Cardioid Bass vs. Multisub approach

[markstein]

I am wondering which approach will deliver better bass in a typical living room: cardioid bass modules like Ascilab BX8C (as an addition to my C8C) or a multisub setup (3-4 subs) with a Welti or Geddes or MSO optimized or Dirac ART setup?

The multisub option obviously sacrifices linear phase but - at least per my expectation, based on theory - will yield in a much more uniform bass response across the room.

Can you provide any real world experience and advice?

 

[ppierre]

Maybe both : Ascilab BX8C to get cardioid response down to Fc (80Hz ?).
And 4 subs at 1/4 of the walls to get an homogeneous bass response.

I don't have a cardioid loudspeaker, I have 4 subs who work great. I doubt that the cardioid bass modules can be an alternative to well placed multiple subs.

 

[markstein]

This thread somehow encourages to try the cardioid stereo bass route. Question is how much of this "envelopment" will be perceived in a small living room with relatively large listening distance...

Post in thread 'Bass and subwoofers'

Bass and subwoofers

@bmc0 https://github.com/MalcolmSlaney/LoudnessModel This is a loudness model in Python (MATLAB link is included) by hearing researchers who represent the top of the academic field. Might help. In regard to loudness, there's this: https://www.aes-media.org/sections/pnw/pnwrecaps/2014/jj_jan2014/

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Ktacos]

I think with bass, one needs to work with the room for best results and that's why I find multisub to give hands down the best bass I've heard in a room.

I have not heard or tried cardioid bass in a room, but I would be skeptical that it would compete with multisub just due to the placement advantage multisub gives. It's been mentioned already and I imagine it will be a dominate part of the discussion.

 

[FrantzM]

I think with bass, one needs to work with the room for best results and that's why I find multisub to give hands down the best bass I've heard in a room.

I have not heard or tried cardioid bass in a room, but I would be skeptical that it would compete with multisub just due to the placement advantage multisub gives. It's been mentioned already and I imagine it will be a dominate part of the discussion.

+1

I am of that opinion a well

 

[markstein]

Thank you all for your input!

Let us continue any discussion about this topic in this earlier thread which contains so much information about this topic that I do not know why I started this new thread...

'Bass and subwoofers'

Bass and subwoofers

This is the second in a series of follow-up posts to https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-of-lokki-bech-toole-et-al.27540/#post-950580, this time focussing on bass perception with a brief digression on subwoofers, since there's relevance to (reproduction of) concert hall acoustics. I’ve...

www.audiosciencereview.com