TRACK 1 : Pink Noise 2 minutes @ -20dBfs  The L and R are IDENTICAL. Because the noise is at -20dB below full scale digital, it represents the same level as "THX" or "Dolby" level. That means that when your system volume is adjusted "normally" you should get 85dB SPL (slow weighted C of course...) at your sweet spot chair.

This also means the CD is CAPABLE of 20dB MORE, which translates to 105dB SPL.

TRACK 2 through TRACK 16: Tones @ -1dBfs  These tracks are all recorded 1dB below the MAXIMUM POSSIBLE ON THE CD. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN PLAYING THESE TRACKS. Start with your system volume very low and move it upward until the desired result is obtained. The REASON these are recorded at this level is so you can determine if your subwoofer (or mains, or headphones, or entire system etc.) is CAPABLE of playing these frequencies and at these levels.

You can therefore determine the maximum possible output from your sub and your entire system and how it is coupling into your room at each given frequency. YOU are responsible for the careful and judicious use of these test tones. It is theoretically possible to damage your speakers, your amp(s) or your hearing with the careless use of these test tones or of the Techmaster PEB tracks below.  Please be advised. 

TRACK 11:  80 Hz, 2 min @ -1dBfs  Using 80 Hz is an easy way to set the relative phase of the JL Audio subwoofers to match the "mains", especially if you are using 80 Hz as the crossover freq, such as when connecting to a Home Theater receiver. However, whether or not you are using a bass managed HT system, a separate crossover, or NO crossover, this method is still very useful.

Method A (easier, but less accurate)  After you have placed the sub where you want it, put YOUR HEAD equidistant between the sub and the speaker it is CLOSEST TO (for example the RIGHT FRONT). Play the 80 Hz tone and adjust the POLARITY SWITCH of the sub and the PHASE CONTROL until the bass is loudest and cleanest - in other words, the peak.

Method B (more accurate, and more work...)  Invert the polarity of the MAIN speaker the sub is CLOSEST TO. Disconnect all the other speakers in the room. Place your head equidistant between the sub and the speaker it is closest to. Play the 80 Hz tone. Adjust the phase control until you hear a distinct NULL. If you can't get a null then flip the POLARITY switch on the JL sub and adjust the phase control again. There should be some setting of the two controls on the JL sub which will provide a rather sharp null - in fact you might be amazed at how easily and completely the bass cancels. Now put the wiring back the correct way to that one speaker.

If you have 2 subs repeat either of the above procedures with the mains speaker the 2nd sub is closest to.

The REASON?   When 2 waveforms are IN PHASE and they sum they may get 6dB louder, but when 2 signals are OUT OF PHASE and they sum, theoretically they cancel completely therefore It is much easier to hear the NULL.

Track 18:  LF PRE-CONTOURED Noise at -20dBfs  This Low frequency noise is pre-contoured to be used with a radio Shack or similar meter when setting up a Home Theater receiver which HAS bass management. Leave the volume where it was in the Track 17 test, above, and play this track. Adjust the SUBWOOFER level so the meter matches the 85dB as in the test above. By using these 2 tracks, it is not necessary to do any mathematical or mental conversions... just match the levels at the listening position.

Since the SPL in the room is at 85dB, and the recording is at -20, that leaves 20 dB headroom for the Dolby / THX level of 105dB for peaks.

Tracks 19 and 20 - Holly Cole   Please purchase every Holly Cole CD you can find !  She deserves it and you will love it. While the recordings themselves are all superb, thay are of a different enough flavor to keep you on your toes. The bass on Jersey Girl is a little bit heavy, and a dB or two too loud. If you carefully adjust your system then you should perceive this. If the bass seems WAY too heavy, or not heavy enough, then I will venture a guess that either or both the phase relationships and the levels of your subs are not set carefully enough.

Don't Smoke in Bed tests the limit of the plain ol' 16 bit process. Her voice should be FLAWLESS and yet the sibilants on many systems might sound flawed - yet the CD is actually clean and the waveforms are pristine. This is a fabulous test track to A-B different connections, i.e. compare the analog vs the coaxial digital vs whatever else your player has for outputs, and choose the cleanest.

You can find Holly Cole CD's on Amazon.com. Her website is here: www.hollycole.com  Enjoy !

Tracks 21, 22, 23 - Techmaster PEB   Newtown Records and Techmaster PEB were at the heart of the Bass Revolution. Their work remains at the top of every list: engineering, musicality, style, quality, production. Track 21 is the Ultimate Bass test. If your system cannot play this at 110 dB it is either set up incorrectly or you need JL Audio Subwoofers!

Track 23 is very helpful for the "crawl-around" test because it covers many frequencies AND it is repetitive. Place one sub AT YOUR LISTENING POSITION, FACING FORWARD. Using the analog outputs of a CD player, plug them directly into the sub. Turn the sub's filters to off; e.l.f. trim to off, polarity and phase to "0". Adjust the volume level of the sub to a good 85 dB +. Now crawl around the perimiter of the room, and listen for the various couplings of the sub. You should notice a few areas where the bass is thin and weak (the nulls) a couple of areas where the bass is boomy and the fundamentals are louder than the harmonics (often too much corner gain) and then a couple of spots (2 or 4 places) where the bass sounds GREAT! Those are the spot(s) to put the subs so they inverse couple the best to your listening chair.

THEN adjust the ARO for EACH sub relative to its position in the room, THEN adjust the phase relationship between the sub and its main channel using the method outlined in TRACK 11, above.