trim settings on identical subs
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 280
local
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 280 |
Hi everyone,
One of my EP500s recently developed an intermittent popping sound and then became non-functional with the status light turning amber/yellow. Axiom sent me a replacement amplifier and I installed it last night. What I noticed was that I had to set the trim level to about 10 o'clock on the new amp in order to level-match it to the other EP500, which is set at 7 o'clock. Previously, both subs were level-matched at 7 o'clock on the trim. For those of you with two or more subs, I wanted to inquire about your thoughts and experience on the differences in trim settings. Thanks in advance and Happy Holidays !
P.S. I am in CT, where we are expecting 8-9 inches of snow today and another 3-4 inches tomorrow before a second storm comes on Sunday !
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Re: trim settings on identical subs
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,378
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,378 |
Did you notice if it was the same model amp before you installed it? I have noticed that on both of my EP500s, I have them at about 6:30 (which is very low). I would have liked a level adjustment with a little finer control (which it sounds like you may have now).
LFR1100 Actives,QS10HPx2,QS8x2,EP800,M3x4,M3x2 (Wood),M5HPx2 (Wood),AxiomAir,ADA1500-8,ADA1500-7
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Re: trim settings on identical subs
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 280
local
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 280 |
I assume the new amp is for an EP500 as they have "500" written with a white marker on the plastic cover in the back.
I would have thought that the same trim settings would give the same SPL level since the amps are presumably bench-tested for a particular level with regard to trim before being shipped out.
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Re: trim settings on identical subs
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,458
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,458 |
Hey John: Yeah, I'm guessing that Axiom changed the knob setting / gain to give people a little more flexibility. I don't own one of their newer subs (so this is not a "knock" on Axiom), but I've always gotten a kick out of the marketing behind volume controls. You want to offer, say, a range from -80dB up to +15dB for example. Why do most high-end manufacturers give you this total range with maybe a 70° turn of the knob? And cheaper units go from "mute" to clipping with a 30° turn of the knob. As a matter of fact, the cheaper the unit, the less "knob-turn" it takes to achieve full output. I guess the marketing department has determined that people will feel an amp is not powerful if you have to turn the volume 3/4 of a revolution to achieve a "normal" volume.... and the cheapo manufacturers want to give a feeling of power by letting their inadequate amps crank really loud with just a little turn.... Of course, SOME flexibility has to be allowed for different (lower) input levels. If engineers were in charge instead of marketing people, we would probably see volume knobs with more "travel"... Off the soapbox now..... Anyway, I'm guessing that's what Axiom has done with newer sub amps....
::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
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Re: trim settings on identical subs
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,840 Likes: 13
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,840 Likes: 13 |
I've owned a 500 and 600 (not at the same time) but the trim levels for the most part have been the same. Now, when I move the sub to say the back corner compared to the front wall, the trim will be a little different, my room is 31 x 30 x 9. I did have a replacement amp sent to me once for the 500, but it was the same in regards to the trim level. Maybe Axiom has recently changed something, not sure.
My 350 twins are at about 1 o'clock (different scale than the EP's)
M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350 AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85
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Re: trim settings on identical subs
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 395
devotee
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devotee
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 395 |
Hey John: If engineers were in charge instead of marketing people, we would probably see volume knobs with more "travel"...
Actually we'd probably find the knobs on the inside of the chassis, sealed away behind a set of plates with no other purpose, and which would only turn if the planets were aligned... Off my soapbox now...
M80s/VP160/QS8s/EP350; M22s; M3s.
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Re: trim settings on identical subs
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 280
local
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 280 |
Update: I am sorry to say that there is something wrong with the replacement amplifier. It simply does not have the same power as the other two amps; not even 50%. In “Full” setting with trim set all the way to maximum, the amp measures only about 78 dB on the SPL at best. My other EP500 would produce the same SPL at only 7 o’clock position and at 9 o’clock position, the SPL exceeds 90 dB and the house begins to shake. The original amp on the malfunctioning sub had the identical powerful performance as my other sub, and the SPL produced at each trim setting was identical between my two subs. This new replacement sub seems so significantly lacking in power that one can hear the obvious difference without even using an SPL meter. I just emailed Brent at Axiom. Will see if he replies over the weekend again; he replied on a Sunday before !
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Re: trim settings on identical subs
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,898
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,898 |
John - try unplugging your original ep500... and run just the new one without having the first one daisy-chained at the same time. I'm curious if output increases in that scenario. (I've seen that behavior with 600s)
Jason
Epic 80-800: HG Cherry
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Re: trim settings on identical subs
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 280
local
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OP
local
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 280 |
Hi Jason,
Yep. I did that as well by connecting the LFE directly to sub-2 (with the replacement amp) rather than daisy-chaining the LFE from sub-1. Same low output.
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Re: trim settings on identical subs
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,898
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,898 |
well bugger... other than the obvious, which I'm sure you've done (changing cables, outlets, etc.), I'm out of creative ideas.
The other thing some people recommend is connecting an MP3 player directly to the sub with an RCA cord from the headphone jack just to confirm it's nothing weird your receiver is doing. (unlikely in your situation, but it's another quick test to rule out the receiver in any of the behavior if you get the same difference when using another source)
Jason
Epic 80-800: HG Cherry
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