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Step 6: Fine Tuning

Now that the basic setup is complete, it’s time for optimization. Mark down the current volume and crossover settings with a soft pencil

so you can go back to where you started.

Variable Tuning

If you don’t like the air shaking feeling of very deep bass, or if you often listen to extremely loud chest-thumping material that has less

deep bass, Maximum Output mode is for you.

You can switch over to Maximum Output mode when the system’s volume level is low or the subwoofer is OFF. There are two steps:

1) Grip and pull out the foam port plug that is inserted in one of the port holes on the back of the subwoofer.  
2) Flip the BASS EXTENTION switch on the back of the subwoofer to the MAX OUTPUT mode.

In technical language, you will get about 4 dB of extra head-room so that bass can be played louder, at the expense of some deep bass exten-

sion. In other words, the subwoofer has been transformed into a louder device with less deep bass.

Switching back is simply a matter of firmly re-inserting the port plug into one of the port holes, and flipping the switch back to MAX

EXTENSION mode. Make sure that the switch setting is consistent with the port setting. Using the wrong switch position at loud vol-

ume levels may damage your subwoofer and void the warranty.

Setting the Phase

Depending on the absolute phase of your main speakers and amplifier, and the distances of the subwoofer and the main speakers from 

the listening position, the bass in the crossover region may be smoother if you reverse the phase of the subwoofer. Switch the phase switch

to 180 degrees to see if the bass sounds louder in the seating position. Play program materials with steady, consistent bass in the crossover

region (30 – 90 Hz). Filtered pink noise is best, but you may use music containing bass drums, double basses, bass guitar, etc.. The more

bass-heavy setting is where the output of the subwoofer and the main speakers are most in phase. If the 180 degree position is louder, you

will  need  to  go  back  and  adjust  the  volume  level  (Step  4).  Otherwise,  just  switch  the  phase  switch  back  to  the  original  position.

Turning the subwoofer ON for the first time

On the subwoofer, check that the phase switch is at 0 degrees, the volume level knob is at the minimum, and the crossover is at 90 Hz if using

the subwoofer’s crossover. Run the power cord from the wall to the subwoofer and flip the power switch to the AUTO-ON or ON position.

Optional: subwoofer integration will be more accurate when using test tones and a SPL meter. See Step 6 (Fine Tuning).

Step 5: Crossover

If you are using the SUBWOOFER or LFE output on your controller, you may optionally set the CROSSOVER switch to OUT. This lets

the controller handle the crossover between the subwoofer and other speakers. However, if the bass sounds boomy, it may sound better

with the crossover switched IN and the CROSSOVER FREQUENCY set to 90 Hz. You may skip the rest of this step.

If you are using the HIGH LEVEL speaker connections, you will be using the subwoofer’s crossover. Look up the lowest frequency your

left and right speakers will output (the frequency they are“-3 dB” at) and set the crossover approximately to this point. Play program mate-

rials with steady, consistent bass around this frequency such as filtered pink noise or music containing bass drums, double basses, bass

guitar, etc. Turn the crossover to the left until you hear the subwoofer and L/R speakers as separate sources. Slowly turn the control back

to the right until the sound of all three speakers is well integrated. When using tiny front speakers that don’t have much bass, the 90 Hz

setting on the control will probably yield the best results.

Your subwoofer has a sharp 24 dB/octave crossover to remove the midbass and midrange in the subwoofer. This makes your subwoofer 

non-directional. Unlike many other subwoofers on the market, the 24 dB/octave slope stays steep at all available frequencies, not just

the high ones.

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Step 4: Volume Level

Many  people  use  ordinary  music  recordings  or  soundtracks  for  setting  the  subwoofer’s  volume  level. 

If you are using this method, try adjusting the subwoofer’s volume level so it matches the main speakers at

the listening position. Since most people do not listen to material at very loud reference levels and the ears

are less sensitive to bass at lower levels, some listeners prefer to set the bass level a little higher than the main

speakers. A good approach is to set the subwoofer level to the highest level where it sounds nice and where

bass and kick drums still sound tight and non-boomy. For home theater applications, most prefer to set the

subwoofer level higher than the other speakers. We suggest setting it about 3 dB higher. Some proces-

sors/receivers allow you to set different bass levels for different sources.

Summary of Contents for VTF-2

Page 1: ... in lesser subwoofers Powerful BASH amplifiers Our custom built amplifiers work in concert with the woofer protecting the subwoofer from damage and keeping distortion to a minimum Flexible room placement The unobtrusive finish rounded corners and overall design allows for close placement next to listeners or discreet placement in corners Connects to almost any system Integration is easier than eve...

Page 2: ...7 Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators heat registers stoves or other apparatus including amplifiers that produce heat 8 Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding type plug A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other A grounding type plug has two blades and a third ground ing prong The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safe...

Page 3: ...our room s standing waves You should also avoid sitting in that area No matter how powerful the subwoofer is there will not be much bass around the center of the room Use corner placement Subwoofers usually sound best tucked in a corner A good corner is far from wall divisions and has at least 6 feet of wall to either side If you have more than one good corner use the one farthest away from large ...

Page 4: ...be set to SMALL if possible This directs the deep bass from the satellites to the subwoofer freeing them and their amplifiers from the rigorous demands of reproducing bass Run the wires from your system s amplifier to the subwoofer s HIGH LEVEL INPUTS For each channel run wire from the red out puts on the amplifier to the subwoofer s red inputs and from the black outputs on the amplifier to the su...

Page 5: ... subwoofer s crossover Run the power cord from the wall to the subwoofer and flip the power switch to the AUTO ON or ON position Optional subwoofer integration will be more accurate when using test tones and a SPL meter See Step 6 Fine Tuning Step 5 Crossover If you are using the SUBWOOFER or LFE output on your controller you may optionally set the CROSSOVER switch to OUT This lets the controller ...

Page 6: ...ove the crossover point and four different tones below the crossover point Note that the Radio Shack meter is down about 12 dB at 16 Hz 7 dB at 20 Hz and 3 dB at 30 Hz 2 dB at 40 Hz and 1 db at 50 Hz Add these numbers to the readout to compensate Average together each set of four measurements and adjust the subwoofer s volume level to compensate Repeat the measurements until the subwoofer matches ...

Page 7: ...d in securely at both ends and make sure that the power outlet the subwoofer is plugged into is working Check the fuse The fuse is located on the amplifier near the power plug Unplug the power cord and remove the fuse holder with a flat head screwdriver If the fuse is blown the output transistors are probably damaged Contact the dealer or call e mail technical support for authorization to send the...

Page 8: ...el input Connect only to the channel that has a true ground If neither channel has a true ground contact your dealer or e mail call technical support Increase the volume of the subwoofer and the subwoofer level or LFE level on the receiver or other source It is best to set the level of the subwoofer relative to the other speakers using a test disk and a Radio Shack SPL meter or built in tones on y...

Page 9: ...f Certain Damages HSU s liability for any defective product is limited to repair or replacement of the prod uct at our option HSU shall not be liable for incidental or consequential damages of any kind or character because of product defects Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and or do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential dama...

Page 10: ...10 Notes ...

Page 11: ...11 Notes ...

Page 12: ...12 HSU Research 3160 E La Palma Avenue D Anaheim CA 92806 800 554 0150 HSURESEARCH COM ...

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