[Atlplasma]

Hi recently hooked up my old M&K sub to my two-channel set up. Now, I'm considering adding a base management system to improve control and protect my speakers. I can buy a used M&K electronic base management controller for not much money, but I'm interested in moving my system to a balanced configuration. Should I go with the inexpensive unbalanced M&K unit or perhaps look for something like the Velodyne SMS-1.

Thanks in advance for your advice. 

[medium jim]

I'm sure that there is someone here who will ring in with some answers.

Thanks,
Jim

[DTB300]

...... Should I go with the inexpensive unbalanced M&K unit or perhaps look for something like the Velodyne SMS-1.

I cannot comment on the M&K unit, but I have owned the SMS-1, and now own a 8033S.   The 8033 for me proved far superior in handling my low end bass EQing.   

[Kinger]

If you don't mind me asking, what did the 8033S do for your system over the SMS-1?  I ask because I'm currently using a SMS-1 with my Rythmik F12.

[earwaxxer]

You might be open to do what I did with my old HSU sub. I kept the cabinet, and replaced the driver with a modern high power handling 12", and upgraded the amp to a Crown 1100watt bridged amp. Much better sound. Of course the Crown has a built in variable crossover network. No sense in buying a whole new sub, that is probably going to have a crappy plate amp in it. The Crown is a pro amp that is very durable and sounds great.

[Atlplasma]

You might be open to do what I did with my old HSU sub. I kept the cabinet, and replaced the driver with a modern high power handling 12", and upgraded the amp to a Crown 1100watt bridged amp. Much better sound. Of course the Crown has a built in variable crossover network. No sense in buying a whole new sub, that is probably going to have a crappy plate amp in it. The Crown is a pro amp that is very durable and sounds great.

That actually sounds like a fun project. I'll have to check into it.

[DTB300]

If you don't mind me asking, what did the 8033S do for your system over the SMS-1?  I ask because I'm currently using a SMS-1 with my Rythmik F12.

First let me say my room has extensive treatments for low end.  All 4 corners are treated floor to ceiling with 8" of absorption for the first 4', then 4" up to the ceiling.   My rig is in my concrete audio bunker (partial basement).  Thanks to GIK Acoustics for their great advice and products.

I had the SMS-1 for a few years.  Used the Auto EQ, did manual changes, stood on my head while chanting to the west etc. etc. etc.  Spent many many hours, days, etc. tweaking, changing, tweaking, changing trying to get the best result (graphical and sound).   Thought my bass was about as good sounding as I could get it with my room.

Good audio friend of mine said try out the 8033 and see what you think.  Since the "S" was now avilable, I purchased the unit, installed it and ran the Auto EQ for 1 seat.   5 mins later the bass was so much better than the SMS-1 - tight, controlled, etc. and it only took 5 min, not hours or days.  Best I ever could get with SMS-1 is +-15dB in the low end. 

For 8033, other than a room mode (width) where I have a suckout (dip) of about 7-8dB, the rest of my low end is +-5dB

So in 5 min I got far superior results than the hours/days I spent with the SMS-1.   Sold the SMS-1 the next day.   The only thing I miss with the SMS-1 is remote volume and the presets.   I see the Dual Core addresses some of these features/items, but not sure if I really need it.

Dan

[Kinger]

Thanks for the post Dan.  I must admit, you had me chuckling with that standing on your head and chanting toward the West comment   I will admit that it seems like you can spend forever on the SMS-1 screen tweaking and tweaking and tweaking.  If you don't mind me asking, are you running your mains full range and tying in the sub or are you limiting the low end on the mains somehow?

[DTB300]

Thanks for the post Dan.  I must admit, you had me chuckling with that standing on your head and chanting toward the West comment   I will admit that it seems like you can spend forever on the SMS-1 screen tweaking and tweaking and tweaking.  If you don't mind me asking, are you running your mains full range and tying in the sub or are you limiting the low end on the mains somehow?

Yeah the SMS -1 can suck up many hours just trying to get the response looking better. And after all of that the sound still did not compare to the 8033.  If you we're local to me, I would be more than glad to bring it over for u to try.

I run Stats which are full range, CLS, and my sub cuts in around 40

[Atlplasma]

Just an update since I started this thread. I decided to buy an M&K LFE 3 bass management box and then revisit the issue after we build our new house. The 8033 looks very interesting, and I'll definitely circle back to it later.

[medium jim]

Just an update since I started this thread. I decided to buy an M&K LFE 3 bass management box and then revisit the issue after we build our new house. The 8033 looks very interesting, and I'll definitely circle back to it later.

Let us know how it works out.

Jim

[Atlplasma]

I inserted the M&K LFE-3 electronic bass manager between my Dodd Buffer and Ncore monoblocks. The left/right channels of the buffer go into the LFE-3 and then out to the monoblocks. A subwoofer out jack on the LFE-3 goes to the sub's left channel input.

My impression is that the sound stage is more segregated with definite left side and right sides. Before everything seemed more centered. The bass is tighter and better integrated and not as boomy. I'm still trying to decide if I like the way it's sounding though. Any suggestions for potentially improving things would be welcome.

[cheap-Jack]

Hi.

Hi recently hooked up my old M&K sub to my two-channel set up. Now, I'm considering adding a base management system to improve control and protect my speakers. I can buy a used M&K electronic base management controller for not much money, Thanks in advance for your advice. 

Yes, as I posted before, it is always a dilemma to get 2.1 with a 2-channel setup without need of spending big bucks to get a 2-channel line-level interphase unit for the active sub.

There should be some less costly & simplier way to have this 2.1 system done.

That's what I'm doing with my 2.1 system using my 100W 10" sub.
Surely I will never want to feed the sub using the loudspeaker interface - noise+hum+distortion from the power amp loudspeaker O/P will be added to the music signal. Also the bass volume of the sub changes with the volume of the stereo. A pain in the neck!
 
I'v taped stereo signal with my passive linestage to feed the sub. Here is the technical issue. The I/P impedance of the built-in power module of any active sub is quite low. Adding the capacitance loading of the long subwoofer signal feeding cables, this will draw down the volume of the stereo system & roll off the HF. Not acceptable!

So now I am design/building a simple active impedance buffer to interphase the linestage line level out to the sub. One thing very important:- this Z buffer ONLY handles the signal tapped out from the stereo linestage
to feed the sub I/P, allowing the mainstream music go thru the linestage UNaffected the buffer.

The problem of any those sub electronic X-over units or "bass management system" as you so called it, the mainstream music must go thru it, adding harmonic distortion, phase distortion, hum & noise to the mainstream music, which is NOT desirable, not to mention to drop a bundle to own one.

Mind you, this active Z buffer I am building only comprises a few parts, battery operated & cost me nearly nothing. The bottom line of the signal tapping out configuration is to allow the mainsteam music signal to go withOUT being affected by the active electronics of any those inline sub electronic X-over unit. The sonically pure way I always insist & pursue.

c-J

[Atlplasma]

Thanks for the feedback, cheapJack. I'd be very interested to hear more about your Z buffer when it's operational.

With my own setup, I'm having some luck reestablishing the soundstage I prefer by moving the speakers closer to the wall and toeing then in slightly. Not quite there but better. I could probably improve things further with some room treatments, but it's difficult to make those kinds of changes in my current (and temporary) listening room.