PreSonus Eris Sub8 Compact 8-inch Studio Subwoofer Owner’s Manual
- June 6, 2024
- PreSonus
Table of Contents
Eris™Sub8
Compact 8-inch Studio Subwoofer
Owner’s Manual
Overview
1.1 Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the PreSonus® Eris Sub8 active studio subwoofer.
PreSonus Audio Electronics has designed the Sub8 utilizing high-grade
components to ensure optimum performance that will last.
The Eris Sub8 is an active subwoofer featuring an 8-inch paper-composite
driver with a high-density rubber surround in a front-ported cabinet. This
configuration provides responsive, defined bass with low distortion. The
result is a natural and musical sound that enhances full-range speakers
without overshadowing them. The variable (50 to 130 Hz) low pass filter lets
you dial in the Eris Sub8 to pair perfectly with your full-range system,
making it the ideal partner for Eris monitors, and an ideal component for 2.1
and surround sound applications.
PreSonus Audio Electronics is committed to constant product improvement, and
we value your suggestions highly. We believe the best way to achieve our goal
of constant product improvement is by listening to the real experts: you! We
encourage you to visit My.PreSonus.com with any questions or comments
regarding your PreSonus Eris Sub8. We appreciate the support you have shown us
through the purchase of this product and are confident that you will enjoy
your Eris Sub8!
ABOUT THIS MANUAL : We suggest that you use this manual to familiarize
yourself with the features, applications, and correct connection procedures
for your Eris Sub8 before connecting it. This will help you avoid problems
during installation and setup.
In addition to all the basic info you’ll need to connect and operate your Eris
Sub8, this manual also provides several tutorials that
cover subwoofer placement, connections, and calibration.
Overview
1.2 What’s in the Box?
Your Eris Sub8 package contains the following:
(1) PreSonus Eris Sub8 powered subwoofer
(1) Quick Start Guide
(1) IEC power cable
1.3 Summary of Eris Sub8 Features
- Front-firing, active subwoofer with 100 watts, Class AB amplifier
- 8-inch paper-composite woofer with high-density rubber surround
- Frequency response: 30-200 Hz
- Variable lowpass filter control: 50-130 Hz, variable
- 80 Hz highpass filter (with defeat switch) for satellite connections
- Front-ported cabinet
Hookup
2.1 Rear-Panel Connections and Controls
2.1.1 Inputs
Line-level Inputs. The Eris Sub8 provides a choice of two input pairs: a
pair of balanced ¼” TRS inputs and one pair of RCA unbalanced inputs. When
both connections are in use, the RCA inputs will sum into the TRS connections.
Power User Tip : Connect both the left and right inputs if you are
connecting your full-range monitors to the Eris Sub8’s outputs, or if you’re
running your Eris Sub8 independently from a stereo source (such as the
PreSonus Monitor Station). This will ensure that your Eris Sub8 receives the
low-frequency content from both the left and right sides of a stereo audio
signal. If your audio source provides a mono or LFE output, you only need to
connect one input—either L or R.
Input Gain. Sets the level of the input signal before it is amplified.
2.1.2 Outputs
Outputs. The Eris Sub8 provides two pairs of outputs: a pair of balanced
¼” TRS outputs and a pair of RCA unbalanced outputs. The full-range signal
connected to the stereo inputs on the Sub8 is passed through to these outputs.
Use these outputs to connect your main left and right studio monitors.
If the High Pass Filter switch is engaged, frequencies below 80 Hz are not
sent from these outputs.
2.1.3 Power
IEC Power Connection. Your Eris Sub8 accepts a standard IEC power cord.
Warning : Do not remove the center grounding prong or use a separate ground-lift adapter, as this could result in electric shock.
Power Switch. This is the On/Off switch. The power status is indicated by the illuminated logo on the front of the cabinet.
2. Hookup
2.1 Rear-Panel Connections and Controls
AC Select Switch. The input-power voltage is set at the factory to correspond with the country to which it was shipped. Use this switch only if you are using your Eris Sub8 in a country that uses a different standard voltage than is used in the country where you purchased your Sub8.
2.1.4 User Controls
Polarity. The Polarity button reverses the polarity of the input signals.
Power User Tip : Once you have connected your Sub8 to your system, try
experimenting with each setting while listening to your favorite music. Leave
this switch in the position where the bass was the loudest.
High Pass Filter. Removes frequency content below 80 Hz from the full-
range signal sent from the Sub8 outputs. This is useful if your main studio
monitors do not have their own high pass filter.
