eD, Hsu, or Epik

math wizard

I've been researching subwoofers for a couple of months now, and am ready to pull the trigger on one. I'm down to three, eD A5-350 (w/ 550w amp), Hsu VTF3-MK3 and the Epik Knight. All are approx. the same price once shipping is included. My room (after recalculation) is 4500 cu. ft. I'll be using it for 50/50 music/HT. The sub will be joining a pair of Polk RTi10's and a CSi5 center and replacing a Polk PSW404 sub. All comments and suggestions on these selections will be appreciated and will greatly help me with my decision.

Face

The eD will have no problem filling that space.

Ron Temple

Anyone of them will open new doors in bass performance. I'd probably pick Epik for a couple of reasons. They can fill your order, right now, within a couple of weeks. They've resupplied.

The amps in the EDs are stock, no eq curves or limiters built in. This means those that don't exercise a bit of caution overdrive them. The amps quit and they contact ED for a replacement. The amps get back and they work fine. This seems to happen quite a bit, probably from noobs trying to get car sub bass in their rooms. This doesn't reflect on how the sub performs, just a caution. However, that's why I'd tend toward Epik, it does have a purpose built custom amp designed for the box and driver.

The Hsu is a great performer. SQ should be equal to the Epik/ED, maybe better, but can't compete $ to SPL.

speakergeek

I'd go with Epik out of those three. I guess you're not interested in SVS?

schwarcw

I'd use two subs and balance them with the Velodyne SMS-1. You can balance 3 separe subs located anywhere in the room. Chose the low pass frequence (around 30 Hz), adjust the volume and adjust the output spectrum to be a flat line with all three subs in use. It's the best configuration that I have heard. One rear, 2 fronts. Adjust the low pass and volume controls to provide the flat response across the low audion spectrum. The mocrophone analyser provie the feedback need to make the right adjustments to you setup. Not that hard, it all displays on the TV. Takes and hour or two to connect and set it up. Highly recommended. I think it cost around
4400 - $500.

_Noah_

I just recently received my Epik Castle on the 24th and couldn't be happier. I have a 2700 cubic ft room. when I watch a Blu-ray, it rattles glasses in my kitchen 25ft away before I can even hear the bass. Epik definately makes a great sub. I would question if a Knight/Caliber would be enough to fill such a large room?

reeltrouble1

I would buy a Polk Audio Sub.

RT1

jaysonbarnett

Here is some pics of my Epik Caliber
http://s304.photobucket.com/albums/nn182/jaysonbarnett/Epik%20Caliber/

I love this thing and how do you post the image in the post not with a link. I have to say this caliber is way to much for my house. I have it all the way down and on the receiver its set to -20db, and it over powers the rest of my speakers listed below. This is the only thing i dislike about the sub.

Ron Temple

jaysonbarnett wrote: »

Here is some pics of my Epik Caliber
http://s304.photobucket.com/albums/nn182/jaysonbarnett/Epik%20Caliber/

I love this thing and how do you post the image in the post not with a link. I have to say this caliber is way to much for my house. I have it all the way down and on the receiver its set to -20db, and it over powers the rest of my speakers listed below. This is the only thing i dislike about the sub.

It should add some serious bottom, but not overpower your speakers. Calibrate it flat using your SPL meter, then run Audessey. I saw you were directed to the HTS REW threads...that's another good option. You probably have some major room gain going on if it's drowning out your mains.

jaysonbarnett

Hey ron also i hear mens voices threw the caliber. Example last nights basketball game the announcers sounded boomy thier voices were coming out in bass. I have not run audessey yet with the new sub just with the velo on the right. Do you think this is the reason for my new found problems? I do have to say the ironhide backflip scene in transformers is now the coolest thing ive heard i awhile. I can feel the bass without hearing it (it feels like an earthquake). My ceiling is rattling without hearing anything from the sub it is so weird.

Calibrate it flat using your SPL meter

How do I do that. I have the spead sheet and a rat shack meter. DO i need a test cd? If you have the time if you can expain this to me. Should i get something like velodyne sms-1?

