The Official Premier Acoustics Owners thread

[derzauberer]

Thanks for the tip on using a screwdriver with tape covering the blade. That worked, but it wasn't easy.


EDIT:

My settings:

LPF AVR = 80 HZ
LPF PA 120 = 200 HZ
Phase = 0 (fully counterclockwise)
Gain = 6
Room size: 18 X 13
Sub location about 4' from the left wall with about 6 inches of space between the front wall and the back of the sub. The bass is astounding. It has a lot of punch and foundation but never boomy. I don't even have it set on a riser. I don't think one is necessary.

[jsr]

Sounds like something may be wrong with my sub or it's built in amp. I have the gain at 7 and barely hear the sub, even with my ear next to it. AVR gain on the sub channel is at +9 already.
I'm hoping to hear from others before I contacT acousticsounddesign or premier acoustic.

[derzauberer]

I forgot to mention that my Yamaha RX-A810 using YPAO auto calibration set the subwoofer channel gain to -4.0 db. I don't know what kind of AVR you have but setting the subwoofer output to +9.0 db sounds very suspicious of either, the AVR, the sub, or both.

That's a bummer man. Something is definitely wrong.

[jsr]

I have a brand new onkyo ht-rc360. Something definitely sound wrong then.

[kesando]

do you have another sub to plug into your AVR to see if it acts the same. If it plays fine then you probably have a bad sub

[jsr]

No other sub. This is my first HT setup. Been a bumpy road thus far.

[BMFC]

On schedule for delivery tomorrow. Sub is in Memphis. Nashville, then Murfreesboro, then OUT FOR DELIVERY!!

[derzauberer]

Originally Posted by jsr

No other sub. This is my first HT setup. Been a bumpy road thus far.

The only other thing I can conceive of that may severely limit the performance of the PA 120 is having it placed in a dead spot or null zone in the room. Or, your sweet spot is in a null. However, usually one frequency like 50 Hz may be drooping by 10 db to 30 db whereas another say around 30 Hz may have a nasty peak. Sometimes putting a sub on a riser will help eliminate a null or node. Yet after getting rid of one, another one may pop up somewhere else. Getting smooth bass response is like being Hercules fighting the Hydra, a beast with multiple heads that grow back after being severed. Audyssey should be taking care of some those but it may not do well if the sub is in a really bad location.

Just experiment. Do a subwoofer crawl. Put the sub at your sweet spot and crawl around the room. You need to be low to the floor because that's where the sub would normally be. Play some music with lots of bass that you are familiar with. Put the sub in the location that had the best response and bass level.

Or for an even quicker check. Put the sub in a corner and face it diagonally toward the opposite corner. If you don't get any bass boost after that, something is wrong with the sub. Send the it back to sound distributors dot com or premier acoustic dot com after calling them about the problem. They should pay shipping costs too. Both of them are however very picky about the warranty. Hope you registered online with them. If so, you are good to go.

[jsr]

I would think that even if the sub were in a poor spot, I would be able to hear output with my ear next to it. I don't even hear much with my head right next to the sub. I'll contact acousticsounddesigns to see what they can do.

[derzauberer]

If it's that far gone, I would have called acoustic sound designs right away.

[jsr]

I spoke with acousticsounddesign. They say they will be swapping out my sub. Hopefully that resolves it.

I can't think of any other "setup" issue that would cause this. I've swept the range of sub settings on my AVR (sub channel output level, bass level, crossover frequency), swept the range of speaker settings (crossover frequency, double bass on and off, speaker distances, etc.). I assume placement issues are nullified by listening to the sub with my ear next to it. It makes sound, but my bass level and sub channel output level settings are all well into the positive region whereas others seem to have theirs in the minus region, so at my settings, I would expect the bass to be quite loud even at normal/casual listening levels. Instead, it just barely rumbles. If I turn up the volume very loud, the bass gets louder, but at that volume combined with the high bass and sub channel output levels, I expected the bass to be shaking the house since everything is set so high. Instead, it sounds like what I expect with sub settings at minus and volume at normal/casual levels.

[D1-2005]

Originally Posted by jsr

I spoke with acousticsounddesign. They say they will be swapping out my sub. Hopefully that resolves it.

I can't think of any other "setup" issue that would cause this. I've swept the range of sub settings on my AVR (sub channel output level, bass level, crossover frequency), swept the range of speaker settings (crossover frequency, double bass on and off, speaker distances, etc.). I assume placement issues are nullified by listening to the sub with my ear next to it. It makes sound, but my bass level and sub channel output level settings are all well into the positive region whereas others seem to have theirs in the minus region, so at my settings, I would expect the bass to be quite loud even at normal/casual listening levels. Instead, it just barely rumbles. If I turn up the volume very loud, the bass gets louder, but at that volume combined with the high bass and sub channel output levels, I expected the bass to be shaking the house since everything is set so high. Instead, it sounds like what I expect with sub settings at minus and volume at normal/casual levels.

