The reason I asked about new vs. used is that in the early Def4, Sean set the internal amp's gain fairly low, such that in many rooms, including mine, the bass level had to be cranked to 8+, often 9, just to get in the realm. I pointed out to Sean that in a bass-shy room a user would not have enough sub amp gain headroom to properly load some rooms relative to the FRD efficiency. So he subsequently changed the internal gain setting on the internal amp so that the external pot yielded a far greater range of useful gain. I know all the Rev.B speakers were corrected, but some original series were too. I just don't know the serial # cut-off.
Call Sean with the serial numbers of your speakers, and he should be able to tell you if that's the case with your speakers, and he can send you a fix. If you have your sub gain cranked almost to 10, I believe that's your first order problem. In most environments, floor-to-plinth gap on Def 4 is practically immaterial. There are some situations where it is conceivable to matter but I have yet to actually encounter it. It doesn't hurt to experiment but I think you won't have to.
The TJ / Full Music Mesh Plate 300B (really a perforated plate) has three distinctive characteristics, compared to a more objective tube: a rich and euphonic top-end spray, classic coveted 300B lush midrange, and comparatively bloated bass that easily infects midrange transparency and articulation. It's a rich, creamy, decidedly not-objective sound. Now, all the Definitions have internal sub amps that derive their input signal from the bass character of the full range power amps. But the Def4 12" downfire is capable of much better bass articulation and is more dynamically disciplined, so you will have more to work with if you switch to one of the better solid plate 300B tubes, chief of which I suggest the KR 300B balloon glass. But if you need to spend less, one of the Sophia or TJ solid carbon plate tubes, or even the Shuguang Natural -T will be better.
IIRC Sean suggests new owners of Def4 start with the LPF set to 60 hz, which is right for almost nobody, but working down from there gives you an audible ramp into what works in your room. Then you can dial in amplitude and go after the PEQ settings to refine. But it seems highly-likely to me that you have an early pair of Def4 that made it into the field before Sean altered the internal amp gain to a more useful level.
Check and report back, or send my your serial #s and I'll call him tomorrow.
Phil
Call Sean with the serial numbers of your speakers, and he should be able to tell you if that's the case with your speakers, and he can send you a fix. If you have your sub gain cranked almost to 10, I believe that's your first order problem. In most environments, floor-to-plinth gap on Def 4 is practically immaterial. There are some situations where it is conceivable to matter but I have yet to actually encounter it. It doesn't hurt to experiment but I think you won't have to.
The TJ / Full Music Mesh Plate 300B (really a perforated plate) has three distinctive characteristics, compared to a more objective tube: a rich and euphonic top-end spray, classic coveted 300B lush midrange, and comparatively bloated bass that easily infects midrange transparency and articulation. It's a rich, creamy, decidedly not-objective sound. Now, all the Definitions have internal sub amps that derive their input signal from the bass character of the full range power amps. But the Def4 12" downfire is capable of much better bass articulation and is more dynamically disciplined, so you will have more to work with if you switch to one of the better solid plate 300B tubes, chief of which I suggest the KR 300B balloon glass. But if you need to spend less, one of the Sophia or TJ solid carbon plate tubes, or even the Shuguang Natural -T will be better.
IIRC Sean suggests new owners of Def4 start with the LPF set to 60 hz, which is right for almost nobody, but working down from there gives you an audible ramp into what works in your room. Then you can dial in amplitude and go after the PEQ settings to refine. But it seems highly-likely to me that you have an early pair of Def4 that made it into the field before Sean altered the internal amp gain to a more useful level.
Check and report back, or send my your serial #s and I'll call him tomorrow.
Phil