does the sub bass travel so much better around the house? It seems I'm between a rock and a hard place here – tightness vs dispersion. Can't I have both?
Since the introduction of a Benchmark DAC 1, the integration and behaviour of the sub has change somewhat. I have noticed that with the sub off, bass is tight and much more extended and very directional. It sounds very, very good in the sweet spot now. In fact the sweet spot is enhanced in all frequencies.
Now, if I turn on my sub and slowly turn up the gain, it gets to a point where the bass lowers a few db. I tried this a few times and it definitely occurs. If I simply turn off the sub, bass will rise on the mains again. If I turn up the bass to match the loss in bass from the mains to match what it was, the bass is not as tight and warmer, but thick/solid sounding as the sub bass is being heard - this appears too high as it should blend. It's as if the sub is cancelling out the mains slightly and then replacing the bass with it's own which is not as tight, but thicker as I match for the lost bass. To be honest, the sub seems to offer no extension in the way it used to...
I thought it might be the phase setting, but changing the phase only really changes the volume and makes the sound thicken even more. it's best on 0. If I lower the cut-off the same thing happens, but tightness improves as the cut off lowers. However, the bass reduction is still occurring.
I'm wondering whether I'm better off without the sub as the sweet spot is a lot better since the introduction of the DAC 1!
Interestingly, if I walk away with the sub on, bass carries well throughout the room (and the house too). With the sub off and if you walk away the bass reduces a fair bit. If you walk far away, such as into the hall, bass comes back a bit but it doesn't carry much. This is good, in that I can listen at high volumes without annoying other family members, but bad in that it sounds worse if you want music on whilst you are doing something about the house.
Questions:
Why does the sub reduce/cancel out the bass at certain gain levels?
Why does the sub bass travel so much better around the house? It seems I'm between a rock and a hard place here – tightness vs dispersion. Can't I have both?