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Open Letter To REL, SVS, Hsu, etc., et al

Why don’t you include a cd that will actually enable your customers to properly set up their purchase from you? Telling me to choose something with ‘low bass content’ and put it on repeat is pathetic at best. There are very specific and very limited numbers of tones needed to dial in a sub. One of the above companies tells me to use track 4 from ‘Sneakers’, a 29 year old movie, as an aid in dialing in a sub. Maybe in 70 years the track will be in the public domain and they can just rip it for free to whatever medium is current in 2091.
Test tones, as far as I know, aren’t copyrighted, and would cost very little to put on a cd. 50 blank cd’s cost 15.00 retail. Include one with tones and instructions in the box. Tidal, Spotify, Qobuz, etc., etc., would also qualify as a place to put your sub setup tones, along with detailed voice instructions. 
I know many people now use automated setups in their AVR’s, but I’d bet many reading this on Audiogon don’t- most two channel systems are behind the times in this regard.
Or am I missing something?
james_edward
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,165 posts
 
Speakermaster, you need to impulse test each individual speaker and time the impulse to the listening position. An SPL meter can not do this.
You can adjust phase by looking for the loudest volume at the crossover point but you can not time the speakers this way. You can also not determine with any accuracy the frequency response of the various drivers. You have no way of adjusting various factors for the flattest frequency response. You can buy a calibrated microphone and programming to do this if you have a computer hooked up to your system. 
prighello
53 posts
 
Hsu does include a CD with test tones for bass with their subs.

If you are looking for other CDs to help, Alpine Electronics (the old school car audio folks) produced some great CDs in the 90s with music and test tones.

Two to look for are: Disc Drive and Highway One.
Highway One has some of the cleanest and most dynamic musical test tracks I have ever heard along with many test tones. It is a fabulous demo CD if you can find one. It was made for the Australian market, so tough to find in the states. Subs are fun and rewarding once dialed in. Good luck!
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
I purchased a pair of REL S2 SHO subwoofers and I still don't know if I have them set up right.
With the rudimentary REL controls, one would have to be very lucky to integrate properly for 2ch music.

It's almost a certainty they might need placement in a non-WAF location
jwillox
174 posts
 
I’ve had subs since I can remember , and trust my ear to set one up properly. I had bi-amped Altecs (which were not technically “audiophile”), but dual sealed cabs were great.

Then came a decent ADS sub (aquired when I sold ADS home and mobile gear.
Today it’s a Rel T9i which is superb and came with excellent docs on setup.
 😜😂😂
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
From REL T9/i web page:
"Because the additional speed and impact of the new drivers requires greater control or the benefits can be lost before they get to the listener."

This kind of Nonsense by REL is pure malarkey for them with $$, no skill and compromised hearing.

Do the Math!!!

It’s bleeding near impossible to integrate a sub with only a crossover control.

As a composer once remarked "Every other subwoofer I’ve heard just boomed."

Don’t equate More with Better.

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