Hertz Meter Reading Device
As the frequency gets lower, you'll notice the volume decreasing as well. There will be a point where the tone is no longer audible. You have just experienced the bass roll off of your system. As well as the roll-off of your ears, of course, Bob, which may very well be more significant than the system roll-off which you are trying to determine, unless the tones are played at extremely loud volumes. Remember the Fletcher-Munson effect. Regards, -- Al |
My gripe about frequency response specs is that they ought to be measured not only relative to the SPL level at 1000 Hz, but also AT some particular SPL level at 1000 Hz. If the SPL is very low the woofer will not run out of excursion and the LF performance will be better, but unfortunately you won't be able to hear it :-( |
Response to 11 hz does NOT mean you have useful bass (not base) to 11 Hz. That number is probably down by 20 dB, practically inaudible relative to higher frequencies. Are there recordings that go below 20 Hz? Most subwoofers start rolling off at 30 Hz or higher with a 24 dB per octave slope. By the time they get to 25 they could be down by 6 dB or more. They may also produce gross amounts of 2nd harmonic distortion. Taking the Fletcher-Munson hearing curve into account, we'll hear the harmonic more than the fundamental. There may exist frequency meters, but as stated above, all you need is a test CD, an SPL meter, AND the response curve of the meter to correct your readings. |
What you're looking for is called a 'Real Time' or 'Audio Spectrum' Analyzer(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Time_Analyzer) You can get software for a computer now that will enable you to analyze the SPL output of your speakers, in your room, at all(what are considered) audible frequencies:(http://www.trueaudio.com/rta_faq1.htm) Another very affordable method is the 1/6th octave RTA that the Behringer DEQ2496 provides(http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-DEQ2496-http://cgi.ebay.com/B-K-SINE-SQUARE-WAVE-GENERATOR-MODEL-E-310B_W0QQitemZ130323305278QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1e57dfd33e&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116UltraCurve-Pro-Mastering-Processor?sku=182484) The low freq cutoff for most RTAs is 20hz though. A greater problem of getting accurate measurements at the lower freq is the response(below 100hz) of most "calibrated" microphones. Mics that are actually accurate at the freqs you are interested in are expensive, and the testing device you are using has to accept the correction curve data of the mic. ie:(http://www.earthworksaudio.com/27.html) (http://www.linearx.com/files/pdf/M51_Mic_Brochure.pdf) To test for output at 11hz; you'd probably need a signal(sinewave) generator like this(http://cgi.ebay.com/HEATHKIT-AUDIO-GENERATOR-MODEL-G-2-SINE-AND-SQUARE-WAVE_W0QQitemZ160355544791QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBI_Signal_Sources?hash=item2555ef6ed7&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14) or this (http://cgi.ebay.com/B-K-SINE-SQUARE-WAVE-GENERATOR-MODEL-E-310B_W0QQitemZ130323305278QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1e57dfd33e&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116), an SPL meter(which again will have a mic that's inaccurate at low freqs) and a volt meter so you can be certain you are remaining consistant in your signal between your reference freq and the freqs for which you are testing. Hook the generator up to one of your preamp's inputs(with the voltmeter across the +/- outputs for calibration) and test away. There are many signal generators(more expensive) that have built in voltmeters BTW. The low freq cut off for Redbook CDs is 20hz, and there's VERY little on vinyl, outside of some direct-to-disc pipe organ music that even goes down to 16hz. You won't hear anything at those sub-bass freqs, but the visceral effects are fun. |
