As I've stated previously, I was originally very skeptical about the DEBRA dba system. The $3K price, having the space in my room to locate 4 subs in my 23 x 16 foot room without issues, would the system actually work as advertised and would it disturb my system's already very good sound stage illusion (that I really enjoyed) were all important concerns I had.
I justified the price as about the same amount I was already going to spend on my original bass improvement plan of buying 2 conventional self-amplified Vandersteen, JL or REL subs and positioning them to optimize the bass response at my listening seat.
The room space concern I resolved by just committing to rearranging my living/listening room furniture and system if required for the sake of good bass response throughout my entire room. Fortunately, after completing the progressive sub setup procedure I discovered this was no longer an issue. Subs #1 and #2 sounded best positioned along my front 16' wall with each hidden from view by a 6'h x2'w mains speaker panel. Subs #3 and #4 sounded best positioned with one along each 23' side wall. Both are out of the way and partially hidden from view, one by a large end table and the other by a large reclining leather chair.
My concern about whether the DEBRA dba system would provide sota bass response as advertised was lessened gradually. It began to be reduced as I began researching and learning online about the theory behind dba systems, experimental results and practical applications.
White Papers (summaries of their research) I read authored by leading dba researchers Dr. Earl Geddes and Dr. Floyd O'Toole, along with email and phone discussions with James Romeyn of Audio Kinesis, continued to increase my confidence in dba systems and alleviate my concerns .
The 30-day free in-home trial period offered by Audio Kinesis on the DEBRA system overcame my final concern about whether the mono dba would negatively affect my system's already very good sound stage illusion so I decided to purchase the DEBRA. Ultimately, the sota bass of the DEBRA, even though it's the combined outputted sound of 4 separate mono subs, integrated precisely and seamlessly. I perceived the bass as originating from all the proper bass instruments and singers within my still very good sound stage illusion.
As I understand it, the extremely accurate, defined, natural and dynamic sounding bass reproduced by the DEBRA dba subs are all operating in mono, partially being reproduced from 4 separate subs located at different directions and distances from my 'sweet spot' listening seat (sub#1 along the front 16' wall about 3' in from the right 23' wall and about 18' away from my seat, sub#2 along the front 16' wall about 3' in from the left 23' wall and about 18' away from my seat, sub#3 along my left 23' side wall about 3' in from the rear 16' wall and about 8' away from my seat and sub#4 along my right 23' side wall about 3' in from the rear 16' wall and about 8' away from my seat.) and with each launching long bass sound waves that are all deep enough in frequency response that they should not be able to be perceived by myself as directional.
So how am I able to perceive these long bass sound waves as emanating from the proper physical locations within the very stable and solid sound stage illusion seemingly spread across the front of my 16' front wall (with the width, depth and specific locations of the lllusionary musicians and instruments varying with this sound stage illusion depending on the recording) if these bass sound waves are truly non-directional?
I believe the answer lies in the fact that all recorded deep bass sound is comprised not only of the fundamental notes that are physically represented by low frequency sound waves that are non-directional but also of the deep bass note's harmonic notes that are physically represented by higher frequency sound waves that are directional.
It is these higher frequency bass note harmonics, high enough in frequency that they are reproduced by my system's main l+r speakers and not by any of the 4 subs that are typically restricted by the crossover setting to reproducing those that are 40 Hz and below, that actually allows the brain to determine where the fundamental bass note is emanating from.
Well, I hope my words were adequate in communicating this rather complex concept.
If not, please let me know if you need me to clarify anything.
If so, please let me know your thoughts on this concept.
I definitely don't consider myself an expert on in-home bass systems. I'm just a music and ht enthusiast who's always enjoyed the realism provided in both by very good bass response and I've been searching for a method to attain this in my system for decades.
I believe I've discovered a concept, the distributed bass array system, and a couple of complete dba kit products , the Audio Kinesis Swarm and DEBRA 4 sub dbas, that I'm thrilled with because the DEBRA system I bought and installed has finally provided what I consider sota bass response to my system for both music and ht.
I now feel an obligation to spread the word on this high performance bass system solution on this high performance audio/video internet discussion forum site. I have no connections to Audio Kinesis besides being a very satisfied customer.
Thanks,
Tim
