I noticed that most of my audio gear measures in negative db when i play with the volume. Why does it to this? Example: my reciever is usually listened to around -26db or less..-28 lets say. But i can crank it up to positive numbers. What does that mean? why don't they just count from 0-MAX like most thing lol (take it to 11? )

Also, how much dB do you actually need in a sub to be able to hear the frequencies, and how does that work with sub20hz stuff that you can't even hear. Is 50dB enough? is 80dB the minimum?

and lastly, anyone have a response graph on the new EP3503

cheers

The negative numbers are "relative to" a reference level... 0.

Like, some set up their receivers so when the volume control is set to 0, the program audio will be at, say, 85dB SPL at the listening position... thus, when the receiver reads -20, sound pressure levels at the listening position would be down 20dB from the reference of 85dB, or 65dB.

Of course, that assumes all program material is recorded at the same levels, all equipment outputs the same line levels, etc...

As for the sub stuff... set your sub to approximately the same levels as your other speakers (taking into account the lowered sensitivity of most SPL meters in the low range) and it will be balanced with your system... and then if you're most people, throw away that setting and turn the sub up until your junk jiggles during either the famous "depth charge" or "tank tap" scenes in various movies.

Bren R.

Woo - Hoo!

It's official, Ladies and Gentleman!

Bren has used the term "junk jiggles" for the One Thousandth Time!!!!

Jack, do you have any celebratory icons you can lend to the celebration?

I was gonna go with . But then, I figured he'd reply with . Then I'd call him a , and he'd call me a . Hard to argue with that, so his term for me being more accurate than my term for him would mean .

So I decided to tone it down and just go with

Those aren't signs of old age, but they sure are signs.

But Mark... at least on here you don't get to see the hand motions that go with it.

Bren R.

But I've been imagining them all along......

As to how many hz you can actually hear from the subwoofer, I think the more important issue is the visceral feel you get from the sub. At the lower octaves you can feel the pressure more than hear it, if that makes any sense...

Oh it does, absolutely.

with regards to this point, i think the axiom subs produce sub 20hz frequencies (as do the SVS's for that matter), at around 50-60dB.

Is this a usable level or is it just a technical spec so that we can say "our subs do make subsonic levels". Also, what happens when i'm listening at say...80dB or so (or -13...whatever the hell that means haha) and the movie has a sound recorded at 10hz but the sub can only produce that sound at 50dB, does it just go haywire and not render it at all, or does it just render at at a lower level.


P.S. - That Junk Jiggle reference was PRICELESS.