SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Manual Version 1.4 June 2011 © 2011 Specialty Technologies, LLC • Call SVSound™ 877.626.5623 • www.svsound.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Table of Contents Safety Instructions 3 Welcome 5 About Your SVS Subwoofer 6 Connectivity & Panel Operations 7 Integrated Function Controller 12 Setup, Calibration & Integration 20 Port Tuning 25 Setup & Use of PEQ 26 Room Compensation 32 Terms & Conditions 33 © 2011 Specialty Technologies, LLC • Call SVSound™ 877.626.5623 2 • www.svsound.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Important Safety Instructions 1. Read these instructions. 2. Keep these instructions. 3. Heed all warnings. 4. Follow all instructions. 5. Do not use this apparatus near water. 6. Clean only with dry cloth. 7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. 8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat. 9.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Important Safety Instructions 13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time. 14. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped. 15.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs WELCOME At SVS, you can actually hear the tireless research and design efforts built into our subwoofers and speakers. Years are spent developing any SVS product. These days our teams work typically span from our Ohio headquarters to all corners of the USA and of course with the finest component suppliers in Asia and Europe as well. Nearly nothing in our speakers is an “off the shelf” part.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs About your SVS Subwoofer There maybe be other subwoofers that look like them, but virtually none work like them. SVS subwoofers are decidedly different in how they are designed, produced, sold, and the exceptionally high quality components we use. You could have spent much more on other brands and still not come close to the performance our products provide. What makes a subwoofer an SVS? Quality components, sane prices.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Connectivity & Panel Operations Operation of the Power Mode Switch NOTE: Depending on the version of the STA-800D/STA-1000D amplifier, the LCD display may or may not light when power is first applied. Even if the LCD display does not light when power is applied, if the amplifier is in the AUTO mode, it will play source material when a suitable signal is applied.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Connectivity & Panel Operations STA-800D and STA-1000D Connectivity and Panel Operation Inputs There are two types of physical input connectors on the STA-800D/ STA1000D; Balanced XLR and single-ended (also referred to as low level or line level). There are inputs for Left and Right main channels for both types of connectors. There is also a switch below the input connectors labeled “Input Level”.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Connectivity & Panel Operations FIG. 4 © 2011 Specialty Technologies, LLC • Call SVSound™ 877.626.5623 9 • www.svsound.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Connectivity & Panel Operations FIG. 5 © 2011 Specialty Technologies, LLC • Call SVSound™ 877.626.5623 10 • www.svsound.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Connectivity & Panel Operations If you have one of SVS’s AS-EQ1 high-resolution, multi-subwoofer Equalizers, see Figure 6 for proper connectivity with one or more subwoofers. Also refer to your AS-EQ1 Operator Manual for detailed information on connectivity and setup of the AS-EQ1 into your listening environment. FIG. 6 © 2011 Specialty Technologies, LLC • Call SVSound™ 877.626.5623 11 • www.svsound.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Connectivity & Panel Operations Power Mode Switch The Power Mode switch allows the STA-800D/STA-1000D to either stay on all the time, or go into Standby if no signal is being received. When in Standby mode and a signal is detected on one of the inputs, the STA- 800D/STA-1000D will turn on and begin playing the material on its active input(s).
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Integrated Function Controller This SVS Subwoofer is equipped with an advanced digital amplifier, the SVS STA- 800D/STA-1000D Sledge™ DSP Amplifier. The STA-800D/STA-1000D Sledge™ amp is not only digital for amplification, but also for all amplifier control functions. Notice there is a single knob and a two line LCD display that allow you to set the various Functions and their parameters of the SVS Subwoofer.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Integrated Function Controller There are up to eight Functions within the top-level menu structure that allow configuration of the subwoofer.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Integrated Function Controller To disable the HPF, rotate the IFC knob until the message “HIGH PASS DISABLE?” is displayed. Single-click the IFC knob to disable the HPF, and single-click again to get to the top-level menu. If the HPF disable feature is selected accidentally, double-click the IFC knob to return to the top-level menu.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Integrated Function Controller High Pass Delay (STA-1000D) The High Pass delay Function is a unique capability that allows the sound from the main speakers to be delayed. This feature allows users who have no means of time aligning their speakers and subwoofer through their AVR or pre/pro (common with two channel analog systems) to add a delay-inducing component to their subwoofer path such as a digital equalizer.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Integrated Function Controller Single-click to return to the Room Gain Comp Function menu. Turn the IFC knob to move to the Room Gain Comp Slope submenu and single-click to change the slope value. The Room Gain Comp Slope defines the slope of the attenuation curve below the selected frequency. Two choices are available; 6 dB per octave and 12 dB per octave.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Integrated Function Controller Refer to the section later in this guide titled “Advanced Features: Parametric Equalizer (PEQ)” for more details on how to actually use the PEQ features of the STA-800D/STA-1000D. From the IFC WELCOME screen, single-click the IFC knob and rotate the IFC knob seven clicks clockwise until the display reads “MENU/P-EQ”.