My SVS PB10-ISD Help?

Vegaspolka

I just received my sub this last thurs. but was heading out of town for the weekend so i wasn't able to to do anything with it untill today. I have an older entry level Onkyo receiver (TX-SR500), a pair of RTi8's, and my new sub which seems to have a problem due to hardly any sound coming from it. I tried every configuation i could think of on the receiver and nothing made a difference. I then decided to try it with my brothers receiver in case i had a bad subwoofer-out jack, but to my dismay no luck with his either. So i'm gonna be calling them and seeing what my next step is. I hate to be sending it back being as i waited about a month and a half for it and now this. Anyway i posted to see if maybe anyone else had the same problem or knew something about the receiver or something else i didn't, that i could try.

McLoki

Just using some assumptions here -

1) sub is plugged in. (is there some sort of a light on, on the sub, to indicate that it has power)?

2) You have the sub connected to the subwoofer pre-out on your AVR with some sort of an RCA cable.

3) You have selected subwoofer mode 1.
________________________________________________
Press SUBWOOFER MODE on the unit.
With the first press of the button, you can check the present setting.
Then each press of the button changes the subwoofer mode as
follows (a tip on how to select the right subwoofer mode is in
parentheses):
→ Subwoofer Mode 1
(To output the low frequencies of all channels
from the subwoofer.)
↓
Subwoofer Mode 2
(To output the low frequencies of the center and surround
channels from the subwoofer.)
↓
Subwoofer Mode 3
(To output only the LFE channel* of a 5.1-channel source from
the subwoofer.)
↓
Subwoofer Off
(When no subwoofer is connected or when a subwoofer is
connected but not used.)
* LFE channel: The channel recording the LFE (Low Frequency
Effects).
The normal display resumes in three seconds.
Note
When the subwoofer mode is set to Mode 2 or Mode 3 and audio is
reproduced in the Stereo mode, the subwoofer may not output
audio from certain sources (2 channel-Dolby Digital/DTS source
etc.).
___________________________________________________

Also set the crossover to 80hz (or higher) like this

Setting the crossover frequency
To reproduce low frequencies between 80 Hz and 120 Hz in an
optimum condition, set the crossover frequency according to the
low-frequency reproduction capabilities of the subwoofer and
other speakers (front, center and surround).
1. Press SPEAKER ADJUST twice.
The current setting is displayed.
2. Press PRESET/ADJUST ™/£ repeatedly to
select the crossover frequency.
Select from 80 Hz, 100 Hz and 120 Hz.
Refer to the following example for deciding the setting.
• When other speakers than the subwoofer are relatively
small (when they cannot reproduce low frequencies
sufficiently): 120 Hz
• When other speakers than the subwoofer are relatively
large (when they can reproduce low frequencies
sufficiently): 80 Hz
If you want more accurate setting, refer to the instruction
manuals of the speakers and perform the setting according to
their reproduce frequency bands. Also listen to the actual sound
and set to the high position (120 Hz) if you feel that the sound
from the subwoofer is not enough or to the low position (80 Hz)
if you feel that the sound is loud.
___________________________________________________

If these assumptions are correct, disconnect the cable and reconnect it on both ends. (at the sub and the AVR)

___________________________________________________

Run through the test tones built into the AVR to see if you get any sound that way. To do that, do this.....

Adjusting each speaker’s relative volume
balance — Test tone
Adjust each speaker’s relative volume balance so that the volumes
of all speakers’ test tones sound equal at the listening position.
Note
You cannot adjust the volume balance while the muting function is
activated.
1. Press TEST on the remote controller.
Each speaker emits the test tone (pink noise) and the display
shows the speaker emitting the test tone.
2. Press CH SEL repeatedly to select the speaker,
then press LEVEL 5/∞ on the remote controller
to adjust the volume level.
When CH SEL is pressed repeatedly, each speaker produces the
test tone (pink noise) in the following order: Left → Center →
Right → Surr Right → Surr Left → Subwoofer.
The volume level can be adjusted between –12dB and +12dB.
Speaker setup
Notes
• No test tone will be emitted from the speaker which is not
included in the speaker configuration on page 20 even if it
is actually connected.
• No test tone will be emitted from the subwoofer when the
subwoofer mode is set to “Subwoofer Off”.
• Even when CH SEL is not pressed, the test tone will move
to the next speaker in 2 seconds.

__________________________________________________

Report back and let us know what you find,

Good luck,

Michael

PolkThug

The sub has a two-stage LED on the back. It will be 'red' when powered on, and 'green' after it receives a signal. What is the status of your LED?

Vegaspolka

I didn't run any pink noise through them yet , but i'll try and see what happens. I guess i didn't try test tones because i couldn't even get any sound out of if to begin with, but maybe the sub. volume is turned really low in the receiver settings, i'll have to go try it. The led is green. I have the sub turned on (mode 1) which by my understanding should basically send all bass through my sub no matter if it's in Stereo mode or not, but still no luck. I just emailed tech support , gonna go try the test tones and see what happens. Thanks for the responses.

McLoki

If the light on the sub is green it is getting a signal. What level is the gain (on the back of the sub) set to? Turn it to at least 11 or 12 o'clock and see what happens? Is there any volume difference if you run the tones from your AVR (so there is a constant volume going to the sub) and move the gain control from the bottom position to the top?

Michael

Vegaspolka

The relative volume for the sub was at 0 so after turning it up to +12 and the gain up to 11 or 12 o'clock, there is some bass just not what i expected still. I was under the impression the gain only had to be turned up a third to a fourth of the way up to get a lage volume of bass, am i wrong in expecting this?

McLoki

Originally posted by Vegaspolka
The relative volume for the sub was at 0 so after turning it up to +12 and the gain up to 11 or 12 o'clock, there is some bass just not what i expected still. I was under the impression the gain only had to be turned up a third to a fourth of the way up to get a lage volume of bass, am i wrong in expecting this?

I don't think you were wrong, just trying to decide what is going on. I would e-mail SVS (or call them). It sounds like the amp may be bad. Do you have an SPL meter? Using the tones in the AVR, I would think to set the sub flat (compared to your other speakers) , you would have the gain set at about 10-11 o'clock and the AVR set at around -4.

(not familiar with that sub, but it seemed to work that way with the subs I have seen.)

Let us know what SVS says.

Michael

Vegaspolka

Thanks for the replies, i've emailed them, and will let you know what they say. I do have some bass but that's with the relative volume for the sub. set at +12 compared to -5 from what i read and the gain up at 12 o'clock rather than up a fourth to a third of the way. Anyone with a new PB ISD-10 want to let me know how high they have there gain turned up to get good strong bass? Also the relative volume for their subwoofer?
Thanks again

fireshoes

There's always the tried and true Ken S. method for testing subs:

Disconnect the sub from the receiver, turn the crossover all the way up, and the volume all the way down. Connect the analog outputs from your cd/dvd player to the rca inputs on the sub. Play a cd and slowly turn the volume up on the subwoofer. You should have plenty of clean, powerful bass.

PolkThug

My AVR is set to +2 on the sub level. My sub volume knob is at 12 o'clock.

Do what fireshoes said above.

dkg999

My AVR (Yamaha HTR5790) is set to -6 for the LFE and my PB10 and PC+20-39 are both at about 11 o'clock on the sub gain control. Lots of bass out of both, and I have 25' of cable running to the PB10. My PB10 does make a grumbling noise when you shut off the power, kind of like its mad about being shut off!