2. speakers
  3. 153969-20253

There's a lot more bass in a 6.5" driver than most of you think

One topic of discussion I often see new audiophiles touch on is whether to get larger speakers for more bass.

I usually suggest they tune the room first, then re-evaluate. This is based on listening and measurement in several apartments I’ve lived in. Bigger speakers can be nothing but trouble if the room is not ready.


In particular, I often claim that the right room treatment can make smaller speakers behave much larger. So, to back up my claims I’d like to submit to you my recent blog post here:

https://speakermakersjourney.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-snr-1-room-response-and-roon.html


Look at the bass response from those little drivers! :)


I admit for a lot of listeners these speakers won’t seem as punchy as you might like, but for an apartment dweller who does 50/50 music and theater they are ideal for me. If you’d like punchy, talk to Fritz who aligns his drivers with more oomf in the bass.


erik_squires
pirad
59 posts
 
I have built both dipole and distributed bass systems. Dipoles are great for any kind of music down to the bass guitar low E (40Hz). Under 30Hz the experience is not impressive. The Swarm, when sealed, goes down to 18Hz. With the ports open even lower, but it gets kind of boomy. The sound is powerful but not so clear and natural as from dipole bass. I would say if classics, pop and jazz are your thing, go for dipoles. If you are a basshead or need to shake your home theater, distrubuted sealed boxes will deliver.
PS. I should add that if you can hear sounds under 20Hz, you are likely to be an elephant. The human experience under 20Hz is rather vibration permeating various body parts. If you play test sounds under 20Hz and insist you hear them, then something is wrong with your subs. They play harmonics where they shouldn’t be. This test actually shows faults in the construction. Try these tests:
The Ultimate Bass Test | Ultra Low Frequency Range Test
pirad
59 posts
 
@noble100 
Thank you.
I started the audio journey as a hobby several years ago. I bought licenses from Linkwitz to build his LX521 and from another source to build the distributed bass. Then I moved to my own designs. It is still a hobby, but my systems play at some interesting places.  I don't think I'll be quitting my daytime job yet ;)
erik_squires OP
16,285 posts
 
The Swarm, when sealed, goes down to 18Hz.


Impressive! I've gotten flat response to ~ 16 Hz with a single sub. Repeatedly. Not boomy.
pirad
59 posts
 
" @erik_squires
02-01-2020 4:31pm
The Swarm, when sealed, goes down to 18Hz
Impressive! I’ve gotten flat response to ~ 16 Hz with a single sub. Repeatedly. Not boomy. "




I wrote before, that I stood once next to the 16Hz organ pipe and all I could feel was wind.
I added a PS to my previous post above, repeat here:

"PS. I should add that if you can hear sounds under 20Hz, you are likely to be an elephant. The human experience under 20Hz is rather vibration permeating various body parts. If you play test sounds under 20Hz and insist you hear them, then something is wrong with your subs. They play harmonics where they shouldn’t be. This test actually shows faults in the construction. Try these tests:
The Ultimate Bass Test | Ultra Low Frequency Range Test "
avanti1960
1,490 posts
 
agreed, smaller drivers can output impressive bass especially with the right amplifier and enclosure design.  the spendor D7 has a transmission line enclosure and that single 6-3/4" woofer sounds amazing.  
most ported speakers do well but often it's quality that matters- not extension or quantity.  a bigger woofer can produce better quality bass more effortlessly.  
More to discover