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n8g

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Everything posted by n8g

  1. My basement system just got a bit of an upgrade! I replaced my older Integra DTR-7.8 with a brand new Integra DTR-70.2. The local dealer still had one in stock and they were ready to deal! The main reason to upgrade was to replace the older Integra DTR-6.5 in my living room. I ran Audessey X32 in the basement. It was not a huge upgrade from the 7.8 for sound but there was a definite improvement in video quality when watching DVDs. The X32 fixed the off-axis sub issues I was experiencing. The overall performance of the sub is more even across its frequency range. The living room got the true upgrade. Going from the 6.5 to the 7.8 was a HUGE improvement. And since all the recivers look the same, no inquisition from the misses!!!!
  2. I have not yet listened to much music through the sub. If I get some free time I want to watch movies. I have been re-watching lots of movie clips that have a good LFE track. I still smile at the low frequency capability. On a side note, I listened to an SW-311 the other day in a person's 15' x 20' x 7' basement. It played down to 20Hz but didn't have much output until 28Hz. It sounded great from 36Hz to 55Hz. Overall it did not have enough output for the room. It filled the room with bass but not what I would consider enough. I have noticed that the SW series likes lots of input signal. And the upgrade bug has already bitten!
  3. well if you get a second 15 incher... that means I have to get a second one. And I'll have to get another one, too!
  4. I was thinking about a new TV. The problem is that I can'tget any $$ for the old rear projection CRT. It still works fine. And it has a pretty good picture. I would increase the screen from 51" to 60" and be able to put all the A/V equipment in a console below the TV and make room for a second sub. Or I may get an amp for either the mains or all five channels. Or I could do nothing and enjoy the system as is.
  5. I plan on listening to a bunch of music this weekend. And a few more movies. I will report back throughout the weekend. I am toying with the idea of an upgrade or two...
  6. Please note: I have no test equipment other than my 5 senses. This review is purely opinion. Enjoy! I finally had some time to play with the sub and its settings. I have it dialed in pretty good so far but I may try to tweak it a little to see if there is a more favorable setup possible. The only changes I made to the Auddyssey settings was that I turned the gain up to -3. I would definitely classify the SW-115 as a big subwoofer, but after looking at it for a few days, it doesn't seem to be as big as I initially thought. As of right now I am having the same issue as another person with on-axis response being a bit low. I sit about 15 degrees off-axis and the sub sounds great. Where my wife sits, directly in front of the sub, there is a considerable drop in decibels. While this may be a problem for some, it is great for me because I don't have to hear "Can you turn it down a little? It's too loud." This could be a problem with the room itself but I never noticed with the previous sub. I never critically listened to the old sub, though. The first few video clips I tested are clips I have heard on many peoples' systems. They were all in the Dolby TrueHD format. The first clip was The Art of Flight, a video funded by Red Bull about extreme snowboarders. The scene labeled "Alaska" shows people heli-boarding fresh snow with a techno/dubstep sound track playing in the background. With the RF-82 II and RC-62II front sound stage the sub blended really well. There is no deep bass here so it gave me a chance to listen for 30-50 Hz response. In the past I felt 15" subs could not sound as "fast" as a smaller woofer. However, the SW-115 had no issues here. The next clip was the Dolby Labs' Dolby Spheres Trailer. It is a computer generated clip to show off the discrete channels of a 7.1 system. The surround effects are pretty good as all the multicolored spheres bounce onto the screen from behind the viewer. The LFE track plays rather low. The SW-115 played the clip with authority. The bass was fast and as tight as the Klipsch SW-110 and other smaller subs I have heard from Velodyne, Paradigm, and PSB. Affter hearing those two scenes, it made me dive into my DVD collection to re-watch a few of the movies I have seen many times. The next two movies were standard DVDs and their accompanying Dolby soundtracks. First was the scene in Transformers where the chopper labelled 4500X makes its way to the USAF base. I turned the system up a bit for this scene to hear what the sub could do. (I am sure it was well below a reference level.) The SW-115 created enough pressure in the room that it caused the door to the laundry room to pulsate. Not rattle from the bass. But actually open and close with the change in air pressure! The old Velodyne DEQ-12R could never do that! The next movie was Tom Cruise's War of The Worlds. I picked the scene just after the lightning storm when the machines wake up for the first time. Again I was impressed. Not only does the SW-115 have more presence in the room due to its ability to play lower than I was used to, but its ability to do it rather effortlessly is impressive. The sub never felt stressed or its dynamics compressed. I switched back to Bluray to watch the remastered scene from Jurassic Park where the T-Rex escapes its pen for the first time. If my parents would have had the same home theater system I have now, I would have crapped my pants as a kid. The level of dynamics the LFE track has in this scene is impressive. The breathing and growling if the T-Rex shakes the whole room. When I watched the movie as a child it was all about what your eyes saw on our 25" TV screen. Now it is about the emotional connection you make with the characters as the stomping of the dinosaur shakes you in your seat! The last scene I watched a few times was DTS's DTS Paint Symphony. The bass in this track can make a less powerful sub distort. When the director turns on the "Master Audio" switch and the bass kicks in, it isn't a particularly pleasing bass note. I have heard the Klipsch SW-110 and SW-112 distort here. The SW-115 did not. In defense of the smaller subs that can't play this track with authority, they were probably too small and underpowered for the rooms they were in. My older DEQ-12R subwoofer is a great sub. A sub I really like. I am glad I still have it in my upstairs living room system. However, the SW-115 is a good addition for my basement system. It can do everything the smaller 12" subwoofer can do. But it can play lower and louder with no signs of distortion or compression. The sub blends very well into my system but can really pound out the bass notes when it needs to. I am sure I could over drive the SW-115 but my ears, wife, and house's foundation would not appreciate it. I give the SW-115 two enthusiastic thumbs up! I was willing to sell it if I didn't like I didn't like it. That won't happen any time soon.
  7. From what I have seen, a blown fuse in a sub usually means something is wrong with the amp. Do not be surprised if you replace the fuse and the new fuse pops.
  8. I should be able to give it a workout tomorrow morning. I'll keep everyone posted!
  9. Since I received my new Klipsch SW-115 today, I figured I would start a new thread. I have not had a chance to do any calibration or fine tuning. I plugged it in and left the settings the same as my last subwoofer, a Velodyne DEQ-12R. My wife had surgery earlier today so it will be a day or two until I can thoroughly set up the SW-115. I will give the sub some time to break in before I really put it through its paces. Initial impressions: This thing is HUGE!!! I had it shipped to my work. It arrived while I was out. When I walked in, everyone was standing around it. Their comments were along the lines of "Your wife is not going to be happy!" The shipping box was slightly damaged even though it arrived on a pallet by itself. The sub was not damaged. I had a hard time getting through the door. It barely fits. To get the box into the basement I had to lay it on its side and slide it down the stairs. I recommend finding a friend to help. The box is large because the grill does not ship attached to the sub. If it was, the box would be about 4 inches shorter. Unboxing: Nothing special here. It comes with a manual and a power cord. I was disappointed that the supplied power cord is an 18 guage cord the size of a cable box power cord. I already had a 12 guage cord in place from my previous sub so I was not worried. To get the sub out of the box I had to open the top and flip the box over. I could not lift the sub out of the box right side up. It is too large and heavy for only one person. The sub had no cosmetic flaws. First listen: I did no calibration and I have not re-run Audessey yet. I replaced a Velodyne DEQ-12R, a subwoofer that I really like. (It now lives in the living room.) But like most of you, it is tough to stop upgrading. The Velodyne plays down to only 25Hz. I set the new sub's crossover to 150Hz because it does not have a bypass feature. And I set the receiver's crossover to 80Hz. I set the gain to about the 12 o'clock position. Check my sig for the list of associated equipment. The SW-115 definitely has more authority in the lower octaves. I am not yet sure if the 40Hz - 80Hz is lacking or I am not used to a sub that can play down to 20Hz! My wife is still asleep recovering so I have not yet turned up the volume. But low volume listening is pleasing so far.
  10. n8g

