who currently makes / sells swarm style subwoofer systems?

@deep_333 wrote:  "Your room’s modal spread dictates that every sub has a specific location. There is no willy-nilly ’random’ asymmetric placement."

It sounds like there may be a couple of misconceptions about what’s involved in the setup of an asymmetrical multi-sub system.

First, there are several different placement strategies, the basic idea being to  intelligently distribute the bass sources within the room to get beneficial interaction between them, and "intelligently" is not the same thing as "willy-nilly random".

Second, every sub does not need to be in "a specific location" which is dictated by the room’s modal behavior.  For instance when measurements are used to optimize the subwoofer locations, there is usually a considerable amount of leeway, such that if a particularly desirable location is unavailable it is not difficult to get very good results from locations that are available. 

Also, with a distributed multi-sub system, the placement of any one sub is far less critical than is the case when you have only one or two subwoofers. 

Duke

The AK system is a passive system with a centralized amp, but I imagine you could do the same with just about any set of 4 active subs, instead.

@paradisecom Not exactly... Most subs are not designed to operate within the room boundary effect, so if you were to other subs, you couldn't place them directly against the walls like the Swarm subs can. They would have to sit out into the room a bit to prevent them being boomy. 

When you're talking about multiple subs, this nuance can be a pretty big deal in a lot of rooms where multiple (and larger) subs could really muck up the place. 

There are more permutations of locations available for nullifying modes, of course, but, the locations for doing that AND making the subs "sound good" with your system comes down to very specific locations (especially when there are multiple subs).  I am sure a hometheater dude or some measurement nut will just look at a chart and call it good. He wouldn’t know what exactly phenomenal bass sounds like...

I currently use a 6 sub configuration in one of my rooms, one sub is actually in the ceiling and another one is in-wall and elevated (hope you know why especially if you’re selling stuff), only 4 are on the ground.....Nevertheless, they work in unison with some diaphragmatic absorption to produce the best bass that you may ever hear. 

It could all be demonstrated by turning on/off different combinations of subs with my controller... show what happened or not. 

@audiokinesis  wrote

@deep_333 wrote:  "Your room’s modal spread dictates that every sub has a specific location. There is no willy-nilly ’random’ asymmetric placement."

It sounds like there may be a couple of misconceptions about what’s involved in the setup of an asymmetrical multi-sub system.

First, there are several different placement strategies, the basic idea being to  intelligently distribute the bass sources within the room to get beneficial interaction between them, and "intelligently" is not the same thing as "willy-nilly random".

Second, every sub does not need to be in "a specific location" which is dictated by the room’s modal behavior.  For instance when measurements are used to optimize the subwoofer locations, there is usually a considerable amount of leeway, such that if a particularly desirable location is unavailable it is not difficult to get very good results from locations that are available. 

Also, with a distributed multi-sub system, the placement of any one sub is far less critical than is the case when you have only one or two subwoofers. 

Duke

@deep_333 wrote:  "I currently use a 6 sub configuration in one of my rooms, one sub is actually in the ceiling and another one is in-wall and elevated (hope you know why especially if you’re selling stuff), only 4 are on the ground..."

Excellent!

You have intelligent distribution of your bass sources in all three dimensions!

It would be interesting to hear people’s thoughts on a 6-pack arrangement, as touted by companies like REL, for example.

Three subs stacked one atop the other, two stacks of three, each symmetrically placed to the outside of the main speaker.

What do you think this arrangement accomplishes, it certainly isn’t a DBA, right?