Power User Tip : Leaving frequency content below 80 Hz in full-range
monitors can cancel out or reinforce the highest frequencies that are
reproduced by the Eris Sub8. This can make the bass response of the overall
system muddy and ill-defined. By rolling off your full-range speakers, you
will create a more linear frequency response between the subwoofer and full-
range content.
Low Pass Filter. This control determines the upper end of the frequency range reproduced by the Eris Sub8. If you have enabled the onboard High Pass Filter, set the Low Pass Filter control to 80 Hz. Otherwise, set the Low Pass Filter control to the lowest frequency that your main monitors can reliably reproduce.
Hookup Diagrams
2.2.1 Basic Setup: Media Player/Mobile Device
2.2.2 Basic Setup: Audio Interface
2.2.3 Advanced Setup: Home Theater
Tutorials
3.1 Subwoofer Placement
The goal of proper subwoofer placement is to set up your system so that your subwoofer acts as a natural extension of your full-range monitors without boosting the overall bass response of your room or exaggerating any one frequency or frequency range. Because low frequencies are not directional—that is, humans cannot perceive the direction from which low frequencies are coming—you aren’t limited to placing it near your full-range monitors. However, placing your Sub8 on the same side of the room as your full-range monitors will typically provide the best listening experience.
A quick way to find the best location for your subwoofer is to temporarily
place it on the ground where you would normally be listening to your system,
then play some music that contains a lot of bass. Walk around the half of the
room where you have placed your full-range monitors until you find the spot
where the bass sounds its best. In general, you will want to avoid placing
your subwoofer too near to reflective surfaces, like a wall or in a corner as
this will exaggerate the bass energy and make your Sub8 sound “boomy.”
Once you find the place in the room where the bass sounds the smoothest, place
your Sub8 in that spot, return to the listening position, and listen to it
again. You may need to adjust the location; just keep making small adjustments
(a foot or so at a time) until the bass response sounds as even as possible.
3.2 Level Calibration
Matching the levels of the monitors in your system with your subwoofer is an easy extra step that will help you to achieve a consistent listening environment. This will ensure that your subwoofer won’t be too loud with some types of music and not nearly loud enough with others. You will need an SPL meter and some pink noise to do this; luckily, there are many inexpensive and free SPL meter apps for just about every type of smartphone, as well as a variety of free pink noise samples online that will do the job nicely.
3 Tutorials
3.2Level Calibration
Below is a brief tutorial on how to level match your monitors:
1. Connect your monitors and Eris Sub8 as shown in either of the hookup
diagrams in Section 2.2.
Power User Tip : If your system has an EQ in it, turn it off. You can EQ
your complete system to taste once the levels are evenly matched.
2. Turn your Eris Sub8 and your full-range monitors’ input levels to their lowest setting.
3 Tutorials
3.2 Level Calibration
3. Play pink noise through your speakers. You should not hear anything yet.
4. Begin slowly increasing the volume of your left monitor until the acoustic
level of the pink noise reaches 82 dB SPL on your SPL meter when measured at
your listening position. Turn off your left monitor and repeat with your right
monitor.
If you’re using monitors that provide single-level control for both the left
and right sides, like the Eris E3.5 or E4.5, play pink noise through both
monitors, increase the volume until your SPL meter reads 85 dB.
Power User Tip : If 82 dB or 85 dB is too loud or too quiet for your
room, set the level to one that is more comfortable for your listening
requirements. Just be sure to set the same level for both the left and the
right monitor.
5. Turn your full-range monitors off. If your Sub8 is connected to the Sub
Out on a speaker with a dedicated Sub Out, set the
input volume of your Eris Sub8 to “0” and skip to Step 7.
6. Begin slowly increasing the input volume on your Eris Sub8 until the
acoustic level of the pink noise reaches 79 dB SPL on your
SPL meter when measured at your listening position.
7. Set the lowpass filter on your Sub8 to 130 Hz. This will create a
frequency overlap between your Sub8 and your full-range system.
8. Play pink noise through your full system and experiment with the polarity
switch on your Eris Sub8 to see which position provides the best bass
response. Leave the polarity switch where the bass is the loudest.
9. Now play some music through your system and experiment with the lowpass
filter on your Sub8 until you find the most natural transition between your
full-range monitors and your subwoofer. If your full-range monitors are
connected to the outputs of your Sub8, you may want to try turning on the 80
Hz High Pass filter on the Sub8 and setting the lowpass filter to 80 Hz. Power
User Tip: Once you have matched the levels of your full-range monitors and
Sub8, don’t use their volume controls to adjust the overall level; instead,
use the volume on your audio device (computer, iPad, TV, etc.). This will
ensure that your speaker levels remain matched.
