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Benefits of a cardioid subwoofer?

By "cardioid" I mean cardioid radiation characteristics. Specifically, I am thinking of replacing my JL Audio F110's with a pair of ME Geithain Basis 11K subwoofers. More information can be found here:

http://me-geithain.de/highend/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67&Itemid=107&lang=en

The unique thing about this subwoofers is the cardioid radiation pattern, which supposedly reduces the interaction with the room from the back wave. To obtain a cardioid pattern, the subwoofer has to combine a monopole with a dipole. The interaction between the two rear waves cancels out the rear radiation thus producing a cardioid pattern.

I have never heard nor seen anything like this. Does anyone have any opinions?
amfibius

Showing 1 response by curriemt11

curriemt11
220 posts
 
I recently purchased one of these for my HT:

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?homesubw&1308355063&/Underwood-Hifi-Special-Edition

These are set up for bipolar output, with the supposed benefit being "to cancel cabinet vibration." Well, I can say that yes, there is extraordinarily little vibration. More importantly, the quality (both in 'tightness' and in range) of the output is at least as good as the JL F113 that I had auditioned in the system previously. Whether or not this is at least partially due to the bipolar design I cannot say. Needless to say, I think that these are true bargains if you're in the market.

Duke, I would dearly love to hear 4 of these things set up in a SWARM-type system!
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