Official Power Sound Audio Thread.

[theJman]

Originally Posted by Joshjp

Hi guys i got a question, how would 1 PSA-XV30 compare to Dual Epik Empires STACKED. THANKS, BTW my room is only 15x13, and i sit 3 Meters away from my SUBS. THANKS

Given that Empires haven't been available for months -- and may never see the light of day again -- I suspect the XV30 would be a d@mn sight better.

[Tom V.]

Originally Posted by Joshjp

Hi guys i got a question, how would 1 PSA-XV30 compare to Dual Epik Empires STACKED. THANKS, BTW my room is only 15x13, and i sit 3 Meters away from my SUBS. THANKS

I don't think you would consider it an upgrade overall.

The dual empires would have an output advantage across most of the operating bandwidth. The single XS30 would extend much deeper though. In your room size the XS30 might dig all the way down to the 7-9hz range for example. The FR on the empire drops 30dB from 20hz to 10hz. This causes several issues. First, no amount of "room gain" will give you true response down to 10hz. The XS30 has a DSP shaped rolloff which is down about 12dB at 9hz(referenced to 20hz). So true extension into the signal digits is very possible in all but the largest of rooms.

Another issue with a very steep rolloff on any subwoofer is it will induce a significant amount of "ringing" and "group delay". These are performance metrics associated with sound quality. The importance of these metrics are sometimes debated but the consensus is that they can and do make audible differences----particularly when significant differences present themselves. For example, all things being equal...two subs with group delay of 25ms(milliseconds) and 30 milliseconds will sound identical. But if the difference was 25ms and 75ms...I bet most/all would notice a difference(esp with music).

So at the end of the day...

Your dual empires likely offer good extension down to 16-18hz in your room. The single XS30 will dig deeper...but its rare for source material to have strong bass <16hz anyway. So the extension advantage for the XS30 won't really come into play very much. The dual empires will have the output advantage. The single XS30 would have a bit of a "sound quality" advantage(at least imo).

I just don't see you considering this a day/night type of upgrade....more of a lateral move. The empires offer a lot of bang/buck value. Unless you were concerned with all the reported customer service issues( if you run into any warranty issues) I'd keep em'. I bet they offer tremendous "slam" factor for you in this room size/placement?


Tom V.
Power Sound Audio

[theJman]

Tom; I think he was inquiring about an XV30, not an XS30.

[Tom V.]

Originally Posted by theJman

Tom; I think he was inquiring about an XV30, not an XS30.

There goes 10 minutes of my life..

Thanks Jim,

I'll have to be more brief.

Extension will be close with a slight edge going to the XV30.

Output. In the low bass (15-40hz) it will be very close with the XV30 having a 2-3dB edge in the 15-25hz area.

In the upper bass (50-100hz) the dual empires will have the advantage...3-6dB I'd guess off the top of my head.


Sound quality. Just based on the stored ringing and group delay factors I'd expect the XV30 to have a bit of an edge.

Overall, still wouldn't consider this much of an upgrade. You would get more deep output/tactile sensation and perhaps consider the overall bass quality to be improved a bit. But usually when someone spends $1000+ on an upgrade...they want it to sound/look like a MAJOR upgrade.. I don't think this would be.

If you're still looking for a one sub "solution" to be a major upgrade over the dual empires in a month or two check back with us...you never know...

Tom V.
Power Sound Audio

[theJman]

Originally Posted by Tom V.

There goes 10 minutes of my life..

Thanks Jim,

My smiley didn't show up in that post...

You and Jim still working 25 hours a day?

[dobby]

Originally Posted by Tom V.

There goes 10 minutes of my life..

Thanks Jim,

I'll have to be more brief.

Extension will be close with a slight edge going to the XV30.

Output. In the low bass (15-40hz) it will be very close with the XV30 having a 2-3dB edge in the 15-25hz area.

In the upper bass (50-100hz) the dual empires will have the advantage...3-6dB I'd guess off the top of my head.


Sound quality. Just based on the stored ringing and group delay factors I'd expect the XV30 to have a bit of an edge.

Overall, still wouldn't consider this much of an upgrade. You would get more deep output/tactile sensation and perhaps consider the overall bass quality to be improved a bit. But usually when someone spends $1000+ on an upgrade...they want it to sound/look like a MAJOR upgrade.. I don't think this would be.

If you're still looking for a one sub "solution" to be a major upgrade over the dual empires in a month or two check back with us...you never know...

Tom V.
Power Sound Audio

How come the comparison is between two empires and only one XV30? Shouldn't it be one vs one or two vs two?

[Tom V.]

Originally Posted by dobby

How come the comparison is between two empires and only one XV30? Shouldn't it be one vs one or two vs two?

Sometimes, but this type of thing is very dependent on each individual's circumstance. In this case....you have a pair of subs and maybe a $1500 budget and might be mulling over possible upgrade options. Not an unusual scenario really. Or, the budget may not be limited, perhaps he just wants one larger sub to take the place of the two smaller units.

Either way, for a "day/night" type of upgrade over dual empires in most/all performance areas...a single unit from Power Sound Audio won't work at the moment imo.

Tom V.
Power Sound Audio

[dobby]

Originally Posted by Tom V.

Sometimes, but this type of thing is very dependent on each individual's circumstance. In this case....you have a pair of subs and maybe a $1500 budget and might be mulling over possible upgrade options. Not an unusual scenario really. Or, the budget may not be limited, perhaps he just wants one larger sub to take the place of the two smaller units.

Either way, for a "day/night" type of upgrade over dual empires in most/all performance areas...a single unit from Power Sound Audio won't work imo.

Tom V.
Power Sound Audio

Wow!! That's some serious honesty Tom. I can see now where such a comparison might be warranted.

[Tom V.]

