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mancub1, I just wanted to add that your system is similar to mine; I also utilize 4 subs in my system and go directly from the 5.1 outputs of an Oppo Bluray player to multiple amps. My setup works equally well for both ht and 2-ch music. I don't think you stated if your system is used for both or not. Regardless, I think you'll be impressed with the bass results in your 18' x 22' room (mine is 14' x 23'). I'm fairly well versed and experienced in these types of setups and willing to assist you on this thread if you decide to try the setup procedure. About a year ago, I started a thread here on Audiogon concerning this 4 sub setup- called a Distributed Bass Array System- and whether anyone else was employing it. my Here is the link to that thread just in case you'd like to know a bit more about it: Anybody else using a distributed array sub system? I bought the Audio Kinesis DEBRA complete system which is virtually identical to the Audio Kinesis SWARM system reviewed by The Absolute Sound in this review: http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/audiokinesis-swarm-subwoofer-system/ I'm not sure which 4 subs you own but I know the setup procedure I described earlier will work with any 4 subs. Tim |
mancub1, Since you have 4 subs, and if those subs are positioned properly in your room, there’s absolutely no need for any microphones, room analysis/correction software, room treatments, prayer, chants, higher power involvement, snake oil or voodoo whatsoever to achieve exceptional bass response throughout your room without any perceived boominess. IMO, your issue with boomy bass is a direct result of randomly placing your subs one in each corner. No worries, there’s a guaranteed setup procedure that will result in exceptionally good bass response throughout your entire room. Only downsides are it’ll require a few hours and it’s best done with a helper to share lifting duties and help decide on optimum positioning of each sub. Here’s the procedure: 1. Place sub#1 (the one currently in your front right corner) at your normal listening position and play music with solid and consistent bass. 2. Starting at the front right corner of your room, walk slowly right-to-left along the front wall until the bass sounds the best to you. Once this optimum spot is determined, position sub#1 at that exact location. 3. Place sub#2 (the one currently in your front left corner) at your normal listening position and play the bass-heavy music again. 4. Starting at the newly positioned sub#1, walk leftward along your front wall until the bass sounds best to you. Once the optimum spot is determined, position sub#2 at that exact location. 5. Repeat this process for subs #3 and #4 and then sit at your normal listening position and evaluate bass response listening to the same music. If you do not perceive the bass response as exceptional once this setup procedure has been completed, you’ll unfortunately need to repeat the entire setup since 1 or more subs were incorrectly positioned. Be aware that exact positioning is critical and even small errors affect results. This is admittedly a tedious process but results are well worth the effort. I’ll spare you all the scientific basis for this procedure but you can google Dr. Earl Geddes and Dr. O’Toole on in-room bass response research. if you’re interested. The main requirements for great bass response in any room is at least 3 subs and careful sub deployment. Tim |
It is called Audyssey. The difficult part of Audyssey is that there is no room for error and to make any mistakes. You need to work at mm precision. Systems like Dirac are more easy to use, but they have a big limitation compared to Audyssey. When you use Audyssey the right way you will not loose low, mid and high frequency details compared to most other room correction systems. |
BTW, you don't have to get THIS fancy to set up a 7.1 channel DVD/BluRay player. Get a cheap calibrated mic like the Dayton imm-6 and use it with your phone or tablet and AudioTools to set the levels correctly. http://amzn.to/2Ax4dFX You will still need help with the room boom. Personally I use a 2 channel miniDSP, one for the center and one for the sub. That's it. The sub needs it by far the most. The center only because it is in a cabinet. However, I have sophisticated measuring tools in the OmniMic, which let's me set the DSP with precision. Best, E |
You will probably need some type of bass absorber to tame the boom.. Check out DIY limp membrane absorbers Or GIK Acoustics has tuned membrane bass absorbers.. I've just about finished my room acoustic treatments, boomy bass is gone, slap echo is gone.. the only reason I'd use DSP now would be if I was setting up surround sound. |
You need software and hardware to do this. You to have some kind of unit in between the source and the amp to accomplish this. Usually that is an HT receiver. Audissey is an integrated software/hardware package built into some receivers with digital signal processing capability, using a microphone
to measure in-room response and the DSP capability to vary the levels
(and perhaps timing) of the different channels and also to equalize the
LFE signal to account for room acoustics.
You would have to be pretty handy w computers and DSP programs to do this on your own, but I imagine it's possible to insert a computer with some kind of signal generator, real time analyzer software, a calibrated microphone, multi-channel DSP program, and multi-channel DACs and DIY it. Makes my head hurt to think about the number of iterations it would take to make 8 channels sound good...yikes! |
Audisey is usually in a receiver. You could roll your own using something like an 8 channel miniDSP unit... https://www.minidsp.com/ Or one with built-in Dirac Live. Best, E |