Frequently Asked Questions

Velodyne Acoustics products can be found in well-stocked specialist dealers. We carefully select “our” dealers according to competence and demonstration criteria, as it is important to us that you receive not only the best possible presentation but also the best possible advice. However, Velodyne Acoustics subwoofers for the entry-level range can also be purchased directly online.

Of course you can. It is very important to us that you, as a customer or interested person, receive the best possible service – and of course also by telephone. Our service staff have been with the company for many years and are excellently trained – they will be happy to help you with their knowledge.

Please use our service form to order the spare part. We try to keep the most important spare parts in stock for years to come, so that you can enjoy your product for a long time. Currently we even stock spare parts for products that we introduced 20 years ago.

Velodyne Acoustics has a German-American history: the company was founded in Silicon Valley, but is now a true Hanseatic – i.e. at home in the Hanseatic city of Hamburg. The company’s headquarters are located near the airport and include product development, test studios, a service centre and logistics.

We would be happy to support you with detailed information for project planning. Please contact our head office in the first step, you will be forwarded directly to the appropriate contact person from there.

You will find comprehensive product advice on this website, and you can also call our service number +49 (0)40 238 307 880 for further information. Your Velodyne Acoustics dealer will also be happy to advise you.

Please use the product archive for your research. You can also find old manuals and product information under Service: Manuals & Downloads.

Subwoofers are special woofers that support a home theater system or stereo speakers with particularly deep bass during playback. This is because low frequencies that are generated at the same time with high volume require a particularly large diaphragm area. To ensure that the main speakers of a set-up are nevertheless aesthetically pleasing and not too large, the concept of the subwoofer has become established in home cinemas. The subwoofer takes advantage of the fact that sounds below about 100 Hertz can hardly be localized by the human ear. The subwoofer can thus reproduce the low frequencies for all channels relatively independently of the installation location and relieve the rest of the system.

The LFE channel (Low-Frequency Effects) is used in various multi-channel systems such as 5.1, 7.1 or even 3D audio to transmit low sounds that cannot be precisely located by the human ear. In most cases, this channel is designed for the limited frequency range of something between 20 – 100 Hertz, which also allows for data-saving transmission. For example, the LFE channel was originally introduced in the 1970s to integrate a large subwoofer behind the screen into a system in the cinema. On the AV receiver, it is usually labeled “SW” for subwoofer, “Sub Out” or “LFE”. If the crossover of the AV receiver is then used, the subwoofer should be set to “Subwoofer Direct”.

Older stereo amplifiers and even a few current models do not have an LFE socket or a line connection for RCA plugs. But even these audio devices can be easily connected to a Velodyne Acoustics woofer via speaker terminals. The front speakers of the system are wired in parallel with the amplifier and the subwoofer. With this type of connection, the subwoofer’s crossover removes all high and mid frequencies and only bass is reproduced. It is important that “Subwoofer Direct” is not used with this setting.

Passive subwoofers are driven by an external amplifier or AV receiver – so they function like conventional, passive speakers. Since the generation of low frequencies with a high level requires particularly high power, the amplifier unit must also be designed for this. Active subwoofers are stand-alone speakers with an amplifier. In this form, a high load is taken from the AV receiver so that the receiver or amplifier only has to supply power to the main speakers and not the subwoofer.

The room itself has a very big influence on the quality of the low frequency sound: Therefore, the most important thing to do when placing the subwoofer is to experiment a lot with the placement. Reflective and absorbent surfaces, placement close to a corner, and the shape of the room can all greatly affect the bass, making a universal answer all but impossible. The best choice for placement is to use a favorite movie or a frequently listened album with powerful bass. Using multiple subwoofers can also help in some cases to improve the sound. However, this is recommended more for advanced users and requires a lot of intuition. For starters, we would suggest that the subwoofer is placed between the left or right front speaker and the center speaker – it’s not for nothing that this variant is often shown in the manufacturer’s photos. If this position does not sound satisfactory due to loud booming, you can continue with the search.

A speaker’s crossover consists of a series of components that direct the audio signal across the frequency range to where it will deliver the best sound. The small tweeters in a speaker can’t handle low bass frequencies, and large woofers don’t move fast enough to accurately reproduce high notes. Crossovers therefore divide the frequency range between the individual drivers. Most crossovers are analog circuits that use a combination of coils, capacitors and resistors to filter the signal. But there are also digital crossovers that process signals even more precisely and are programmed with precision during development. Both crossovers have in common: the individual drivers of the speakers are allocated exactly the working range that they can best process without distortion and sound coloration.