    SW-115

    I received the new sub just a few minutes ago. IT IS HUGE! I will unbox it later this afternoon and take a few pictures. Stay tuned for my initial impressions. Unfortunately it will be a day or two until I get a chance to put it through its paces. My wife is having surgery today so she will need a day to recuperate.
  11. n8g

    SW-115

    I am getting one SW-115. I almost never listen to any music in the basement except for parties, then it's just background noise. But I will listen to a few types of music just to give my first impressions. The things I am looking for is low frequency extension and equal output from 20 Hz to 80Hz. The Velodyne it is replacing played to 25Hz and sounded great after running the built in room correction.
  12. n8g

    SW-115

    The sub did not come in yesterday. I am getting impatient!
  13. n8g

    SW-115

    I should have mine today. I will be comparing it directly to a Velodyne DEQ-12R. They have similar retail pricepoints and a similar design. I had the SW-110 in my living room and did not care for it too much compared to the DEQ-12R. I have heard a lot of subs and I will give it an unbiased review. If I don't like it I will let you know.
  14. The height of the entertainment center throws off the scale of the speakers and sub. At first I thought you had RF-52s and an SW-110!
  15. I orderd my SW-115 today. I am moving my Velodyne DEQ-12R to the livingroom/in-wall system. As soon as I get it set up and dialed in I will report back. I sent a check to the dealer so it will take a couple extra days for the sub to arrive. My Klipsch SW-110 is for sale by the way...
  16. What about using R-5650-S forthe sides and 5650 for the rears? You will have matching 6.5" drivers in the center and surrounds.
  17. If all your equipment is run off a single circuit, a 15 amp breaker should be fine. If you add things like a space heater or fridge on that same circuit you may be running a bit thin. I have my 2 systems on their own 15 amp circuits and I have never had a problem. But the theater stuff is the only draw on those circuits.
  18. The Samsung has a feature called "AutoMotion Plus" It is supposed to cut down on motion blur durring fast scenes. I hate that feature. I shut it off when I see it. I want a movie to look like a movie. Not a person standing in front of a green screen! You won't notice it as much on a plasma (if the TV even has it).
  19. As stated peviously, there can be some benefit to a shielded power cable. I replaced the power cables of most of my equipment with 12 guage power cables like the ones that come with large amplifiers. Why? Because it was free and I don't need to worry about my receivers not having enough current.
  20. I don'thave that player, but ask the question anyway. I am sure there is someone on the forum who can answer.
  21. Some people don't have room for a 15" subwoofer. Therefore a small but powerful subwoofer is a must.
  22. Try them on the back wall. They are designed to have a wide dispersion pattern which should help. After running the sound correction your receiver (probably) has, judge for yourself. Does it sound bad?
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