Help me understand "the swarm" in the broader audiophile world

@northman
Others have indicated valid possible answers to your question regarding DBAs being (or rather not being) offered at dealers.

So I will just share with you my experience with the Swarm.

My first listening room had a low ceiling and was 10 x 12 minus closets. Of the many subs I tried, none could contribute quality bass response.
As soon as the sub volume was high enough to hear some bass, it was boomy, ringy, etc.
It was like everything was being overwhelmed.

Just over a year ago I asked about a subwoofer solution on this forum and found out about the DBA. Knowing there was absolutely no way I could place 4 subs on the floor in that small room, I decided to pass on it.

Then, I saw a thread about placing one or more of the subs up high facing the ceiling. Not for aesthetics or to save floor space.
The reason was that any ceiling facing subs will contribute to dispersion in the vertical plane.

The next day, I called Duke at AudioKinesis, had a great conversation and ordered a Swarm.

I placed 3 of the subs up high on metal shelving units facing the ceiling and one on the floor next to my desk supporting my lamp.

The one sub on the floor, with such a small footprint is the ONLY additional component taking up space.
AND, it is smaller than your typical sub.

The added storage gained from the metal shelving units actually helped organize some gear while acting as diffusers in each front corner.

The sound honestly amazed me.

I immediately noticed two things.

First:
At most any reasonable volume level, I heard more detail from cellos, bass guitars, etc. This greater detail also extended up into the midrange.

Second:
The sound stage got bigger and fuller.
The holographic (3D?) effect was more convincing.

The speakers I regularly rotate are:
KEF LS50s, B&W 801 Matrix S2s, Ologe 5s, Magnepan LRS and Harbeth SHL5+40th Anniversaries.

Music: mostly classical, jazz and some rock.

Volume level: varies quite a bit


These are 5 significantly different speaker designs.
With the DBA, each of the 5 speakers provided tight, fast and accurate bass along with the bigger soundstage and greater detail.

I have recently moved to a house with a bigger listening room (14 x 16). While this room was being finished, I set up my system in a smaller room (12 x 15).

I am now in the finished larger room and now have 2 subs on the floor.
In all 3 rooms, with all 5 speakers, the DBA noticeably raised the performance in the above mentioned ways.

Interestingly, the DBA provided the greatest percentage of improvement in the smaller room.

I then read some more about the multiple bass source concept and discovered there is science behind why this is so.

Thought it was just my initial excitement.

Hope this helps you with your decision!

Why don’t you guys (and gals) get together and have a respectful subwoofer shootout? I’m sure you all can find the time during these pandemic times? And I’m sure someone has a audio studio for all of you to use? You can then test each others hypotheses, scientific principles, use the audio test equipment to set up your equipment and record everything for posterity and science.

Come on? Are you kidding me? You’d have the entire AUDIO GLOBE wanting to see this happen similar to a heavyweight prize fight! You could settle this once and for all in a friendly, fun way like you ALL used to do when we were just kids.

Who ever loses buys the beer (or wine) and the experience itself will be videoed. Also you just might make a friend or two in the process. I would rent that video, or well at least check it out on youtube.

And even if you don’t videotape the event at least have the shootout! Know we'll see who'll man up.

Tyray suggested: "Why don’t you guys (and gals) get together and have a respectful subwoofer shoot out... test each others hypotheses, scientific principles, use the audio test equipment to set up your equipment and record everything for posterity and science."

I just re-read the thread and it looks to me like nobody is saying the science behind a distributed multisub system is bogus. Some criticize its advocates, some say dipoles work better (which they do in some ways and not in others) or that fixing the room comes first, and several have said it’s too impractical.

But not even Erik’s blog page disputes the technical merits of the idea. Quoting:

"To oversimplify, the DBA [Distributed Bass Array] or Audio Kinesis Swarm uses four subwoofers to cancel room modes. Please read details directly from the vendor as I am not a fan and therefore won’t do it justice.

"While I was a fan of this idea due to the innovation and possibilities it offered I never really warmed to it due to the physical complexity. For me, I want my system simpler, smaller, and tripling the number of speakers in my home has no appeal at all. I am no longer a fan of this idea due to the fan boys and how cultish they have become."

I don’t see any of these objections going away if a distributed multisub system "works as advertised" because none of them are based on the premise that it doesn’t.

Duke

Back when I was still gathering info about sub setups, I mentioned SWARM and DEBRA bass array to the local store where I buy my gear from. I had one sub, then two subs, then new main speakers with no subs and was then looking to go with the DEBRA for my new mains (Tannoy Turnberry Prestige GR’s) The sales person gave me a facial expression which communicated he thought I was over complicating this whole sub thing. After his dismissive glance, he presented: “You only need 2 good REL subs to get the bass right.” I’m glad I didn’t go that route. My setup is different from the standard DEBRA though: I’m still unclear how to setup the phasing on the sub amps since my DEBRA uses 2 Qty of the SA1000 subs amps instead of one to drive the 4 subs. It’s supposed to have some benefit for phasing. All I know is it kicks some serious ass compared to any of my previous setups. Bass issue resolved for me!
I’d bet if Duke and James joined forces with REL, they would sell the crap out of a wireless/ self-powered 4 sub bass array.
And- oh, if REL (masters of all things subwoofer) is selling a sub array $priced it to the moon, then it must be good, right? Be a good little audiophile sheep and just agree with the big guy. Do as they tell you to do: follow instructions blindly. Take your REL subs to the counter and swipe your card on the way out. “Thank you and have a great day.” I think a lot of naysayers follow the well beaten path. That is until some big company realizes they can steal the sub array idea to make it their own, make it more marketable and ultimately scoop up all the cash on the table and screw-over the people who put in the real work to get this distributed bass array out there in the first place. It’s just a matter of time (in my mind) before more people start to climb aboard the DIstributed Bass-Array-party boat. Once a REL or JL jump in to the sub array market, you watch how many they will sell, and also watch the forums flourish with “yes” chatter afterwards.
I forgot who posted it, but I’m game for anyone who wants to do the video for testing 1,2,3 vs 4 subs at my house. I’m always enthusiastic, curious and eager to learn. I’m in Southern California BTW and wear mask/ social distance.  
To be clear, I have no pony in this race. I don’t care who wins, I’m in it for the learning experience and to add to my personal knowledge base. Maybe for once someone can put out good advice based on several people’s real life experiences and some kind of measurements instead of forum banter or “professional” reviewers who I simply most of the time do not trust. They are tangled in a conflict of interest and are flawed for this reason. 

Uh -Oh! Looks like we got 2 contestants already! Duke and veerossi.
And veerossi wants bring out the big guns - The DEBRA’s! Now I know you all know about the SWARM, but let me introduce you to the DEBRA’s.

https://jamesromeyn.com/audiokinesis-speaker-models/debra/

What’s that I hear - crickets?