Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
HT Set Up Help
#35708 03/02/04 10:24 PM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 26
KOSMOS Offline OP
hobbyist
OP Offline
hobbyist
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 26
Good Afternoon! I've been lurking for a while and am 90% set on getting a new Axiom HT set up. I've currently got a misfit set of speakers (no sub) running off an H/K AVR-8000. The room I'm in is 9' x 17' with the TV on the 9' wall. Sofa is approx 4' from the back wall. I'm looking at getting the following:
M22ti - Fronts
VP100 - Center
EP175 - Sub
QS4 - Surround
I use the system for 80% HT, 20% Music. Please let me know what you think. I've been looking at it since Christmas and now getting a touch of cold feet. I undersatnd that it'll blow away what I currently have, but will these fit my room for mainly HT?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
KOSMOS

Re: HT Set Up Help
#35709 03/02/04 10:32 PM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
Kosmos,

You've picked out a very nice setup. The only thing I would change (and it will save you money, too) is to get the Hsu STF-2 instead of the EP175. If you compare the specs, the Hsu gives you more sub for $100 less. The only thing you lose is finish options.

Re: HT Set Up Help
#35710 03/02/04 10:54 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 125
veteran
Offline
veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 125
You will be very happy, this is a great setup for HT. But believe me, given the performance of the speakers, u will be digging out all ur CDs and will be spending more time than you thought listening to music.

My system is very similar expect that i have vp150 and qs8 with HSU STF1 sub. If you research the forum u will figure out that qs4 and vp100 are great speakers and will serve ur room very well. Plus qs4s have bigger tweeters now.

You may also want to consider HSU STF2, its on sale for 399 but there is a backorder for it. Call HSU and get to know the waiting time and see if it fits into ur plans. Great sub , plus saves u a 100$.

And dont hesitate to call axioms, they never pressure u with a sale and a r very honest.

Re: HT Set Up Help
#35711 03/02/04 11:03 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,488
T
axiomite
Offline
axiomite
T
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,488
Hi Kosmos. Welcome.

You'll be delighted. Really, depending upon your current setup, the upgrade to the setup you've described is likely to change your life. Take the plunge. Enjoy HT and music like you haven't for a while.


bibere usque ad hilaritatem
Re: HT Set Up Help
#35712 03/02/04 11:26 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 715
aficionado
Offline
aficionado
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 715
Looks great. Also, prepare to find yourself listening to more music on the M22s. You'll suddenly hear things you did not notice before.

jr


"What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence." C Hitchens
Re: HT Set Up Help
#35713 03/03/04 12:17 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 34
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 34
I've got the M22's in a 12X15 and they are perfect. My VP150 is huge, but I figured I would grow into some day.

Re: HT Set Up Help
#35714 03/03/04 12:46 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12
frequent flier
Offline
frequent flier
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12
I recently got the exact same set up M22, VP100, QS4, and the EP175, and I am very happy with it. However after getting the axiom sub, one of my clients told me his son worked at Compusa and could get me a discount.

Since I already had a sub I was not really interested in getting the STF-2, until he told me about the discounts employees got. He made me an offer I could not refuse, I got the STF-2 at Compusa for only $ 194.50 tax included.

Now I have 2 subs and a decision to make, since I just got the system set up I have not even tried the STF-2 but I will in the next day or so.......I might just return the EP175 still under 30 days and use some of the savings an upgrade to the QS8 or VP150.

But for now I am just going to enjoy my new toys, since this is my first HT and I had not bought a new TV(a sony XBR still going strong after 20 yrs.) since getting married in 1984, man has it been that long.

Re: HT Set Up Help
#35715 03/03/04 01:06 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 111
veteran
Offline
veteran
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 111
Wow this must be a real popular combo. I have the M22/VP100/QS4 as well and love it. And I haven't even had a chance to properly calibrate everything. I decided on the HSU VTF-2 instead of an Axiom sub (no offense guys). That is a monster of a sub. Someone recommended the HSU STF-2 which you can get (if you can find it) for $399 at CompUSA. But you can get the VTF-2 directly from HSU for $449 with free shipping right now. Main difference is you can tune the VTF-2 for either louder or lower bass, depending on if you use the port plug or not. The STF-2 is not tuneable, but is fixed to play down to 25hz. Either one would be a good choice.

Re: HT Set Up Help
#35716 03/03/04 05:01 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 273
local
Offline
local
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 273
rdelpozo, could you please post your impressions of the STF-2 vs EP175? We get lots of questions about Hsu vs Axiom subs. I think many people buy Hsu just because they're mentioned so often. Axiom subs are likely also good, but we rarely have anyone who has tried both simultaneously. You're in a position to help us out!

Re: HT Set Up Help
#35717 03/05/04 04:06 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12
frequent flier
Offline
frequent flier
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12
joema thanks for asking. I have spent the last few days comparing both subs EP175 vs HSU STF-2. I had both volumes set the same and played both with music and DVD.

I did the depth charge scene from U571, I a novice at this stuff since I just got my HT so this is just my opinion. The STF-2 does have deeper bass tones, it times it seem too much, the EP175 was not far behind and was more balance. STF-2 was boomy with some music and seem distorted so I had to lower the volume on the back of the sub, I did not have this problem with the EP175. Both are good subs, I first got the EP175 for the WAF to match the other speakers. The only reason I considered the STF-2 and eventually got it for a great price was due to all the great reviews on the HT forums.