SlowcarIX

jaysonbarnett wrote: »

Here is some pics of my Epik Caliber
http://s304.photobucket.com/albums/nn182/jaysonbarnett/Epik%20Caliber/

I love this thing and how do you post the image in the post not with a link. I have to say this caliber is way to much for my house. I have it all the way down and on the receiver its set to -20db, and it over powers the rest of my speakers listed below. This is the only thing i dislike about the sub.

just copy and paste the link beside IMG CODE:

eg....(square bracket)IMG]http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn182/jaysonbarnett/Epik Caliber/DSC00901.jpg[/IMG(square bracket)

SlowcarIX

jaysonbarnett wrote: »

I have to say this caliber is way to much for my house. I have it all the way down and on the receiver its set to -20db, and it over powers the rest of my speakers listed below. This is the only thing i dislike about the sub.

on the back of the sub

-set switch to LFE
-phase to 0
-volume to 1/2 way
-xover to max

then do the audyssey calibration, use a tripod with the mic at ear level.

jaysonbarnett

Nice Thanx Man.

jaysonbarnett

will it make that much of a difference to calibrate again? How does audessey know i have a 15 inch sub now?

speakergeek

jaysonbarnett wrote: »

Here is some pics of my Epik Caliber
http://s304.photobucket.com/albums/nn182/jaysonbarnett/Epik%20Caliber/

I love this thing and how do you post the image in the post not with a link. I have to say this caliber is way to much for my house. I have it all the way down and on the receiver its set to -20db, and it over powers the rest of my speakers listed below. This is the only thing i dislike about the sub.

Nice lookin' sub!

jaysonbarnett

How do you do the audessey placement again i know you do all 8 positions, but do you go just position 1 then 2, etc. or 1 then 4 then 3, etc. There was a guy how explained it to me but the post is gone from my threads

Ron Temple

If you've got the SPL meter, do a manual calibration first. Your fronts set to large, the rest to small. Set the sub crossover to 60hz, that should eliminate vocals coming out of the sub. Using the test tones in your AVR. Calibrate your front speakers to 75dbs @ -10, match the remainder. The sub should be calibrated to 72dbs or 75dbs if you want to run it 3dbs hot. However, if the sub is overpowering your mains, then you are already way hot. You should start your sub calibration with the gain around 10:00AM and on the receiver trims the signal should be in the negative. You can adjust your gain from there. Remember, the idea is to be in balance. Once you are manually calibrated, play some material and see if it sounds better. If so, then you can run Audessey.

SlowcarIX

ron, why do a manual calibration then audyssey calibration?

isnt the manual calibration just a level calibration whereas the audyssey calibrates level, delay and phase?

Ron Temple

SlowcarIX wrote: »

ron, why do a manual calibration then audyssey calibration?

isnt the manual calibration just a level calibration whereas the audyssey calibrates level, delay and phase?

Yep, but I don't trust auto/eqs for the first pass. Enter the values you know, distance, keep phase at 0, speaker trims and crossovers. Once you get a baseline and you feel your setup is correct, then it's time to fine tune the eq. My experience is that it handles the room, but you might not agree with the setup.

BTW Jason, I meant set the crossover on the AVR to 60hz, not the sub. Turn the crossover on the sub all the way up as Abner suggested.

SlowcarIX

i see. i never bought a spl meter so i just rely on the mic calibration. i did confirm the distance and really surprised its very accurate using one of this i borrowed from work

http://www.leica-geosystems.com/cpd/en/ndef/lgs_29794.htm

jaysonbarnett

Hey Slowcar how are you likeing your conquest?

speakergeek

jaysonbarnett wrote: »

Hey Slowcar how are you likeing your conquest?

That's kinda like asking how do you like your Ferrari or Porsche eh?

SlowcarIX

jaysonbarnett wrote: »

Hey Slowcar how are you likeing your conquest?

the conquest is amazing! Able to produce house shaking bass for HT setup and at the same time able to integrate very nicely with LSi9s for 2ch audio

if they were not so damn big, i will already have another one in the room!

SlowcarIX

speakergeek wrote: »

That's kinda like asking how do you like your Ferrari or Posrche eh?

lol

this sub performs like a ferrari/porsche but at a cost of a acura

Ron Temple

SlowcarIX wrote: »

lol

this sub performs like a ferrari/porsche but at a cost of a acura

More like a Hummer...