Power User Tip #2: The SPL figures quoted above are guidelines. When
increasing the output level, the point at which your Eris Sub8 will hit 79 dB
SPL can be highly dependant upon the acoustic response of the room it’s set up
in. Standing waves could cause resonance around 79 dB, causing you to reach it
sooner than anticipated; comb filtering may cause you to never reach it at
all.
Technical Specifications
| INPUTS | 2- Balanced ¼” TRS |
|---|---|
| 2- Unbalanced RCA | |
| OUTPUTS | 2- Balanced ¼” TRS (full range with 80 Hz HPF option) |
| 2- Unbalanced RCA (full range with 80 Hz HPF option) |
PERFORMANCE
Frequency Response| 30 Hz – 200 Hz
Low Pass Filter Frequency| 50 – 130 Hz (variable)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio| >98 dB (A-weighted)
THD| 0.05%
Amplifier Power| 50W RMS / 100W Peak
Power Consumption| 100W
Standby Power Consumption <0.5W
Amplifier Type| Class AB
Driver| 8” paper-composite with high-elasticity rubber surround
USER CONTROLS
Input Gain Control| -30 to +6 dB
Polarity Switch| 0° or 180°
Low Pass Filter Control| 50 Hz to 130 Hz
High Pass Filter Switch| On/Off
PROTECTION| RF interference
| Output-current limiting
| Over-temperature
| Turn-on/off transient
| Subsonic filter
| External mains fuse
POWER| 100-120V ~50/60 Hz or 220-240V ~50/60 Hz
CABINET| Vinyl-laminated MDF
PHYSICAL
Width| 9.84” (250 mm)
Depth| 12.75” (324 mm)
Height| 11.6” (295 mm)
Weight| 16.3 lbs (7.4kgs)
Troubleshooting
No power. First ensure that your Eris Sub8 is plugged in. If it’s connected to
a power conditioner, verify that the power conditioner is turned on and
functioning. If it is, yet there is still no power to the Sub8, contact
PreSonus for a repair.
No audio. If your Eris Sub8 appears to power on but you hear no sound when
playing audio (the lights are on but nobody’s home), first make sure that the
cables connected to the subwoofer are working correctly. Also, verify that the
Input Level control is set to provide high enough gain.
Hum. Usually, hum is caused by a ground loop. Verify that all audio equipment
is connected to the same power source. If you are not using a power
conditioner, we highly recommend that you add one. Not only will this help to
minimize hum, it will better protect your equipment from power surges,
brownouts, etc.
Use balanced cables whenever possible. If your audio device does not offer a
balanced output, you can connect it to a DI (direct-injection) box, which will
provide a ground-lift switch and a balanced output. Finally, make sure that
your audio cables are not run near power cables, and use cables that are the
appropriate length for your application.
Using cables that are too long not only increases the risk of noise, it
increases the likelihood that the cables are coiled, which will essentially
create an antenna that picks up all kinds of audio interference.
Added bonus:
Andouille & German Red Cabbage Po-Boys
Ingredients:
• 1 small Onion
• 3 Tbsp. fresh Ginger
• 1 small head Red Cabbage
• 1 tsp Salt
• 3 Tbsp. Honey
• ¼ cup Red Vinegar
• 12 oz Andouille or Bratwurst Sausage sliced lengthwise
• ¼ lb. Muenster Cheese
• Creole or German Mustard to taste
• 1 loaf French Bread
Cooking Instructions:
1. Heat 2 tablespoon vegetable oil in large skillet. Add onions and ginger,
then cook them for about 3 minutes until onions begin to wilt. Add cabbage,
vinegar, and honey, and then cook for about 5 minutes. Add salt to taste and
set aside.
2. Heat oil in a skillet till hot. Add sausage cut side down till nice and
brown, turn and cook for about 5 minutes till thoroughly cooked.
3. Slice bread lengthwise, lay a bed of cabbage, then sausage, and cheese on
top. Toast under the broiler or in a hot oven till cheese is melted and bread
is crisp.
4. Spread mustard on bread. Sandwich can then be cut into 2-3 pieces and
shared (or not if you’re really hungry).
BONUS: Extra cabbage can be used as a condiment with meat, eggs, sandwiches,
etc.
© 2020 PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Eris is a registered trademark of PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc. Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. All specifications subject to change without notice…except the recipe, which is a classic.
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>