selkec
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Post by selkec on Jan 5, 2011 17:04:12 GMT -5
OK. I finally got a Rat shack digital meter today. Got the cable to hook it into my laptop. Also have the adapter and rca cables going from laptop to my Elite. Now what? I Also downloaded the cal file for my meter into rew. I have ran a few test sweeps I think it was from 0-200 but have not set anything else. I am just learning. And wanted to see how my little junk sub sounded and graphed. I will say it looks like hell. I must be doing something wrong. I need to know if there is some settings in REW that I need to set or change. I mean DAMN my graph looks like crap. But maybe it should be with my crappy sub. Ill try to figure out how to post some sweeps and maybe you all can tell me if Om doing something wrong by loo0king at this crazy thing. .....ok time to do some sweeps. Ill do 3 then post them. Hope I get some help or feedback here soon.
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selkec
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Post by selkec on Jan 5, 2011 17:13:05 GMT -5
I really dont know what Im looking at. I mean I have an idea but it looks way different than most I see posted around. This was taken from the sweetspot in my listening area. WHERE I SET during movies. lol Every test says a differernt phase and look different. Why? if same test taken from same spot why is it different everytime. Is it because my little sub sucks. I know it does. but is there other reasons. Am I doing something wrong. What am I looking at here. I know I could go to hometheatershack and ask but I like all you guys better here. This is my home so Im starting here. Thanks. Hope to get some responses. Attachments:
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NorthStar
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Post by NorthStar on Jan 5, 2011 17:18:51 GMT -5
David, DYohn is one of the men that can help you.
* Bob is not there yet as his experience with computers is very limited. (Had my very first computer in life about two years ago; February 2009.)
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geebo
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Post by geebo on Jan 5, 2011 17:19:04 GMT -5
What kind of sound card are you using? You can't just plug the SPL meter into a mic input of the laptop. Also posting on their forum can be very helpful. The authur keeps an eye on it as well.
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selkec
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Post by selkec on Jan 5, 2011 17:30:10 GMT -5
What kind of sound card are you using? You can't just plug the SPL meter into a mic input of the laptop. Also posting on their forum can be very helpful. The authur keeps an eye on it as well. Whatever sound card is built into my laptop. Do I need an external one? Maybe thats the problem. After every sweep it says it detects clipping also.
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selkec
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Post by selkec on Jan 5, 2011 17:40:57 GMT -5
I definately am missing something here. But one thing I do know is just using the spl meter to see what volume I listen too when partying is pretty cool. I didnt think this little junk sun could go so loud. By itself it hits at the highest 113. With my towers turned back on Im up to 122db listening to Lil waynes Lollipop. lol Not sure why I chose that song to test. ALso tried Black Eyed peas new song The Time and averaged 112 for the whole song. I like it loud. Probably because I grew up with subs in my car and was used to have it hitting peaks of 135dbs. I like it loud ;D
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geebo
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Post by geebo on Jan 5, 2011 17:50:18 GMT -5
WOW! That is VERY loud! Dangerously loud. And yes, you'll need an external USB sound card for your laptop that has a "Line" input. Mic input on a laptop is not suitable. Also reading the help file will walk you through the process. Thats what I did.
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selkec
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Post by selkec on Jan 5, 2011 19:20:26 GMT -5
OK that would explain why it says it is clipping. So I ordered Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 which was recommended by someone on this forum. After that I believe I have all the cables I need. I will read the help file more and see how it turns out with the new usb sound card. Im sure it will be better. Thanks for the advice. I was told I needed it but I thought I would try it without first. Ill post back with my new graphs once I get the new sound card.
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jan 5, 2011 19:47:56 GMT -5
Yes... you need to turn it down if you like being able to hear. That graph is not too bad actually. The spikes you see are caused by interactions in your room, as is the subsonic bloom below 20hz. Most of the nice smooth curves you see are created by removing those spikes from the display, which is called smoothing.. Is this curve with your mains playing as well as your sub, or just the sub by itself? Where is the subwoofer crossover set?
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selkec
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Post by selkec on Jan 5, 2011 20:25:08 GMT -5
This is just the sub playing. I have the xover all the way to the right or all the way up. I have my xover in my pioneer elite crossed over at 80hz.
