Separate subs for music and HT/surround

   The SVS Ultra appears to be the first affordable subwoofer with an application that offers needed low frequency crossover related adjustments as well as three customizable memory EQ presets within a single frequency band between 20 and 200Hz.
   Velodyne, JL Audio, Vandersteen, Magico, and Von Schweikert, understand the importance of multiple frequency bands of discreet equalization within a higher crossover region without reducing gain and not simply a set point where the subs kick in.
   SVS claims (SB16-Ultra Owners Manual page 15), "in some cases, reversing polarity - can be used to fix bass nulls or overly boomy spots in the listening area". While it may have a minor affect reversing polarity simply restores the polarity of the recording which is most noticeable in the bass drum and can vary as often as from track to track. If the listening position is located within a null or mode the sub will require proper physical relocation. With the sub at the listening position you don't actually need to crawl around to locate a rooms modes.  
   I'd venture subwoofer sales are related to affordability rather than flexible frequency integration. If they've never heard it how would they know what to listen for? After all, almost any sub sounds better than no sub.

kgveteran: " a comprehensive multiple subwoofer array setup scheme combined with proper calibration equipment will get you much closer than archaic “crawl” method."

Hello kgveteran,

I think we both owe a big thank you to m-db for informing us that even a manufacturer of subs containing room correction hardware and software realizes the effectiveness of the timeless ’crawl method’. Thank you m-db.
Sure, individuals are free to buy and utilize expensive calibration equipment and software to determine the optimum positioning of subs in a multiple sub bass system. But the crawl method has proven its effectiveness since ancient times when the Greeks first invented the technique circa 3480 B.C. Aristotle and Plato actually put it best when they stated numerous times in oral and written form, " why bother? Crawles fideles!".
The reason the crawl method has since been used continuously for approaching the last 6,000 years is because it works so well. A bit more recently in this country, it’s a well known historical fact that Thomas Jefferson was observed teaching the method to George Washington in the upstairs living quarters of the White House when George was setting up his system just after his Inauguration. Interestingly, it is recorded that they did so while dining on beer and pizza. Also of note, Jefferson was introduced to the magical secrets of the crawl method by Benjamin Franklin at a clandestine Freemason meeting just years earlier in Philadelphia.
Given its long, proud and extremely effective history spanning centuries, I consider your attempt to abandon, or at least foreshorten the effective lifespan, of such a beloved, archaic and globally respected sub locating tool as the crawl method to be reprehensible, heretical, counter-productive, nonsensical and possibly criminal in most legal jurisdictions world-wide. My god man, Leonardo Da Vinci used the crawl method in establishing his controversial, and humankind’s first, 4-sub DBA system over 500 years ago.
I fail to comprehend your logic in casting aspersions and apparent lack of respect for a literally free technique, that has been so cherished, reliable and effective throughout the long and historic record of sub locating efforts, solely on the basis of not being sufficiently technologically sophisticated enough for your approval.
Well, we now clearly understand you’re not a Freemason.

Tim

Tim,

As luck would have it, the Velodyne HGS-15 and HGS-10 that were not recently repaired have now developed problems.  So I'm using a single HGS-15 with 4th order crossover at 40 Hz.  I think the sound is quite good: bass in jazz is free of boom while organ pedal notes are well portrayed.  I'll try adding the repaired HGS-10 later today for a two sub setup, albeit a very asymmetrical one.

db  

   Tim,
            We will agree to disagree, cheers mate !

Hello dbphd,

     I've missed talking with you!  I think you forgot the basic truth about deploying subs in any given room:
Two subs perform twice as well as one, 4 subs perform twice as well as two and eight subs are valid grounds for divorce. 
     I know you realize that, unfortunately, the best course of action is to repair both non-functioning subs.  The spectacular bass results of a 4-sub DBA system can only be realized with four functioning subs and non working subs have almost zero dollar value since they're of no use to almost everyone.
     What repairs were done on the first subs you had repaired?  The sooner you have them repaired, the sooner you'll be enjoying world-class bass performance on both music and HT.

Later,
  Tim