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Integrated Function Controller FIG. 7 © 2011 Specialty Technologies, LLC • Call SVSound™ 877.626.5623 19 • www.svsound.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Integrated Function Controller FIG.8 © 2011 Specialty Technologies, LLC • Call SVSound™ 877.626.5623 20 • www.svsound.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Setup, Calibration & Integration Before using your new subwoofer, it is important to get it set up and integrated into the rest of your audio or home theater system to ensure optimum results. Failure to properly set up and calibrate your new subwoofer may result in too much, too little, or boomy bass -- none of which provides the best overall listening experience.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Setup, Calibration & Integration Power and Signal Connection Before making any power or signal connections, make sure all equipment in the chain is turned off. Plug the subwoofer into a power outlet that is capable of a peak draw of 1100 watts. Using convenience outlets located on some AVRs or pre/pros is NOT recommended for your subwoofer as these outlets are not meant for high current devices.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Setup, Calibration & Integration 2) Bass Management and (optionally) time alignment performed in subwoofer. In this configuration, it is assumed that due to the lack of bass management and time alignment capability in a preamp (typical for 2 channel analog systems) these functions will be handled using the features of the STA-800D/ STA-1000D amplifier.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Setup, Calibration & Integration If you have two or more subwoofers in your system, it is important that they be level-matched (set at the same level relative to one another) before starting the calibration process. If the subs are not level-matched, there is a risk of unbalanced bass and potential subwoofer localization in your listening environment. This level-matching process is best performed using auto setup or a SPL meter as discussed above.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Setup, Calibration & Integration crossovers set no lower than 80 Hz (a speaker set to Small – as opposed to Large or Full Range – will cause bass frequencies below the selected crossover to be routed from the speaker to the subwoofer). a) Make sure you have a known good battery in the SPL meter (use the Battery Function). Set the “Weighing” switch to “C”, and the “Response” switch to “Slow”. b) Set the “Range” dial to “70” to start.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Port Tuning Advanced Features: Port Tuning (Ported Subwoofers Only) Your new SVS ported subwoofer comes with custom foam port plugs and a variable subsonic filter which allows your sub to be “tuned” to even lower frequencies than its stock configuration. For most people and most rooms, the sub is already configured for the best blend of extension (how deep and how low your sub goes) and output (how loud it will play).
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Setup & Use of PEQ Advanced Features: Parametric Equalizer (PEQ) Important Note: Until you are ready to use the PEQ feature set, it should be disabled and setting the Level in both PEQ1 and PEQ2 to 0. See the discussion above on the Integrated Function Controller for instructions on how to Disable and set the PEQ Level, as well as selecting the Frequency and Q values.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Setup & Use of PEQ The Level control (labeled “Level:”) determines the amount of cut or boost applied to the frequency response, centered on the FREQ: frequency and Q: wide. If Level is set to 0, the specific PEQ filter is disabled. Cuts of up to -12 dB and boost of up to +3 dB are allowed. Below is a frequency response graph of a subwoofer as measured under quasi-anechoic conditions.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Setup & Use of PEQ Measuring In-Room Frequency Response: In order to use the PEQ effectively, you must measure the in-room FR of the subwoofer at the listening positions. This can be done manually using test tones and a spreadsheet, or it can be accomplished using software such as “TrueRTA”, or “Room EQ Wizard (REW)”.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Setup & Use of PEQ Option 1: Measure the FR of Subwoofer Only Using Excel Spreadsheet: To measure the FR of the subwoofer only, connect your sound card output directly to a line level input on the subwoofer. Use the Excel spreadsheet named Subwoofer_Frequency_Response (link provided above), which will plot the frequency response of the subwoofer from 11.2 Hz to 100.8 Hz.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Setup & Use of PEQ Option 2: Measure the Combined FR of the Speakers and Subwoofer using Excel Spreadsheet: To measure the combined FR of the front speakers and subwoofer (to include the digital crossover in your processor), connect your sound card output to an analog input on your processor. Make sure the analog input is configured to use the digital crossover between the speakers and the subwoofer.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Setup & Use of PEQ Set the Frequency control to the approximate center frequency of the largest peak. Set the Q control to 14.4 (narrowest bandwidth), and set the Level control to -6 dB. Play the test tones again and re-measure and replot the affected portion of the FR curve and visually evaluate your results. Simple trial/error will then allow you to adjust all three controls to shape the PEQ cut to achieve the desired effect.
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Room Compensation Advanced Features: Room Compensation In typical home theaters a phenomenon known as “room gain” can play a major role in how accurately bass is produced. When any subwoofer produces notable bass energy below 40Hz, the output you will perceive is different than the sub’s normal output would be (if unaffected by your room’s walls).
SVSound™ STA-800D/1000D Equipped Subs Terms & Conditions Terms and Conditions: Details are available on request, please contact your Dealer for more. Note that these terms and conditions do not affect your statutory rights. Shipping: When you receive your new subwoofer, please check to ensure there is no damage.
