2. speakers
  3. 131276-20253

Why is good, deep bass so difficult? - Myths and their Busters

This is a theme that goes round and round and round on Audiogon. While looking for good sources, I found a consultancy (Acoustic Frontiers) offering a book and links:

http://www.acousticfrontiers.com/guide-to-bass-optimization/?utm_source=CTA

Interestingly: AF is in Fairfax, CA, home to Fritz Speakers. I really have to go visit Fairfax!

And a link to two great articles over at sound and vision:

https://www.soundandvision.com/content/schroeder-frequency-show-and-tell-part-1
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/schroeder-frequency-show-and-tell-part-2

Every audiophile who is dissatisfied with the bass in their room should read these free resources.

Let me state unequivocally, deep bass is difficult for the average consumer. Most audiophiles are better off with bass limited speakers, or satellite/subwoofer systems. The former limits the danger you can get into. The latter has the most chance of success IF PROPERLY IMPLEMENTED.

The idea that large drivers/subs are slow is a complete and utter myth. Same for bass reflex. The issue is not the speed of the drivers. The issue is usually that the deeper a speaker goes the more it excites room modes, which the audiophile is then loathe to address.

Anyway, please read away. I look forward to reading comments.
erik_squires

Showing 2 responses by gdhal

gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
@erik_squires

I haven’t read the articles in your initial post as you state "every audiophile who is dissatisfied with the bass in their room should read these free resources’ and I am not dissatisfied.

Give a serious listen to a pair of Golden Ear Triton Reference and I think you would conclude that good, deep bass is *not* so difficult.
gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
One way to get smooth in-room bass is the distributed multi-sub system. Inevitably, each of the subs generates a unique in-room peak-and-dip pattern (and this is true for any listening location within the room). BUT the SUM of these dissimilar peak-and-dip patterns is significantly smoother than any one of them on its own.

This is one reason I have a *pair* of Golden Ear Triton Reference. Each one on its own eliminates the need for a sub, but the two of them (subs) combined sounds even better.


More to discover