opinion on Samson subwoofer

[Mark]

I'm looking to add a subwoofer to compliment my Yorkville YSM-1s. The
local shop recommended the Samson Resolv 120a Active Subwoofer, and I
like some of its features, such as a footswitch mute to take it out of
the mix, as well as the ability to power the Yorkvilles from its amp.
I would appreciate any comments people here might have about this
product.

Thanks, Mark

[Scott Dorsey]

Mark > wrote:
>I'm looking to add a subwoofer to compliment my Yorkville YSM-1s. The
>local shop recommended the Samson Resolv 120a Active Subwoofer, and I
>like some of its features, such as a footswitch mute to take it out of
>the mix, as well as the ability to power the Yorkvilles from its amp.
>I would appreciate any comments people here might have about this
>product.

First of all, it's not a real subwoofer. But maybe you don't want a
real subwoofer.

Secondly, why do you want a subwoofer? Do you want more thump, or do
you want real extension, or do you actually have a room suckout problem
that you think a sub will fix?
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Andrew M.]

Mark wrote:
> I'm looking to add a subwoofer to compliment my Yorkville YSM-1s. The
> local shop recommended the Samson Resolv 120a Active Subwoofer, and I
> like some of its features, such as a footswitch mute to take it out of
> the mix, as well as the ability to power the Yorkvilles from its amp.
> I would appreciate any comments people here might have about this
> product.
>
> Thanks, Mark

I think Yorkville makes a matching subwoofer. I would check into that
one first.

[Leoaw3]

Scott Dorsey wrote:
>First of all, it's not a real subwoofer

What would make you say that? I can think of a couple of things, but I'm
interested in why you would say it that way.

Is it that it doesn't go low enough in frequency? (40 Hz)

Thanks,
-lee-

[Scott Dorsey]

Leoaw3 > wrote:
>Scott Dorsey wrote:
>>First of all, it's not a real subwoofer
>
>What would make you say that? I can think of a couple of things, but I'm
>interested in why you would say it that way.
>
>Is it that it doesn't go low enough in frequency? (40 Hz)

Right, it's a woofer. Look at the crossover point. It's intended
to be crossed over way, way high.

I also doubt you'll get much real stuff out of it at 40 Hz. It does
not go very low either.

This is typical of the "desktop" systems that are currently very popular.
Single woofer crossed over pretty high, then 2-way cabinets. Because
the crossover point is so high, having a single woofer really clobbers
your bass imaging. Down at 20 Hz, you're fine having a single low end
cabinet because you really can't tell where the source is. But when you
have a "sub" putting out appreciable signal at 300 Hz, it is very
painfully obvious where the source is.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[e.maynard]

"when you have a "sub" putting out appreciable signal at 300 Hz, it is
very
painfully obvious where the source is"

O.K., fair enough. But, I use a pair of sealed 2 way monitors that are
3dB down at 60Hz, and I'd really love to be able to double check how
much low end (below 60hz) I have going on. The point source would be
less important to me in this case.

Can anyone recommend a small (defeatable-via footswitch would be nice)
"sub" woofer with Hi Pass outs that return to full frequency outs when
the "sub" is not in use? Or would using a Low Pass filter (before the
"sub") make more sense?


Thanks a lot,
e.maynard

[Scott Dorsey]

e.maynard > wrote:
>"when you have a "sub" putting out appreciable signal at 300 Hz, it is
>very
>painfully obvious where the source is"
>
>O.K., fair enough. But, I use a pair of sealed 2 way monitors that are
>3dB down at 60Hz, and I'd really love to be able to double check how
>much low end (below 60hz) I have going on. The point source would be
>less important to me in this case.

Do they fall down like a rock, or are they reasonably tapered down below?
If they are dropping 6 dB per octave, you have plenty of useful stuff at 30 Hz
on those. If the bottom end is really high Q and drops like a rock, you may
not have anything useful down there.