The crossover frequency, also called crossover frequency, is set to a specific frequency depending on the speaker system. Often 80 Hertz is recommended to start, so the subwoofer can reproduce frequencies below this level while filtering out higher frequencies. Most subwoofer crossovers are user-adjustable (e.g., from 50 Hz to 200 Hz on the Impact X with 10-inch woofer), so you can find an exact match for your system at home. The goal of the setting is a seamless transition between the main speakers and the subwoofer, which means that bass can no longer be located in the room at best. If you can hear exactly that the bass is coming from the direction of the subwoofer when listening to music or watching movies, the setting needs to be adjusted. If the main speakers of the system are full-grown 3-way floor-standing speakers with large woofers, it is also worth trying out a frequency of 60 Hertz. If, on the other hand, they are small satellites or bookshelf speakers, a setting of 100 Hertz and more may make sense. At this point, it is important to experiment a lot with familiar music and film clips – because only repeated listening will lead to a perfect result.

Modern AV receivers and preamplifiers also have integrated crossovers. This is usually less common with stereo receivers. If a receiver is used in the living room or home theater, it is advisable to use its crossover and deactivate the crossover of the subwoofer. If both crossovers are used at the same time, distortion can occur. For this reason, many Velodyne Acoustics subwoofers have a bypass switch, usually labeled “Direct,” “Subwoofer Direct,” or “Subwoofer Bypass.” With this switch, the internal crossover is deactivated and the AV receiver passes on the processed signal directly.

Velodyne Acoustics’ flagship subwoofers also have XLR connectors. The models of the Digital Drive series can thus also be wired via a balanced XLR input for LFE signals. With long signal paths, this type of connection is less susceptible to interference than standard RCA cables. For this reason, XLR cables are mainly used in studio and stage technology, but are now also increasingly finding their way into home theater or hi-fi setups.

A phase control allows the phase position to be continuously adjusted in a range from 0 degrees to 180 degrees. It is helpful when the subwoofer and the floorstanding speakers are not placed at the same distance from the listening position. This is because the reproduction of low tones from the subwoofer and the main speakers can cause cancellation in the bass range because the waves neutralize each other. With the phase control it is possible to align the sound waves from different sources. This setting is best made by ear from the later reference position.

Our calibration system has been designed for the subwoofer – and thus the challenges in the low frequency range. It allows the subwoofer to be optimally adjusted to the room. This optimises the low-frequency range alone, so you can enjoy music, films and games more.

The Velodyne Acoustics MicroVee does indeed offer so much power in such a small space that it can even bounce. But as a play partner for music, film or games, it stays in place even at high levels.

Our subwoofers for demanding users allow a lot of detailed settings. In addition, they have an elaborately designed calibration system. In short: a lot of data that can be optimally displayed on a large screen. With the SubController App, we have created a user interface that allows you to control and adjust all settings. Please note that the Velodyne Acoustics SubController App is currently only compatible with selected products.

Troubleshooting

Before Seeking service for your amplifier or subwoofer; please re-check all systems.
Following is a simple troubleshooting guide to assist you.

We also link to an article with lots of background information about the subwoofer and its special features:

How To Stop Worrying And Love The Subwoofer
Basics and Setup Guide

  • Verify that the unit is plugged in and power outlet used is active.
  • Is the power switch on?
  • Is the unit receiving an input signal from your source?
  • Have all controls (volume, crossover, phase, etc.) been properly set?
  • If the unit has been running at high levels, one of the protection circuits may be engaged.
  • Has the power button been depressed on the remote?
  • Make sure binding posts are tightened.
  • Verify the subwoofer can produce sound. A good way to test this is to press 3-2-1 on the remote control while pointing it at the IR sensor on the subwoofer. The woofer should play the sweep tone used for Self-EQ.

If the protection circuitry is active, the unit may cycle on and off until operating parameters return to normal. Under more serious conditions, the unit may shut off completely. Normal operation should return upon cooling, but you may be required to turn the power off and then on again to reset the unit.

  • Increase the subwoofer’s VOLUME level.
  • Increase the receiver’s LFE or SUB OUT volume level, if it is adjustable.
  • Put the subwoofer closer to a corner of your room.

The subwoofer may have shut down due to the protective circuit.

  • Reduce the volume setting; or
  • Shut the subwoofer off until normal operating conditions return.

The following conditions require service by a qualified technician:

  • The power cord has become damaged.
  • The unit does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in performance.
  • The unit has been exposed to water.
  • Some part of the chassis or circuitry is physically damaged.
  • The cabinet has been dropped or is damaged.

Good reasons to store your Velodyne Acoustics product packaging:

  • Save the carton and packing materials for future use. Using other packaging for this, your unit may result in severe damage when shipping or moving. You can utilize the existing Velodyne Acoustics packaging should you ever need to move/relocate the units or return the subwoofer to Velodyne Acoustics for service.
  • To save storage space, you can flatten the box and put the other packing material in a plastic bag.

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