dbphd:
"As I’m sure you’re aware, an SMS-1 emits a series of pulses through the subs that are captured by its microphone, evaluated, and equalization applied that mainly cuts peaks without amplifying valleys. The process can be for one or multiple subs, so I see no downside in using it. On the other hand, the SMS-1 remote includes an equalization defeat button making it trivial to try the array both with equalization and without."
Hello dbphd,
I have been looking through the SMS-1 manual. I was under the impression its corrective equalization did both, cuts bass peaks and amplifies bass dips or valleys. I'm not saying you're wrong, it's just that I remember a section warning that trying to correct dips/valleys of -6 Db or more could result in overdriving or stressing a sub. But now that I'm thinking about it, it could have been referring to manual adjustments and you could be right that the automatic equalization will not attempt to amplify dips/valleys this large.
If this is true, I think it's a positive factor in determining how well a 4-sub DBA and MS-1 combination will actually perform. I'll leave it to you and Tony to figure out.
I've just started reading the manual section, starting at the bottom of page 10, on using multiple subs and how to utilize multiple SMS-1s in a master-slave configuration. You owning multiple SMS-1s could be very useful.
I'm currently thinking connecting both of your 15s on one SMS-1 as a master and connecting both of your 10s on another SMS-1 as slaves might be the best way to set your system up.
I've also been thinking about the best method for distributing your subs in your 19' x 14' room. Can you tell me which wall you have your 100" screen mounted on, a short wall or long wall? And whether you're willing to move the screen and reconfigure your room if it would result in improved system performance?
Here's an example explaining why this could be important. You guys may discover that the bass sounds better in your room with the 15s positioned about 8' apart along a 14' wall than along a 19' wall. The reason could be as simple as the very long deep bass soundwaves (a 20 Hz wave is about 56' long, a 30 Hz wave is about 38' long and a 40 Hz wave is about 28' long) require an extra wall reflection for the entire length of the complete soundwave to exist in the room and be processed by our brains as a deep bass tone. The 56' 20 Hz soundwave would be launched from the front 14' wall and need to travel the length of the room's 19' length, reflect off the rear 14' wall, travel the 19' length of the room again and reflect off the 14' front wall and travel another 18' toward the rear wall before our brains even process this now complete soundwave to be recognized as a 20 Hz tone. This is just sort of 3 reflections for the soundwave to be heard. If the sub was placed along a 19" wall, the same 56' long 20 Hz wave would require almost exactly 4 reflections to be heard.
Will this make any difference in the perceived bass quality either with or without room correction? I'm not sure but you guys will probably be finding out.
The ability to turn the SMS-1's equalization on or off as a remote function is extremely convenient and another positive factor in determining just how well a 4-sub DBA and multiple SMS-1 combination may actually perform.
Things are certainly looking good. The results should be very interesting.
Thanks,
Tim
