New 404 sounds terrible (newbie)

squish

I am new to all this, and I had alot of help when I posed this question in "speaker" on what the best sub would be.

This is my setup:

I have an onkyo 601 receiver (85 watts)

Center CSi40
Fronts RTi8 (I have upgraded these to RTi10's - thanks CC)
Rear (no name 6" in ceiling)

My room is about 16' x 20'

I had alot of valuble advice on svs and hsu subs, but I got a good deal on an OPEN BOX Polk PSW 404

BUT after setting it all up, I was pretty disappointed.

It sounded like there was someone outside in one of those BASS cars, and there seem to be a continuos "bass" hum. I have my center and fronts set on large. I have connected with LFE. Crossover on
100 sub on probably 1/4 volume.

Do I have the bass set too high?

Should I set the speakers as small?

Does the sub need time to wear in (It was open box, but I dont think it was used)

Is the sub possibly damaged and I should return it.

Should I really hold out for a better sub.

I dont want the earth shatering sub, but this sounded horrible.

Sorry for all the questions.

Thanks for any help.

johnny_utah

on your 601 set the crossover to 80, set the sub volume to -8, i believe the scale is -12 to +15. set the crossover on the sub itself to its max like 150 or off (you don't want to use it, you want to use the recievers crossover), volume on the sub somewhere around the 11 or 12 o'clock position, set all your speakers to small. Make sure treble and bass settings are at 0 on the reciever. Probably shouldn't adjust individual speaker volume either, leave them at 0 also. This should help it sound better.

should you hold out? SVS subs are supposed to be one of the best for a reason. You would not be disappointed getting one, but you should see how things sound adjusted.

squish

Thank you... I will try out the settings you suggested.

I'm glad I have something more than, "listen to it until it sounds right". That may work for the experienced people. I dont think my ears are tuned into it yet.

I also have not had much time to try dial it in, as I have to quickly try and prove to my wife that it was worth all that money

Willow

tell her this is not some POS that was bought but very good gear and very good gear needs to be properly adjusted to reap the true benefits ...

squish

Originally posted by Willow
tell her this is not some POS that was bought but very good gear and very good gear needs to be properly adjusted to reap the true benefits ...

Unfortunatly I am not sure I am able to adjust it to make is sound what it cost

What the hell, I'm having fun

Airplay355

wood floor? take a concrete slab (couple bucks at home depot or lowes) and stick it under your sub....that should get rid of the bass car sound. try expirimenting with placement too. corners arent always the best place to put the sub but its a good place to start.

squish

Thanks everyone

johnny_utah I took your advice and it does sound much better.

It is on carpet flooring and I can hear the bass, even upstairs you can hear the doof doof of the bass, but I cannot FEEL the bass.

I thought with my setup that i should feel the bass. And I am comapring it to a friends house down in florida that when it got to a big explosion, your body would feel it. (NHT $250 sub, i think) So I have a question on that:

Do you only feel it when you have the volume way up?

Does it only happen with 12" and bigger subs?

My sub is pointing towards my sofa, and not in direct viewing from my seating. The sofa is about 3 foot from the sub

Is this the difference between svs,hsu and polk subs?

Does my sub still need to wear in?

I will try get a pic of my setup and attach.

thanks for any more help.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Originally posted by squish
Do you only feel it when you have the volume way up?

Does it only happen with 12" and bigger subs?

My sub is pointing towards my sofa, and not in direct viewing from my seating. The sofa is about 3 foot from the sub

Is this the difference between svs,hsu and polk subs?

Does my sub still need to wear in?

I will try get a pic of my setup and attach.

thanks for any more help.

Your ability to 'feel the bass' depends on a subs ability to pressurize a room...

A pic of the setup will help.

Have you toyed with placement at all, moving the sub around the room? Room dynamic can play a large role in sub performance.

There are MANY factors in getting a sub to sound good...I guess the best place to start with is giving us a pic of the setup...

johnny_utah

Originally posted by squish johnny_utah I took your advice and it does sound much better.

Your welcome, but I just want to note that I was just regurgitating what others have posted over my short time here. Got to give credit where it is due.

You probably need to try and move it around the room, but I don't think you are going to feel the bass unless you turn it way up, even then I don't think the sub you have goes as low as other subs ($), so you might loose some of that "feeling" there? Others will have to chime in, with I'm sure better suggestions.

edit: Polkmaniac types to fast.

squish

I'm still not home to take a picture, but is it a crazy idea to put a sub ontop of an entertainment unit next to the center above the TV?

