The
Syzygy Acoustics SLF 870 Wireless Subwoofer arrived
today. After work this evening I set it up in my system. Installation was
straight forward and easily accomplished in under 20 minutes.
Syzygy
uses a small wireless transceiver to both configure and send music signals to
the subwoofer. You can optionally run an unbalanced RCA interconnect directly from
your preamp to the subwoofer instead of connecting wirelessly, but I think the
wireless aspect is a real benefit.
The
subwoofer is "paired" to the transceiver as you would any Bluetooth device.
The signals transmitted and received are proprietary, Bluetooth is simply the
transport protocol used.
The
only snag I encountered was the Syzygy App's passcode needed to run the
calibration tests. This is not covered in the user's manual, nor online at either the Syzygy website or the Apple Store
where the software was downloaded from.
After a several failed attempts I found 0000
(four zeros) did the trick.
The
calibration sequence itself is quite simple. Holding my iPad with the
microphone facing the subwoofer at a one foot distance a 30 second low
frequency sweep is performed and the results recorded.
Then,
seated in my normal listening position, the same frequency sweep is run a
second time. The software then compares these two sets of data points and computes
an equalization curve to accommodate the listening room.
Once
the calibration and equalization phase is completed the subwoofer is ready to
use.
The
Syzygy App provides settings to remotely set the overall volume level, phase
and crossover frequency to your liking. These settings along with all
equalization data is stored in non-volatile memory in the subwoofer itself.
One
of the reasons I wanted to try this particular subwoofer was Vade Forrester's
review in TAS. His system also required a fast subwoofer. I own a Sunfire sub,
but have never gotten it to work well with Magnepan loudspeakers. Based upon
Vade's experience with the Syzygy I thought it might
also work for me.
It
does. Initial impressions are much more favorable than the Sunfire. The Syzygy adds a foundation to the music without sounding like
a separate driver. It blends with the Magnepans and augments the lower octaves that
the Maggies are reticent to produce.
It took a bit of tweaking, but the Syzygy App
allows you to adjust playback volume and crossover frequency slope while
sitting in the sweet spot. This is a really big improvement over having to get
up, fiddle with controls and then return to your seat.
I've settled on about 80-90 Hz as the
crossover point, and no phase adjustment because the subwoofer fires directly
into the room from the same plane the Magnepans are in.
Originally I had asked for suggestions for CD
recordings with bass, but I realize now that my entire CD collection has bass,
the Maggies just never presented it fully.
So as 'The Dude' in the Big Lebowski would
say "That Syzygy really tied the room together."
-gb-
