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Table of Contents

  1. Main Maestro Web Page
  2. Will a Maestro integrate seamlessly in my system?
  3. Is the Maestro Magnetically Shielded ?
  4. Where should the Maestro be placed . .?
  5. What makes the Maestro Special ... ?
  6. How to troubleshoot hum problem ... ?
  7. Other Maestro troubleshooting
  8. Choosing Force or Titan or Maestro ... ?
  9. Architectural black or hardwood panels?
  10. What has Maestro been compared to ... ?
  11. Stereo vs. Mono subs ... ?
  12. Maestro PDF Manual

Is the Maestro Magnetically Shielded?

The Maestro is not shielded. Because the woofer is in the bottom of the cabinet, it is usually a pretty long way from a picture tube. Generally, the Maestro  will need to be about 12-18" from the TV. Back to Top

Will a Maestro integrate seamlessly in my system?

Yes, you can get full-range, fully-integrated sound out of almost any system with a Titan. And yes, it can often sound better than the single large full-range.  You can place the sub where the bass response will be the best, this is almost never where the main speakers sound best. With careful setup, you can even reduce the effects of room standing waves and resonances. All domestic spaces have peaks in the midbass, often in the 60-80Hz range. By reducing the overlap between the sub and the mains, this room peak can be greatly tamed. The result is far tighter and tuneful bass with full power down below 20. Having the extreme lows does more than add bass power and reach, it often adds an improved sense of ambiance and hall "size". This is especially true of live recordings.
 
There are still some holdouts from the days when subs were considered evil:) They've just never heard a great sub, properly integrated.

And no, positive traits of your current speakers  will not be diminished, they will be enhanced. Our subwoofer philosophy is "first do no harm"

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Where should the Maestro be placed?

Placing the Maestro near your main speakers is the easiest way to get a good blend. The ideal placement is often in a corner behind the main speakers. Corner placement provides the highest output level with the lowest distortion from the subwoofer. Placing the Maestro close to a wall will also increase bass output. However, the Maestro can be placed anywhere in the room.

Finding the optimum placement may require some experimentation. Instead of moving a heavy subwoofer around the room to find the best response there is a simple trick you can use. Place the subwoofer where you normally sit to listen. While playing either test tones or music with a steady bass, walk around the room and listen for the deepest, tightest and smoothest bass response. Move the sub to the place you hear the best bass.

The Owner's manual has more information about placement options.  Back to Top

What makes the Maestro Special ... ?

Two words: quality and musicality. For example, the amplifier is U.S. built to very high standards. It is a fully discrete, full bandwidth amplifier with torroidal transformer. It is light years beyond the usual "amp on a chip" designs used by almost all subwoofer builders. It is also phenomenally reliable. This is something you should consider when some competitors subs have very high failure rates. Also, compare warranties . . . again, some competitors only offer 2 or 3 year warranties! No competitor matches our Total Assurance Guarantee (TAG)

 The Maestro simply sounds more like real music than most of it's competition. There are those who think all subs sound alike, some just louder and lower than others. Not true. We, and Maestro owners know there is a  wealth of detail in the low bass that may not be heard on many subs. Also, the integration to the mains is extremely critical and the Maestro does this exceptionally well. Telling tests are acoustic and electric bass lines as well as concert piano. Many subs can shake the house with an explosion, but sound muddy and "wrong" on these musical tests. The Maestro can do both. Meant to please for the long-haul. Backed by the best warranty in the business. You get to try it in your home!

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Architectural Black or Hardwood sides

I am considering the Maestro in architectural black or maybe black oak. Is there any sonic advantage to adding the hardwood side panels? 

The sonic difference between with and without panels is slight. The basic MDF inner cabinet is very strong and well braced.  Adding the hardwood panels further stiffens and quiets the cabinet. The improvement in detail and clarity is only  noticeable in a really good system by people who listen for the ultimate detail in the bass. Not everyone can hear the difference

Choosing Maestro, Force or Titan ... ?

All three subs sound very much the same. The difference is a matter of output capability.  The Titan, with it's larger enclosure and woofer will cleanly play a bit more than 3db louder than the smaller Force. The Force is great, but I advise the higher output Titan if the rest of your system is up to it and space and funds permit. The Force does an honest 20Hz, it just doesn’t have quite the dynamic reserve as the Titan. However, a second Force can always be added, which would provide 3db more output than a single Titan.
The mighty Maestro has as much output capability as nearly four Titans! Yet it costs less than a pair of Titans. The Maestro also has the advantage of a separate, rack mountable amplifier unit. This makes setup and adjustment more convenient. If budget and space permit, the Maestro is always the first choice.
We can accurately recommend which sub is best for you if we know a bit about your listening tastes and loudness requirements, the other equipment in your system, and your room size.

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What has Maestro been compared to ... ?

The most common comparisons are with the highly regarded REL subs. Particularly the REL Stadium III ($2995). Detailed comparison.

In a recent review, the reviewer sold his $4000 SVS B4+ sub and amp and replaced with the Maestro.

The complete review 

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Stereo vs. Mono subs ... ?

There are definite advantages to stereo bass beyond the increased output capacity.  A pair of Maestros offer more flexibility and higher output levels than a single Maestro. In a high-resolution stereo system, stereo subs provide that last bit of realism in the bass range. How much of an improvement depends on the crossover frequency to the mains. The higher the crossover frequency, the bigger the improvement. A single, high performance sub is great, a pair of high performance subs is better.  Those who try stereo subs rarely go back!  
Downsides of stereo subs: Increased space demands, cost, and more work to setup correctly. You must be prepared to spend more time on tweaking the placement and the adjustments on the sub.

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Other Maestro Troubleshooting

Amp shuts down:

bulletCheck for adequate airflow for cooling, the Maestro amp should not be enclosed in a cabinet without adequate air circulation.
bulletMake certain that there are no shorts in the speaker cables, positive and neg wires must not touch or be close
bulletSeveral owners have reported amp shutdown problems that were eventually traced to speaker cables that were shorting out internally!  (Note, the DH Labs cable we supply does not have this problem). Apparently, the insulation was too thin or had gaps between the positive and negative wires that shorted out at high current levels.

Amplifier appears "dead"

Remove cover, verify that personality card is installed correctly and firmly

 

Copyright © 2004  Audio Concepts, Inc.. All rights reserved.
Revised: December 21, 2004 .