Re: HT Set Up Help
#35718 03/05/04 04:33 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,501
connoisseur
Offline
connoisseur
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,501
Are both subs calibrated properly in relation to the other speakers using a SPL meter and test tones?

Re: HT Set Up Help
#35719 03/05/04 02:20 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12
frequent flier
Offline
frequent flier
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12
No but could use some help with this, I just go the SPL meter this week and I have the test tones DVD. Not sure how to do this correctly.

Re: HT Set Up Help
#35720 03/05/04 03:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 273
local
Offline
local
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 273
Rdelpozo, if each sub isn't calibrated,then meaningful comparisons are almost impossible. Say you set the volume knob on each sub at 50%, but the STF-2 is louder at that setting than the EP175. Almost any sub will sound boomy or abnormal if turned up too loud.

Calibration is very easy. The easiest way is using your receiver's pink noise test tones. You just switch from speaker to speaker while playing pink noise, and make sure the meter reads about the same from each speaker, including the subwoofer. Typical levels to calibrate to are 70, 75 or 80db. For 70db, set the meter on "C" weighting, slow response, 70db scale. When the dial says 0db, you're reading 70db sound. For 75db, use the 70db scale and the needle will reach +5db (75 = 70+5).

Adjust your master volume to about the right level to hit 70 or 75db. The receiver or DVD test tones will usually switch from speaker to speaker automatically. When on the subwoofer, if it reads too low, turn up the subwoofer volume knob. If too high, turn it down.

That said, some people like a little more bass. It's perfectly OK for your sub to be (say) 3db louder than your other speakers, if that's your taste. Just make sure you set both subs to the same +3db point.

Don't point the meter at each speaker. Hold it roughly straight up.

Using tones from the DVD is better because it incorporates the entire playback chain. However most test DVDs have many different test tones for varying purposes. For example, low frequency sweeps to check for room rattles, etc. For your immediate purposes you don't need those.

What you want is a basic subwoofer level calibration so that both EP175 and STF-2 are set properly with respect to your other speakers. Pink noise is the best for that. It only takes a minute once you get the hang of it.

Calibrate the EP175, do some basic listening tests. Then hook up and calibrate the STF-2 and repeat the listening tests. My guess is they'll sound much more similar after doing the calibration.

I'm interested in how much difference you can hear between them after both are calibrated.


Re: HT Set Up Help
#35721 03/05/04 05:35 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12
frequent flier
Offline
frequent flier
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12
Thanks alot Joe, I appreciate the help in getting this done right. I realized once I got all my gear set up that it would take some know how to get it calibrated correctly. I did not realize that my surrounds were not even working until I put the test tones DVD.

Speaking of surrounds do I set this up louder the rest or same, I have the QS4's and when watching movies not really sure how much sound you are suppose to hear from then.

I will do all the steps you have recommended as soon as I get home from work and let you know, I do not know what pink noise is, hopefully the DVD I got from Partsexpress "Ultimate DVD Silver Special Edition" has them.


Re: HT Set Up Help
#35722 03/05/04 06:28 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 273
local
Offline
local
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 273
When calibrating with test tones and a meter you set your surrounds to the same loudness as your other speakers.

During a movie or music, several things affect how much sound comes from the surrounds. If the material is discrete 5.1 (Digital Dolby 5.1, DTS 5.1, multichannel SACD or DVD-A music) the amount of surround is dictated purely by the mixing engineer. It's an artistic and aesthetic choice when the material was mixed. You can't really change it much except by overriding your surround volume and going to non-calibrated levels.

If the material is stereo, you usually won't hear any surround unless your receiver has a mode for reconstructing surround from stereo. Examples are Dolby PLII and Harmon Kardon and Lexicon's Logic 7. In that case amount of surround depends on the reconstruction technology and characteristics of the stereo source. Some stereo material will produce good surround with PLII/L7, and others don't.

Pink noise is what the receiver and DVD player test tones often use. It's usually on your calibration DVD as well, along with a lot of other stuff. Read the literature or on-line documentation that comes with that.

Don't worry, it's not hard at all, once you get the hang of it. After a while you can do it without even thinking about it.

Re: HT Set Up Help
#35723 03/05/04 07:08 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 715
aficionado
Offline
aficionado
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 715
Think of it as an opportunity to 'tweak' your setup. I'm going to take a chance and make the assumption that if you are posting/reading this forum that you enjoy getting as much out of your system as you can.
Personally, I was almost salivating at the chance to dial in/tweak/play around with the settings for my HT to get the best sound I could. Being able to do this was ½ the reason I am getting into this hobby. But then I'm the type of guy who is happy with 5 computers and 7 OSs running in his home. Gee, and I wonder why I’m still single?



"What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence." C Hitchens
Re: HT Set Up Help
#35724 03/09/04 03:53 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12
frequent flier
Offline
frequent flier
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12
Joema - Thanks for all your help. I followed your steps and was finally able to calibrate my system and the 2 subs the same. Both subs sound great and I really can not tell which one sounds better than the other. One is just as good as the other in my opinion once calibrated the same.



Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  alan, Amie, Andrew, axiomadmin, Brent, Debbie, Ian, Jc 

Link Copied to Clipboard

Need Help Graphic

Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics24,945
Posts442,484
Members15,617
Most Online2,082
Jan 22nd, 2020
Top Posters
Ken.C 18,044
pmbuko 16,441
SirQuack 13,840
CV 12,077
MarkSJohnson 11,458
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 1,228 guests, and 6 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newsletter Signup
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4