Low volume kind to low frequency?


Hi all.

I am interested in buying some Magnepan 20.1 speakers. They go down to 25 Hz, which is fine, but not great. Spatial cues, pipe organs.

I tend not to listen to music at outrageously loud volumes. Is the main factor with the bottom end of the frequency specification moving a lot of air? Does the fact that at medium volumes, not as much air has to be moved, matter?

Can I listen to my pipe organ at a volume that doesn't tenderize meat?

Regards,

Rick
rhedin
At low levels your brain rolls off treble and low bass. Since not in the tiger hunting human range we dont need wide range at low volumes.
Johnk is correct - the response of the ear is not linear. This physiological phenomenon is known as the Fletcher-Munson effect. The ear is less sensitive to frequency extremes at lower absolute volumes. This is the effect responsible for the "loudness" button on (mostly low end) amplifiers. It's actually a very practical thing and should be incorporated in higher-end equipment to allow for more natural sound at low volumes. One would think that with modern digital technology someone could implement this with little or no signal degradation. Without this compensation, playing full-range music at low volumes will always sound anemic on a system that sounds "right" at higher volumes.
Rick,
I definitely agree with the suggestion of getting a subwoofer with a remote control. It works great for what you want to do.
Regards,
Charlie
Thanks, men. So you are saying, yes, it is easier to play bass at low volume, but my ear needs higher volume to hear those frequencies. My "play it at a low volume" approach won't work.

I am reluctant to try to blend a cone subwoofer with a planar main speaker, but I may be driven to it.

Regards,

Rick
Everytime you change your volume control setting you need to change your bass levels. A loudness control switch will not do this accuratly enough.

Bob