Post by Boomzilla on Aug 10, 2019 14:00:35 GMT -5
The title says it all. So let's throw out the red-herring arguments right off the bat:
1. If a speaker's bass driver does not have sufficient excursion to tolerate bass equalization, it is NOT a candidate for DSP.
2. If a speaker's bass driver has insufficient power-handling to tolerate bass equalization, it is NOT a candidate for DSP.
3. If a speaker is of ported design, one cannot DSP the bass significantly lower than the port tuning frequency without the risk of "unloading" the cone and causing the driver to "flap."
4. If true sub-sonic frequencies are required (as is usually the case when the main speaker lacks a built in subwoofer), then a true subwoofer will be the only reasonable solution.
5. Even if DSP can be employed for bass extension, the speaker placement of the main speakers is unlikely to be as room-friendly as the placement of individual subwoofers.
6. Even if DSP can be employed for bass extension, the power demands on the amplifier will be much higher than if a self-powered sub was used with satellite bass attenuation.
And point six brings us squarely to the first pf the (many) negatives of using subwoofers:
1. To optimally use a subwoofer, an electronic crossover must be employed to keep the bass frequencies from the satellite speakers.
2. Such crossovers are almost universeally damaging to the high-pass sound of the satellite speakers (the only exception I've found is the JL Audio CR-1).
3. If not using a line-stage, electronic-crossover, then the satellites must run full range (causing increased IM distortion).
4. Unless very carefully placed, a single subwoofer can strongly excite room nodes, causing either thin, or else very boomy bass.
5. Subwoofers (even DIY ones) are not inexpensive, and if one wants two or more, the prices rapidly become painful.
BUT - With a tower speaker of already good bass extension, how successful have youse guys been in using DSP to slightly extend the bass sufficiently that you didn't feel the need for a sub?
Thanks - Boomzilla
1. If a speaker's bass driver does not have sufficient excursion to tolerate bass equalization, it is NOT a candidate for DSP.
2. If a speaker's bass driver has insufficient power-handling to tolerate bass equalization, it is NOT a candidate for DSP.
3. If a speaker is of ported design, one cannot DSP the bass significantly lower than the port tuning frequency without the risk of "unloading" the cone and causing the driver to "flap."
4. If true sub-sonic frequencies are required (as is usually the case when the main speaker lacks a built in subwoofer), then a true subwoofer will be the only reasonable solution.
5. Even if DSP can be employed for bass extension, the speaker placement of the main speakers is unlikely to be as room-friendly as the placement of individual subwoofers.
6. Even if DSP can be employed for bass extension, the power demands on the amplifier will be much higher than if a self-powered sub was used with satellite bass attenuation.
And point six brings us squarely to the first pf the (many) negatives of using subwoofers:
1. To optimally use a subwoofer, an electronic crossover must be employed to keep the bass frequencies from the satellite speakers.
2. Such crossovers are almost universeally damaging to the high-pass sound of the satellite speakers (the only exception I've found is the JL Audio CR-1).
3. If not using a line-stage, electronic-crossover, then the satellites must run full range (causing increased IM distortion).
4. Unless very carefully placed, a single subwoofer can strongly excite room nodes, causing either thin, or else very boomy bass.
5. Subwoofers (even DIY ones) are not inexpensive, and if one wants two or more, the prices rapidly become painful.
BUT - With a tower speaker of already good bass extension, how successful have youse guys been in using DSP to slightly extend the bass sufficiently that you didn't feel the need for a sub?
Thanks - Boomzilla