Originally Posted by dobby

Wow!! That's some serious honesty Tom. I can see now where such a comparison might be warranted.

It's much more important to us to ensure customer satisfaction versus just gathering as many customers as possible with goofy marketing claims and/or a gazillion ads in every nook of the internet. Or, in this instance, trying to convince someone our product is going to do something it won't just to make the "sale". Truth builds trust. And without the latter, who is going to spend a good bit of money on a product they cannot see, hear, or touch in person?..

Tom V.
Power Sound Audio

[Tom V.]

Originally Posted by theJman

My smiley didn't show up in that post...

You and Jim still working 25 hours a day?

Not really. Its much more how to manage the workload. We can both multi-task with the best of them so it is really a wonderful situation. Many days we stay later than absolutely necessary just because.

Being able to interact directly with potential customers is a big part of the reason why we like this so much...I simply dread the idea that some day(in the distant future!) that may not be practical.

Tom V.
Power Sound Audio

[dobby]

Originally Posted by Tom V.

It's much more important to us to ensure customer satisfaction versus just gathering as many customers as possible with goofy marketing claims and/or a gazillion ads in every nook of the internet. Or, in this instance, trying to convince someone our product is going to do something it won't just to make the "sale". Truth builds trust. And without the latter, who is going to spend a good bit of money on a product they cannot see, hear, or touch in person?..

Tom V.
Power Sound Audio

Well said Tom. And it's precisely why I ended up with dual XV15s.

[CRAZYKAT]

Originally Posted by Tom V.

It's much more important to us to ensure customer satisfaction versus just gathering as many customers as possible with goofy marketing claims and/or a gazillion ads in every nook of the internet. Or, in this instance, trying to convince someone our product is going to do something it won't just to make the "sale". Truth builds trust. And without the latter, who is going to spend a good bit of money on a product they cannot see, hear, or touch in person?..

Tom V.
Power Sound Audio

Well said my friend, That's why I like You, Jim and PSA.

[Joshjp]

THANKS A BUNCH TOM, i dont think CHAD would ever answer my question, i have to say that you guys have to have the BEST customer servise ive seen in a long time, I like my EMPIRES, but im worried if they CRAP out, i wouldnt get them replaced, as CHAD is MIA, and on Epiks website it says "•10 -12 Hz usable in-room extension" with 2 Empires of course.

P.S. are you able to stack PSA subs?. THANKSSSSS

[Joshjp]

Originally Posted by dobby

How come the comparison is between two empires and only one XV30? Shouldn't it be one vs one or two vs two?

Because i have 2 Empires.

[theJman]

Originally Posted by Joshjp

THANKS A BUNCH TOM, i dont think CHAD would ever answer my question, i have to say that you guys have to have the BEST customer servise ive seen in a long time, I like my EMPIRES, but im worried if they CRAP out, i wouldnt get them replaced, as CHAD is MIA, and on Epiks website it says "•10 -12 Hz usable in-room extension" with 2 Empires of course.

P.S. are you able to stack PSA subs?. THANKSSSSS

Sadly, it seems as though Chad may never answer another question.

You can pretty much stack any subwoofer, but no matter how many of them you pile on top of each other it won't change how deep they can play. If a sub can only go down to 20Hz then adding 10 more won't change that. Collectively they'll be able to play louder, but not deeper I'm afraid.

[Joshjp]

I thought thay will play 5 to 6db louder, but with 2 you get more room gain?.

[manonfire]

OK with that being said I myself just ordered 2 xv-15s so I know they should definitely play louder than my hsu's, but what about lower and louder. Isn't the hsu tuned lower than the xv-15 in max extension mode which is how mine are currently running

[theJman]

Originally Posted by Joshjp

I thought thay will play 5 to 6db louder, but with 2 you get more room gain?.

The gain supplied by your room is because of the physical aspects of it's size and configuration, not the number of subwoofers you have. Multiples will collectively play louder, but not lower; the limits of the sub(s) and room mode(s) are fixed.

[Magicmonger]

Originally Posted by Tom V.

It's much more important to us to ensure customer satisfaction versus just gathering as many customers as possible with goofy marketing claims and/or a gazillion ads in every nook of the internet. Or, in this instance, trying to convince someone our product is going to do something it won't just to make the "sale". Truth builds trust. And without the latter, who is going to spend a good bit of money on a product they cannot see, hear, or touch in person?..

Tom V.
Power Sound Audio

Originally Posted by Tom V.

Not really. Its much more how to manage the workload. We can both multi-task with the best of them so it is really a wonderful situation. Many days we stay later than absolutely necessary just because.

Being able to interact directly with potential customers is a big part of the reason why we like this so much...I simply dread the idea that some day(in the distant future!) that may not be practical.

Tom V.
Power Sound Audio

We love our PSAs and the products that you provide us. CS, well, #1 in the industry - hands down...

[Tom V.]

Back order update.

Everything has been here for a few days now except the 15" drivers we source from Nevada. Unfortunately due to circumstances out of our control(or our vendor's control) their own inbound inventory was delayed by 3 weeks. The good news is that our vendor now has confirmation that everything needed to assemble our 15" drivers will arrive at their production facility on Monday. So barring any unforeseen delays we should have our drivers here in 5-6 business days +/- one day.

Given the above I'd estimate all back orders will ship in the 3-22-2013 through 3-27-2013 window. Any new orders will ship out immediately after that....very likely 3-27 or 3-28. After that we'll be back to 1-2 day shipping on all orders for the foreseeable future. Jim and I are already putting "safety nets" in place to minimize the chances of an outage like this occurring again.

Any current Power Sound Audio order that doesn't ship out within 30 days of the original order date will receive an additional 5% discount. This include dual order which have already received 5% off.

Tom V.
Power Sound Audio