AsSiMiLaTeD

Originally posted by squish
I'm still not home to take a picture, but is it a crazy idea to put a sub ontop of an entertainment unit next to the center above the TV?

yes...that is, as you said, a crazy idea...

Early B.

If the sub is 3 feet from the sofa, you should be feeling it a little. You mentioned that your floor is carpeted, but what is under the carpet -- concrete or wood?

Eventually, you'll probably need a more powerful sub for your room size. In the meantime, we'll help you get your 404 to sound as good as it can.

squish

pic from seated area indicating where the sub is. I think my room may be a little longer with the breakfast area included.

squish

Pic of the polk and distance to sofa

squish

Pic from the back breakfast area. It is open to kitchen on left.

Notice wife trying to hide the speakers already with a plant.

Sub on concreate.

AsSiMiLaTeD

So is this room open to the left (the side the sub is on)?

If so...that's your issue...all those sound waves are going off into nowhere basically...

Can you shift things a bit and put the sub in the corner by your right front and fireplace?

Nevermind....posted that before the last pic...

AsSiMiLaTeD

...and Pooh Corner...WTF is that all about ?

squish

LOL, as you can see, my daughter in the highchair is enjoying the surround sound system.

squish

And a pic of the floor layout. The tv is on the left where you can see the fireplace is.

scottvamp

That sub right next to the opening IS the main problem. It needs to be corner loaded.
Try to use the word "BASS" for a change.
Another problem is Winnie the Pooh may not have the bass your looking for.
You can't feel anything - I think my SVS just broke something in my $3000 HDTV.
:eek:
Try setting speakers to small and see how you like it - that is how most of us HomeTheater Gods run it.
Hope you get it rocking!!!

Early B.

The hallway opening to left is not necessarily the problem. You don't have enough muscle in that sub for the size room you have (family room and breakfast area).

Bottom line -- you need a much larger sub.

squish

Edited all my posts to correct my noobness

scottvamp

That's cool - newbies do it all the time. Now try to find a corner for that sub and set all to small / sub to yes. Sub at quarter to half and 0 +/- 2 on the reciever cal.

danger boy

i think the sub is find for a newbie.... maybe later he can bump up to an SVS or likewise. we all started somewhere.. not exactly the gear we dreamed up right from the start.

I think the 404 is an ok sub. To get the maximum from that or any sub.. it's best to place it in a corner. That will help increase the bass output.

Subs are different beasts than other speakers.. being mono.. the sound is indirect. and ultimately should sound unlocalized.

what is the volume knob on the rear of your 404 set at? set it at 12 0'clock then adjust the sub outuput level on your Onkyo. set all speakers to small. and your sub to on.

even with my small 350 a few years back.. i was able to feel the bass in the couch. it was about a foot from the couch. as you all know. the 350 was a mini me of a sub.

I looked at your room layout. i'd start with moving the sub to the area behind the couch to the left side of the room. near the breakfast nook.. oposite of the fireplace. you'll need a longer RCA cable too for this.

Pauly

Originally posted by Airplay355
wood floor? take a concrete slab (couple bucks at home depot or lowes) and stick it under your sub....that should get rid of the bass car sound. try expirimenting with placement too. corners arent always the best place to put the sub but its a good place to start.

My finds are that it works with a down firing sub not a front firing IMO

Pauly

danger boy

had Polk ever built downfiring subs in their history? I think that might be an avenue they might want to explore.

Pauly

Originally posted by danger boy
had Polk ever built downfiring subs in their history?

They sure did..PSW50, 120, 150, 200 and 300 were all DF Subs

Pauly

scottvamp

Also the PSW1200 was the monster of all down firing subs - sporting the mother of all Power Ports. Ya, slabs are mostly for down firing ports.

squish

Wow thanks for all the help so far.

I have tried all the sugestions and even have sound meter and HT tuning DVD to help out.

I have tried placing the sub in the two other possible places. On the right of the TV and next to the sofa which is 12' from the TV. I missed my size by a couple of feet. I think the room is closer to 30'.

After using the "sub chooser" option on HSU's site, they came back to me with the best sub for that size room would be the STF-3.

Now my question: For the price of the STF-3 I could buy another 404 (both = STF-3 in total price) and put it ontop of the existing 404 I have, for the same price.

Or should I return the 404 and purchase the STF-3. What will presurize the room more. 2x 404's or 1 x STF-3

Thanks for all your help and suggestions.

Airplay355

i've seperated my forward firing sub from the floor and it sounded better that way....maybe its cuz i have a downward firing port though. oh well


as for which sub is better? i have no idea, someone else can take that question lol

VR3

psw1200 is side firing. df port...