Timing response of my JBL/Rythmik sub 3-ways before any timing (i.e. excess phase) correction:
Step response over 200ms with mic at LP in my room. Shows a maximum phase room reflection 30ms after the direct sound. Side note, subs are negative going polarity.
After correction:
Aside from the drivers time aligned, the woofers/subs follow the target response, while inverting the polarity of the subs and removing the maximum phase room reflection. Note this is an ideal "minimum phase" loudspeaker response at the LP.
Folks forget that for a given impulse response can be split into its minimumphase and excessphase parts. The minphase part describes the given frequency response whereas the excessphase part describes the timing. Both can be corrected independently using a FIR filter. And it is not just at one point in time either. In my book I show both frequency and timing response stays consistent across a 6ft x 2ft listening area with 14 validation measurements.
Details with verification measurements in this
article. This
article shows how timing correction can reduce low frequency group delay at the LP.
Finally,
this article includes binarual recordings of the above speaker system, comparing to KEF LS50 with sub. People can hear for themselves that so called digital loudspeaker and room correction does not sound "weird or unnatural".