jlib
Registered: 02/01/12
Posts: 2
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Posted 03/16/12
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#1
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Greetings fellow subver.. er SubMersive travelers. Four years ago I prudently put on hold my research into upgrading my subwoofer. It was a Newton P1000 that was actually pretty good for its day considering its consumer audio heritage (Cambridge SoundWorks). It made up for its small size by having dual 10" speakers with huge excursion and a simple variable equalizer and remote volume control. But in my current space it struggled to fill the room.
Now four years later, and still having a job, I decided to continue where I had left off. I noticed something perturbing, however. Pretty much all the companies I had originally been considering had abandoned the maple finish option as just so last century! I was really disappointed, not so much because I love maple that much but a maple finish is what my house and current 7.1 speaker system have so I was pretty much locked in.
So, after much research and searches on subwoofer maple term I came across the Seaton SubMersive HP. I read the entire AVS Forum SubMersive thread and all the info here to get a better historical perspective. Although out of my budget range initially, the more I learned the more I liked so I just saved up for several months.
The only thing I did not like was the dark color of the stock grill cloth on the blond finish. It actually looks OK standalone but as I mentioned I was trying to match what I already have. Mark Seaton offered to substitute a different double-knit acoustic fabric if I would search it out, obtain it, and send it to him. I am now glad I did not try to do the install myself as I originally was contemplating because I doubt it would have been done so perfectly.
I also noticed that many SubMersive users were using or had used the Velodyne SMS-1 subwoofer manager and parametric equalizer. It is half the price now (probably nearing end of product life-cycle) compared to what I remember when it was released many years ago, so I just had to get one, too.
It is a good match up, especially since my AV receiver only has unbalanced subwoofer output and the SubMersive only has balanced inputs. A decade ago I had put high quality balanced line-level cabling in the walls to the expected future subwoofer location. It now seemed the perfect time to activate the dormant cabling. The SMS-1 is the perfect unbalanced-in (RCA) to balanced-out (XLR) intermediary. Both the SubMersive and the SMS-1 are on/off controlled via 12V control voltage output from my AV receiver (the SubMersive via a Xantech AC-1 relay).
The SMS-1 automatic mode was pretty much worthless in my environment so I did a manual calibration. Once one gets the hang of the awkward control of the sliders and the interplay of their position, level, and width it is somewhat easy, although very time consuming in my case, to calibrate. I had just a little bit of a problem at 40Hz. Moving the SubMersive in a 10ft radius made no difference. That is good because I wanted to keep it in original location. Nor did changing the phase fix the big cancellation at 40Hz. Using the equalizer sliders I was able to pull it up without overloading too much. I made good use of my ear protectors during the calibration sessions.
I don't have any equalization for the rest of the spectrum but I really like having such control in the deep bass range especially due to the way my AV receiver (Outlaw Audio Model 1070) does bass management (both normal digital and a separate pure analog bass management, each with different default subwoofer level corrections). The way it interacts with my Oppo BDP-83SE's 7.1 analog outputs requires the sub amplifier to be run +10dB hot at reference and the digital subwoofer trim on the receiver to be attenuated -10dB, this all to compensate for a default -10dB attenuation of the analog subwoofer level on the 7.1 inputs from the Oppo which is not automatically compensated for in my AV receiver as on the digital side. That keeps subwoofer levels the same when playing from either a digital source or 7.1 analog inputs.
So far, the Seaton SubMersive HP has been a delight. Some photos for anyone interested:
I can't believe I carried this box up a flight of stairs myself. I was a bit worried when I heard it was being shipped by UPS (bad experiences with fragile items with those gorillas) but the packing was superb and basically it is just too heavy to be tossed around casually, although a fragile sticker would probably be a good idea anyway.
Since it is packed upside down, just open the top, flip it over and slide the box off.
Here is a size comparison to the Newton P1000 it is replacing.
Here is the look I was trying approximate with the alternate grill fabric.
Using carpet sliders sure beats trying to "walk" it.
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jlib
Registered: 02/01/12
Posts: 2
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audioguy
Registered: 05/24/09
Posts: 529
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Posted 03/16/12
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#3
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Quote: Originally Posted by jlib
although a fragile sticker would probably be a good idea anyway.
It would not have made any positive difference but could have made it worse. They would have gotten a few of their buddy workers and picked it up and threw it. I have had HORRIBLE issues with UPS. I insured an amp I shipped, they destroyed it and refused to pay.
I despise UPS and only use them if (1) I don't care if it ever gets there (2) I don't care if it is in one piece when it gets there and (3) I don't like the person to whom I am sending it!!!
But congrats on your new sub. You will LOVE IT. Very nice looking !!!
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Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first!!
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MikeDuke
Registered: 06/06/07
Posts: 1,013
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Posted 03/16/12
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#4
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First, congrats on the purchase. Second, that finish is fantastic. It seems to match your B&W speakers perfectly. Also, that is an incredibly flat FR you have. I also have the SMS-1 because I needed it to tame a monster peak I was having in my room. Hopefully, once you spend some more time with it, you can give us your thoughts. But I would like to know how big your room is, Just as a reference for other people. Again, congrats.
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I simply love this stuff.
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FOH
Registered: 09/25/10
Posts: 234
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Posted 03/16/12
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#5
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Sweet 
I'm diggin' the aesthetic of the grill cloth/cabinets combo, in that space. Nice pics.
Given the opportunity, I'd enjoy reading more about your integration efforts w/the mains and the room. I too like the Velo EQ. However, with several (6-7 or more) EQ's, I wasn't an early adopter of the SMS-1. However, even today, several years after it's release, it's feature set is quite solid. Upon it's initial release it was truly a welcome product, w/features unavailable elsewhere, and the remote was killer! Currently, mine isn't patched in, as I'm always experimenting with some things, but I do love it, and it's functionality.
Your pics are simply beautiful. Also, that previous sub, I don't believe I've ever seen pics, or read contributions from anyone owning one,...quite the half-roll surround, huh? It would be fun hearing your further impression of the relative difference with program material,...before and after. Do you intend to employ the other sub with the SubM?
Continued good luck, and thanks for sharing
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Bunga999
Registered: 03/12/10
Posts: 76
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Posted 03/16/12
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#6
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Congrats! Your new SubMersive with new grille looks stunning! 
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