And, if it _is_ falling like a rock, can you do something to the room to
prevent that?

>Can anyone recommend a small (defeatable-via footswitch would be nice)
>"sub" woofer with Hi Pass outs that return to full frequency outs when
>the "sub" is not in use? Or would using a Low Pass filter (before the
>"sub") make more sense?

You have to use a lowpass filter in front of the mains, both because you
don't want the mains trying to reproduce low frequency stuff (wasting power
and getting more distortion), and because you can't otherwise easily set
the high-pass on the sub to match the slope and turnover frequency of the
natural roll-off of the mains.

But you could rig up any one of the standard crossovers with a foot pedal
if you wanted to.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> I use a pair of sealed 2 way monitors that are
> 3dB down at 60Hz, and I'd really love to be able to double check how
> much low end (below 60hz) I have going on. The point source would be
> less important to me in this case.
>
> Can anyone recommend a small (defeatable-via footswitch would be nice)
> "sub" woofer with Hi Pass outs that return to full frequency outs when
> the "sub" is not in use? Or would using a Low Pass filter (before the
> "sub") make more sense?

Use an electronic crossover between the sub and the main speakers.
That way you can play with the crossover frequency and get it sounding
as good as you can with the subwoofer on. Then simply turn off the
subwoofer when you want to listen without it.

One point about a sub not being much of a sub is that some of them
sort of convert everything that goes into them into a thud that's
always just about the same pitch. You can hear that there's something
down there, but you can't really tell what it is or what it's doing.
I'm not saying the Samson is one of those, but I would suspect that it
tends that way.

--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

[Mark]

Scott, I understand what you are saying. My Yorkvilles are rated to
40hz, and they do put out a decent amount of bass for their size, but
I guess I'm looking for a little more 'woof', especially because I
often write a lot of drum-heavy music (being drummer myself I really
like to feel the bottom end, though I know that's hard to get in a
bedroom-sized studio).

But I certainly don't wish to spend a few hundred dollars on something
that's just going to just go "thump". I found out that Yorkville makes
their own subwoofer,and it's rated from 35 to 150, but as you say,
perhaps I should wonder what kind of quality sound I'm going to get?

I guess if I went this route my best bet would be to keep the
cross-over point as low as possible, since the main speakers can
reproduce fairly far down. Or, for the amount of money I wish to spend
(under $500 Cdn.) am I just wasting my time, and should wait until I
can afford a better sub?

Mark

[Wayne]

Mark wrote:
>
>But I certainly don't wish to spend a few hundred dollars on something
>that's just going to just go "thump". I found out that Yorkville makes
>their own subwoofer,and it's rated from 35 to 150, but as you say,
>perhaps I should wonder what kind of quality sound I'm going to get?
>
>
I have a set of Tannoy PBM 6.5's which only go down to 45 and I was looking for
something to check the bottom end, at least down to 23-30.

Scott put me on to a consumer woofer which go by the name of HSU (sue). I
picked up a VTF-2 over the holidays and it is absolutely solid and clean. It
will also make your chair do funny things to your butt. It's a 10" with 150
watt amp in it. The crossover is only adjustable up to 90. The send a set up
CD with the unit.

Here's the link:

http://hsuresearch.com/products/

You might want to check it out.


--Wayne

-"sounded good to me"-

[Nousaine]

(Mark) wrote:



>
>Scott, I understand what you are saying. My Yorkvilles are rated to
>40hz, and they do put out a decent amount of bass for their size, but
>I guess I'm looking for a little more 'woof', especially because I
>often write a lot of drum-heavy music (being drummer myself I really
>like to feel the bottom end, though I know that's hard to get in a
>bedroom-sized studio).
>
>But I certainly don't wish to spend a few hundred dollars on something
>that's just going to just go "thump". I found out that Yorkville makes
>their own subwoofer,and it's rated from 35 to 150, but as you say,
>perhaps I should wonder what kind of quality sound I'm going to get?
>
>I guess if I went this route my best bet would be to keep the
>cross-over point as low as possible, since the main speakers can
>reproduce fairly far down. Or, for the amount of money I wish to spend
>(under $500 Cdn.) am I just wasting my time, and should wait until I
>can afford a better sub?
>
>Mark

I've tested a couple hundred powered consumer subwoofers and the Hsu VTF-2 is
the best deal on the market. Another company SVSubwoofers (.com) also makes
excellent products at great prices.