If this is not that bad of a graph how can I smooth it out? Is there a setting REW I done see?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2011 20:36:58 GMT -5
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selkec
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Post by selkec on Jan 5, 2011 20:42:14 GMT -5
Rat shack had both in stock. I just chose the digital because its easier to read. I did not know it was more accurate. Not that it matters. I cant read my graph anyways. Just a squiggly line to me. If it was smoothed out somehow I could read it.
But you saying its more accurate in what sense. REW has calibration files for both kinds of meters. Does that not help?
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selkec
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Post by selkec on Jan 5, 2011 21:37:49 GMT -5
just tried REW again first 2 sweeps 20-200hz no smoothing Attachments:
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selkec
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Post by selkec on Jan 5, 2011 21:38:46 GMT -5
3rd and 4th sweep no smoothing. Turned up volume on pioneer elite 5db. Attachments:
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selkec
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Post by selkec on Jan 5, 2011 21:42:01 GMT -5
All 4 sweeps smoothed out 1/12 I think. It seems with my processor volume higher the graphs look better as in sweep 3 and 4. But Once I went higher the sub started bottoming out. It is just a little 8" polk. Its not even a sub in my book. But it was free. Im curious what the ultra 12 would sound like compared to this twerp of a sub. Attachments:
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2011 22:28:03 GMT -5
Rat shack had both in stock. I just chose the digital because its easier to read. I did not know it was more accurate. Not that it matters. I cant read my graph anyways. Just a squiggly line to me. If it was smoothed out somehow I could read it. But you saying its more accurate in what sense. REW has calibration files for both kinds of meters. Does that not help? Selkec, I should have kept my big mouth shut! ;D There are frequent discussions of this question on the web. It seems that regular folks like us are divided. The younger people tend to find the digital model fine and us older folks seem to prefer the analog model (unscientific conclusion). Perhaps it is that we are more used to the needle and find it more easy to use. Also if I'm still correct, the digital model reads out in whole numbers only. The analog model is easy to read down to 0.5dB's and even down to 0.25dB's if one is very precise. Some would comment that within 1dB is close enough. It seems however, that most of the pro reviewers and sub companies seem to prefer the analog model. SVS states on their site: ".........Proper calibration of your surround sound system, including your SVS subwoofer, is not only easy, it's downright critical! On the left is a Sound Pressure Level (SPL) meter; using one is akin to checking your car tires with an air pressure gauge. If you don't have one (the SPL meter that is), by all means stop reading this now and get one! Heck, click here and you can buy one direct from SVS at a low price of $44 without shipping costs (if ordered with your subwoofer). We prefer this model to the digital display SPL meter due to the analog version's ease in getting spot-on adjustments (though either can work well)..........." Remember I'm on the nit-picky side when it comes to exactness and find the analog model preferable. Sorry for getting a little off track here. ;D
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jlafrenz
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Post by jlafrenz on Jan 5, 2011 22:49:36 GMT -5
What kind of sound card are you using? You can't just plug the SPL meter into a mic input of the laptop. Also posting on their forum can be very helpful. The authur keeps an eye on it as well. Whatever sound card is built into my laptop. Do I need an external one? Maybe thats the problem. After every sweep it says it detects clipping also. Your laptop sound card will work if it is a line in, not a mic input. Here is the link that will walk you through every step of the process of using the BFD and REW. Hopefully it helps www.hometheatershack.com/roomeq/wizardhelp/help_en-GB/html/index.html
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Lonnie
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Post by Lonnie on Jan 5, 2011 22:50:51 GMT -5
All 4 sweeps smoothed out 1/12 I think. It seems with my processor volume higher the graphs look better as in sweep 3 and 4. But Once I went higher the sub started bottoming out. It is just a little 8" polk. Its not even a sub in my book. But it was free. Im curious what the ultra 12 would sound like compared to this twerp of a sub. Of the graphs you have run this one is the closest to what you will actually hear. The other graphs have to much detail which the mind will integrate.
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jan 6, 2011 0:15:48 GMT -5
If this is just the subwoofer then your low pass filter is not functioning properly. Here's my suggestion. Cut @ 40Hz by -6db. Boost @ 70 Hz by +3db. Set the subwoofer filter to 80Hz. Try that.
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jan 6, 2011 0:21:21 GMT -5
And to ditto what Lonnie said, the average person hears sounds similar to the way an RTA or FFT analyzer set to 1/6 octave smoothing displays them. 1/12 is finer than the average human can discern.
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