What are u using to test with? Have u tried different movies, music ect?

[jsr]

Yes,.tried different movies and music. Music was through the radio only. Movies on PS2 and via cable.

[BMFC]

Originally Posted by jsr

Yes,.tried different movies and music. Music was through the radio only. Movies on PS2 and via cable.

The cable?? Maybe??

[BMFC]

Looks like I'll be having another late delivery again.

[BMFC]

Got it about and hour ago.


Hooked it up and changed settings in the AVR.


I'm having the same isssue as jsr.



I can hear a little bass, but not much.


Watching TDK

[BMFC]

Originally Posted by derzauberer

Thanks for the tip on using a screwdriver with tape covering the blade. That worked, but it wasn't easy.


EDIT:

My settings:

LPF AVR = 80 HZ
LPF PA 120 = 200 HZ
Phase = 0 (fully counterclockwise)
Gain = 6
Room size: 18 X 13
Sub location about 4' from the left wall with about 6 inches of space between the front wall and the back of the sub. The bass is astounding. It has a lot of punch and foundation but never boomy. I don't even have it set on a riser. I don't think one is necessary.

This is pretty much everything I have as far as settings and placement. My roon is 15x13 though.


Barely any bass.

[BMFC]

Does this thing need a break in?


I switched the LPF on the AVR to 120 hz same with the PA 120 LPF, moved it from 200 hz to 120 hz and it made a bit of a difference. I have the gain all the way up and its performing the way I thought it would.



I shouldn't have to turn the gain to 10 though right??

[derzauberer]

Originally Posted by BMFC

This is pretty much everything I have as far as settings and placement. My roon is 15x13 though.


Barely any bass.

That's very interesting. Possibly two PA-120s have issues now.

BMFC, do you have any content on CD, DVD, or BD that has loud, low bass? What first comes to mind is Spielberg's WOTW on BD or DVD. Near the beginning of the movie there's some ultra low bass material when the Martian pod, that had been buried under Brooklyn's streets, emerges. There are lots of other movies of course like Pearl Harbor during the first strike footage, cannon fire in the POTC movies, LOTR RTOTK during the mammoth assault on Minas Tirith, and so forth.

Now try this. Remove the PA-120 grille cover. Play one of those movies having real loud deep bass content. Crank up the volume to the level that you would normally listen to or a wee bit higher. Now watch the subwoofer cone. If you see it move, then it's likely that nothing is wrong with your sub. I tell you that during WOTW, my sub's cone moved back and forth at an astonishing, even more-so frightening amount.

After reading both your comment and jsr's, I tried a little experiment. I placed my ear close to my PA-120 with the volume not as loud as it would be when I watch a movie but loud enough so that I definitely heard it from my seat. The bass I heard that close to the subwoofer cone was no where near as loud as it was from my sweet spot. Also, I put my hand close behind the port in the back of the sub. I could feel the air escaping out of the port hitting my hand. However, as in jsr's case, if you hear no sound at all coming from the sub that close, then it's probably a lemon.

Keep in mind though, that even a healthy sub, placed in the wrong location, may produce wimpy bass.

[BMFC]

Originally Posted by derzauberer

That's very interesting. Possibly two PA-120s have issues now.

BMFC, do you have any content on CD, DVD, or BD that has loud, low bass? What first comes to mind is Spielberg's WOTW on BD or DVD. Near the beginning of the movie there's some ultra low bass material when the Martian pod, that had been buried under Brooklyn's streets, emerges. There are lots of other movies of course like Pearl Harbor during the first strike footage, cannon fire in the POTC movies, LOTR RTOTK during the mammoth assault on Minas Tirith, and so forth.

Now try this. Remove the PA-120 grille cover. Play one of those movies having real loud deep bass content. Crank up the volume to the level that you would normally listen to or a wee bit higher. Now watch the subwoofer cone. If you see it move, then it's likely that nothing is wrong with your sub. I tell you that during WOTW, my sub's cone moved back and forth at an astonishing, even more-so frightening amount.

After reading both your comment and jsr's, I tried a little experiment. I placed my ear close to my PA-120 with the volume not as loud as it would be when I watch a movie but loud enough so that I definitely heard it from my seat. The bass I heard that close to the subwoofer cone was no where near as loud as it was from my sweet spot. Also, I put my hand close behind the port in the back of the sub. I could feel the air escaping out of the port hitting my hand. However, as in jsr's case, if you hear no sound at all coming from the sub that close, then it's probably a lemon.

Keep in mind though, that even a healthy sub, placed in the wrong location, may produce wimpy bass.

I'm going to play with it some more tomorrow. Wife went to sleep. LOL


I may take the amp off and give a look. I did notice that the input was loose.