[Steve Scott]

says...
> (Mark) wrote:
> >I guess if I went this route my best bet would be to keep the
> >cross-over point as low as possible, since the main speakers can
> >reproduce fairly far down. Or, for the amount of money I wish to spend
> >(under $500 Cdn.) am I just wasting my time, and should wait until I
> >can afford a better sub?
> >
> >Mark
>
> I've tested a couple hundred powered consumer subwoofers and the Hsu VTF-2 is
> the best deal on the market. Another company SVSubwoofers (.com) also makes
> excellent products at great prices.

Thanks Tom, you're definitely the subwoofman, used to enjoy your reviews.
Good to have an answer from your particular experience. I wasn't aware
Hsu made smaller/cheaper subs now, will check 'em out. Do you recommend
a particular SVS, and do you know approximate price ranges?

Steve

[Nousaine]

Steve Scott
wrote:


says...
>> (Mark) wrote:
>> >I guess if I went this route my best bet would be to keep the
>> >cross-over point as low as possible, since the main speakers can
>> >reproduce fairly far down. Or, for the amount of money I wish to spend
>> >(under $500 Cdn.) am I just wasting my time, and should wait until I
>> >can afford a better sub?
>> >
>> >Mark
>>
>> I've tested a couple hundred powered consumer subwoofers and the Hsu VTF-2
>is
>> the best deal on the market. Another company SVSubwoofers (.com) also makes
>> excellent products at great prices.
>
>Thanks Tom, you're definitely the subwoofman, used to enjoy your reviews.
>Good to have an answer from your particular experience. I wasn't aware
>Hsu made smaller/cheaper subs now, will check 'em out. Do you recommend
>a particular SVS, and do you know approximate price ranges?
>
>Steve

Their passive 12-inch models are in the same price range as the VTF-2. They now
have powered models as well but I've not tested any of those. Check the
web-site.

[Scott Dorsey]

Mark > wrote:
>Scott, I understand what you are saying. My Yorkvilles are rated to
>40hz, and they do put out a decent amount of bass for their size, but
>I guess I'm looking for a little more 'woof', especially because I
>often write a lot of drum-heavy music (being drummer myself I really
>like to feel the bottom end, though I know that's hard to get in a
>bedroom-sized studio).

Your worry is that if you have room problems, and you put a subwoofer in
there, then you'll still have the same room problems. If your system is
not properly placed for good bass response or if you have a big standing
wave problem (very common in small rooms), adding a sub won't help.

If the speaker really _does_ go down to 40 Hz (which I really kind of doubt
for a cabinet that size), and you aren't feeling the bottom end very well,
then you definitely have a room issue.

>But I certainly don't wish to spend a few hundred dollars on something
>that's just going to just go "thump". I found out that Yorkville makes
>their own subwoofer,and it's rated from 35 to 150, but as you say,
>perhaps I should wonder what kind of quality sound I'm going to get?

See if you can try it and listen to it.

>I guess if I went this route my best bet would be to keep the
>cross-over point as low as possible, since the main speakers can
>reproduce fairly far down. Or, for the amount of money I wish to spend
>(under $500 Cdn.) am I just wasting my time, and should wait until I
>can afford a better sub?

How far down can your speakers _really_ reproduce? Have you played some
sweep tones and listened to what is going on in different parts of the room.

Maybe you'll want a sub. If so, looking at the Yorkville one designed for
the speaker system might be a good first step. But if you have room problems,
a sub will just make them worse.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."