Hi,
I have a set of Pipettes and a single Subette. I have not yet purchased Sublime, maybe it will happens someday later.
I am trying to use
https://fosiaudio.com/products/subwoofer-amplifier-m03-300watts-mono-amp-full-frequency-and-sub-bass-switchable-amplifier with Subette. It has a full monoblock mode and subwoofer mode, where you can tune the cutoff frequency. The problem is that both volume and cutoff knobs are unmarked. They don't have any numbers. I do not know where 70 Hz is that you recommended with Sublime. I do not know how many watts the volume knob gives me. So I have got these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S8XY2W8They in theory should have eliminated a single variable out of equation and I would have only have to tune to volume knob. The amp can give 200W with extra power supply, so probably a 160W without it. Plus it is source is my integrated amp pre which is usually operated at 50% of the volume for Pipettes. If power is logarithmic, does it mean that this sub with 50% volume at pre should always operate at less than 30W (roughly), right?
Well, not so simple with those RCA plugs. They have 12dB/Octave slope and it is not documented what slope Sublime has. When I use them via Fosi, Subette barely does anything. If I remove these filter and just rely on Fosi subwoofer knob, I can hear low bass way more in almost all positions, even though it also suppsed to have 12db/Octave slope. But the freequency range is not specified, I could be as well be hearing 500 Hz there. And I am not sure where to put the volume knob because the guide says to keep it easy during the burn in period. That is not very quantifiable.
I have also tried reading the specs of both drivers, from Pipettes (Altair) and Subette (Dayton). Pipette driver seems to drop at 100Hz, and Dayton at roughly 50Hz. Is this a correct reading of the graph? I tried to understand the 70Hz cutoff suggestion. This of course does not take into account the acoustics of the cabinet
I am very inexperiences with subs, so I don't know if it is expected to hear very little form the sub, and mostly have a body feeling from it. Now here are the questions:
1) Should I trust the 70Hz RCA plugs and just get the volume right? Or 70Hz suggestion for Sublime is not universal for other subwoofer amps?
2) How to judge volume levels for Subette? Are there a visual or sonic clues what are "good for initial burn in", "good for long term operation" volumes? I see the speaker moving. Maybe I can play a test track of your suggestion and somehow derive a good listening volume. I can swithc between Pipettes+Subette and Subette-only with one switch on my system. I can also play full range on Subette, tune volume and then switch to sub mode if that helps.
3) Any other suggestions welcome, maybe my approaches are wrong. I plan to get Sublime eventually, but not now, so I wanted to tune what I have at the moment
Other than that the build of both went mostly smooth. Two complications: wire clamps for the Pipette driver were loose and did not hold, had to carefully solder not too melt plastic. Subette did not have this problem, they clicked fine. Subette had very narrow holes in the wood for hexagonal screws for the driver, had to widen them first. Just a feedback, for you to consider improving. Otherwise smooth build, great job overall, I love the speakers!
Thanks,
Igor.