Eminent Technology LFT 7 !!

Yes I believe in the Swarm bass array.  I currently own all components, cabinets made, for 4 Dual driver GR Research Servo Subs modeled after the GT Audio Works system.  So assembly will begin shortly.  My main listening room is 22x53x10 and is being remodeled.  I decided to go this way only because I have always wanted to experiment with servo controlled bass drivers and the cost to do so has become realitively reasonable.   I am not tied to OB/Dipole for bass but it is possible.  The PAP Quintet 15 proves that.  The Linkwitz Lab lx521.4 proves that.  For sub bass closed box is best to my ears.  Tastes varies.

Hello riverdinaudio,

      I have listened to numerous high quality subs including dipoles but have never listened to OB or any GR Research subs.  My only experience utilizing 4 subs in a distributed bass array (DBA) configuration is the Audio Kinesis Debra 4-sub complete DBA kit system I bought and installed about 5 years ago in my 21'x15'x8' room.  This system is identical in price, sub amp/controller utilized and concept to the AK Swarm system except the Debra subs are more rectangular at 12"Wx14.5"Dx28"H.  
     I initially used Magnepan 2.7QR 3-way 6'x2' dipole panels as main speakers with no room treatments, DSP room correction or EQ and ran them full range (35-20K Hz) with all 4 Debra subs operated in mono, without the port plugs and a 40Hz cutoff frequency setting, so all 4 subs in mono and  ported configuration operating between 20 and 40 Hz.
     This setup provided what I consider near sota bass performance in my room that was fast, smooth and detailed enough to seamlessly integrate with the 2.7QRs while still providing the powerful deep bass impact and dynamics I felt they lacked.
     A couple months ago I upgraded to a pair of Magnepan 3.7i main speakers, which are the same size and 3-ways but have the true-ribbon treble transducer instead of a quasi-ribbon transducer, and fully treated my room with $3,500 worth of custom installed GIK room treatments.  You can view my recently updated system pics to view the results.
     Long story short, the true-ribbon treble section and other 25 year newer technology of the 3.7i main speakers, along with the room treatments, significantly improved the overall detail, sound stage imaging, naturalness, quality, realism and overall enjoyment of my system. And I  perceive the sota bass performance and seamless integration with the new 3.7i main speakers provided by the 4-sub DBA system as even more  impressive, which I didn't think was possible.
     So in summary, I'm stating that I'm thoroughly convinced of the 4-sub DBA concept's effectiveness in my room and believe you'll be thoroughly convinced if you deploy one in your room.  However, I'm not stating that 4 high quality GR Research/Rhythmik OB or servo-controlled sealed subs wouldn't perform and sound equally as well or better in a DBA confguration, because I've never heard them and just don't know.

Best wishes,
    Tim

Damn Tim, 3.7i's and the Debra Swarm. I would without hesitation take that over the 3/4 million dollar Wilsons. A lotta loot left for music!

Hello bdp24,
     
    Yes, the 3.7is with the Swarm are extremely good and a real bargain. Think of the 20.7s with better bass and dynamics at half the price. I've heard the 30.7s and don't claim the 3.7i/Swarm combo is quite that fine, or probably as fine as the $750K Wilsons which I've not heard, but it's definitely a close enough approximation to the 30.7s from my perspective, especially at less than 1/3rd the price.
    I went on a bit of a splurge in addition to the 3.7is and GIK room treatments. I also bought an LG 77" 4K OLED hdtv, pre-owned Levinson 326S preamp, Oppo 205, Lumin D2 dac/streamer and a 20 TB Synology hard drive that came loaded with 20,000 hours of music of multiple genres (rock, blues, R&B, jazz, folk, country and classical) that's all on my LAN and controlled by Lumin software on an iPad. It functions and has a GUI very similar to JRiver.
    I've chosen not to feel guilty and would think I died and went to heaven if I didn't have to completely pay for all of it to the last penny. But this is by far the best system I've owned to date and the system I receive the most enjoyment from on a daily basis with music and HT. So, I have absolutely no doubt it's all been worth it and have zero regrets.

Enjoy,
Tim