Let's discuss A0. Yes? No? Maybe?

[VMAT4]

A0 is the lowest note on a standard 88 key piano. Its frequency is 27.5 Hz. Here's a link to a piece of music that "features" this note:

So, if you listened to the piece or are already familiar with it, do you think one needs a subwoofer to enjoy A0? Let's omit synesthesia fro the discussion, please.

Personally, I was underwhelmed. Yes, I imagine there are A0 of many varieties. Whole notes, sustained notes, piano A0s and forte A0s. But, after hearing these A0s, I wish I saved my money on subwoofers.

Anyone want to chime in?

 

[antcollinet]

There's more for a sub than a0 on a piano. But I don't listen to many piano solos. (and as a result this piece just sounds like a discordant mess to me)

 

[VMAT4]

There's more for a sub than a0 on a piano. But I don't listen to many piano solos. (and as a result this piece just sounds like a discordant mess to me)

Ok.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

The lower notes on a concert grand in a recording studio have a surprising amount of physical impact, especially when played percussively. I think few domestic installations can recreate the audio+physical impact

 

[kchap]

I'll see your 88 and raise you 20:

 

[MRC01]

We think of the fundamental as being the strongest / highest amplitude frequency in a note, and the harmonics weaker. This is often true, yet not always true. Many musical instruments have certain notes where the harmonics are stronger than the fundamental. A0 on a piano is one of them. With A0 fundamental at 28 Hz, most of the energy is at 56 Hz and higher. And a speaker that attenuates 28 Hz can still sound good to the ear because of the psychoacoustic phenomena of the missing fundamental.

Also, many recordings won't even capture that A0 fundamental. The mics aren't set up for it - though of course some may be.

To answer your question, I don't think we need a subwoofer to reproduce a piano A0 in a compelling way.

 

[fpitas]

do you think one needs a subwoofer to enjoy A0?

Some decent large speakers go that low. But even they can often use help from subs.

 

[fpitas]

Also, many recordings won't even capture that A0 fundamental. The mics aren't set up for it - though of course some may be.

Probably. If you're just determined to hear A0, you may have to see which engineer records A0 faithfully and get his recordings.

 

[DVDdoug]

I'm not a piano music lover but I don't think it's THAT important to reproduce the 27.5Hz note. Room acoustics are probably more important for reproducing realistic-sounding piano (or for an actual piano to "sound good").

With an organ (pipe organ or electronic, or other electronic keyboard) it could be more important. You can feel the bass from a pipe organ!

An electric bass guitar "only" goes down to about 40Hz but properly amplified it puts-out bass you can feel in your body. You need a good woofer/subwoofer to reproduce that. I don't get that from a piano.

Most subwoofers used for live music and in dance clubs are "tuned" go down to around 40Hz. That's a compromise to make the subwoofer more efficient. ...If you make a woofer/subwoofer that goes down to 20Hz it gets less efficient and it takes more woofers and bigger amplifiers to fill a large venue with strong bass you can "feel". But it's more practical in a smaller space so you'll find home & studio woofers/subwoofers that go to the 20Hz range.