Why is good, deep bass so difficult? - Myths and their Busters


This is a theme that goes round and round and round on Audiogon. While looking for good sources, I found a consultancy (Acoustic Frontiers) offering a book and links:

http://www.acousticfrontiers.com/guide-to-bass-optimization/?utm_source=CTA

Interestingly: AF is in Fairfax, CA, home to Fritz Speakers. I really have to go visit Fairfax!

And a link to two great articles over at sound and vision:

https://www.soundandvision.com/content/schroeder-frequency-show-and-tell-part-1
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/schroeder-frequency-show-and-tell-part-2

Every audiophile who is dissatisfied with the bass in their room should read these free resources.

Let me state unequivocally, deep bass is difficult for the average consumer. Most audiophiles are better off with bass limited speakers, or satellite/subwoofer systems. The former limits the danger you can get into. The latter has the most chance of success IF PROPERLY IMPLEMENTED.

The idea that large drivers/subs are slow is a complete and utter myth. Same for bass reflex. The issue is not the speed of the drivers. The issue is usually that the deeper a speaker goes the more it excites room modes, which the audiophile is then loathe to address.

Anyway, please read away. I look forward to reading comments.
erik_squires
Large 15" woofers don’t have to do higher frequencies and are never required to operate as fast as a tweeter! Duh. Face Palm. However they do reproduce bass frequencies orders of magnitude better than small 6 or 8" woofers. Those who would deny this are just drinking maketing BS. Clearly some people are unaware of the physics of a large surface area vs a small one and the Xmax (linear) limitations of voice coil travel.

Slow bass or poor PRAT is a combination of poor timing alignment, poor frequency response balance between mids tweeter and woofer, as well as resonant Q tuning and port tuning of the box. A dip in the mid range will reduce bass punch. High Q systems resonate and make the bass "hum" or sound "blurred" rather than "punch". Exceeding Xmax or a long voice coil in a short magnetic gap means non linear response, excessive compression from heat and a dull boomy smeared bass. Dull boomy smeared bass is what most 6 or 8 inch woofers with cheap 1 inch voice coils do! A 15" woofer with a 3 or 4" voice coil is a much better design, as far as audio fidelity is concerned at LOW frequencies. Of course you can’t expect a 15 inch woofer to even begin to do the mid range like a 6 inch can. 6 inch is a monitor or toy size when it comes to bass and 15" is professional.

You simply can NOT find a reputable studio with large main monitors that have 6 inch woofers and there is a good reason you can’t! So please stop repeating the marketing BS about fast small toy sized woofers!

"...go-cart must be faster than a Honda Civic because it’s lighter..."

It would be if it had the same engine.... Weight is only one of many parameters that affects "performance". It strikes me that folks are talking past each other through this (pointless) thread. Like everything else, there are multiple variables that determine the relative performance of woofers. I think that's probably the only statement that makes sense.

erik

I don't think your 15" sub will keep up with your 6.5" midrange. Not much cohesiveness. To each his own. 
soundsreal - You can "think" whatever you want to. I get to experience it every day.

At the point when bias overwhelms facts I have to step away from the conversation.
Recently switched from large'ish ported speakers with 4, 7-inch bass drivers each and a single high-quality sub to "monitor" speakers with 2, 9-inch LF drivers each in a sealed 100+ lbs. box and two high-quality subs from the same mfg and the bass response went from pretty good with occasional overloading of the room to what is now the best I have heard.  Driving the mains with high-powered Class A monos and the subs with their own internal amps - the subs definitely keep up.