I've been doing a lot of learning since discovering ASR recently. When it comes to subwoofers, I find a lot less data (at ASR and in general), and more of brand-loyalty or brand-shaming than for other areas at ASR. Even in the subwoofer comparison thread by sweetchaos, the frequency response data is sparse. A lot of the models listed don’t have any frequency measurements.
Learning more, in any case: in mid-sized or smaller rooms, for low frequencies, the response is heavily influenced by the room, and clued in people like ASR readers are probably going to apply some EQ, either rolling their own or with Audissey/Dirac etc. Some will do multi-Sub to tame room modes with physics.
There was also a presentation by Floyd Toole shared by NTK on “Getting the bass right”.
A few jewels from that:
So, the thing is, if many (most?) people are getting a subwoofer for a mid-size or small room, and are going to place it on a corner with the extra 6dB amplification, and (ASR readers at least) are going to apply EQ to correct room response, does the subwoofer brand make such a difference? Do we really need top-of-the-line specs?
Is recommending 12-inch SVS’s to people with a small room akin to recommending 4-wheel-drive vehicles with high horsepower to urbanites?
I’ve started taking measurements with REW and a UMIK-1, and my recently purchased REL T/5x is doing fine, easily giving more than enough punch at 20Hz. I had been feeling embarrassed about the purchase until I started measuring.
Learning more, in any case: in mid-sized or smaller rooms, for low frequencies, the response is heavily influenced by the room, and clued in people like ASR readers are probably going to apply some EQ, either rolling their own or with Audissey/Dirac etc. Some will do multi-Sub to tame room modes with physics.
There was also a presentation by Floyd Toole shared by NTK on “Getting the bass right”.
A few jewels from that:
- corner placement for subwoofers is highly recommended, and gives the signal a 6dB boost, to, em, boot
- woofers are minimum-phase devices, and fixing their frequency response “fixes” their time-domain response
- so, talk of “fast” and “slow” subs is misleading
So, the thing is, if many (most?) people are getting a subwoofer for a mid-size or small room, and are going to place it on a corner with the extra 6dB amplification, and (ASR readers at least) are going to apply EQ to correct room response, does the subwoofer brand make such a difference? Do we really need top-of-the-line specs?
Is recommending 12-inch SVS’s to people with a small room akin to recommending 4-wheel-drive vehicles with high horsepower to urbanites?
I’ve started taking measurements with REW and a UMIK-1, and my recently purchased REL T/5x is doing fine, easily giving more than enough punch at 20Hz. I had been feeling embarrassed about the purchase until I started measuring.
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