Why the fascination with subwoofers?

@rodman99999

When I first built my woofer system, it was designed(1980-81) to mate well with my Acoustat Model IIIs. It’s worked seamlessly, with everything(mostly planar) I’ve owned, since(various active crossovers, amps and one driver change, but same transmission line cabinets).

My distributed array woofers are used with Acoustat Model IIs with the Acoustat direct drive amps and a Beveridge RM-3 active crossover. I feel it is very well integrated and also works well with other speakers (Quad ESL and Spendor 1/2e). I don't think Duke LeJeune gets the credit he deserves for following this path and his DBA design certainly inspired what I am doing today.

Of the response to my question that I have seen so far, I thinks Ralph's is notable for his reference of tight base as an artifact of sound reproduction.

Dear @pwhinson  : You have great passive speakers but even those could be improved making changes/up-grading in the bass range.

I would like to know which is the frequency range ( wide. ) handled by that quasi-ribbon bass " module ".
The specs says that from 25hz but does not mention a crossover frequency range and was not mentioned too if that 25hz is its +,- 3db point because if not then those 20.7 in reality perhaps goes not more than true flat 30hz.

Even that are quasi-ribbon design and normally low distortion levels exist true distortion levels in the kind of IMD developed by the bass driver that affects all the other non-true bass frequencies handled by that driver and this IMD generated could goes lower.

I know that the Magnepan designer does not like hybrids designs but other ribbons designs came with integrated subs and works really great.

From my point of view the noble 100 solutions are only an opinion and for me not the best option.

You said that maybe there is no much information below 25hz and I can tell you that even below 20 hz exist recorded information that's really valuable if youy room/system can shows it. The Swarms solution goes down to 20hz only: 18hz in ported/vented fashion or 22hz in sealed fashion. Is it a complete solution?, not for me: it's a quasi-solution.

The 20.7 crossover frequency is a must to have before you take any solution about . Subs are not only to have evenly low bass room/system response and goes deeper in the bass range but perhaps more important that those is to take that IMD distortion levels at minimum and with this your overall quality performance levels will go higher and you will enjoy those 20.7 better than ever before.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

@clio09 - Personally; I’ve experienced more live music than reproduced, over the past few decades. As long as that, "artifact" closely resembles what I’ve heard and felt, in the presence of the real thing, I’m happy!

Dear @rodman99999  : As @bdp24  you explained very well in what you posted before. That " artifact " certainly means nothing about what clio ask before.

Noble 100 posted something very good as an audiophile, something like: " when you hear it you will know. "

For that " will know " we must to have a near field position live music experiences in different venues ( several of those experiences. ) and with different kind of MUSIC.

Obviously that clio has not those experiences because if he has it then why to ask for or maybe he only want to confirm what he knew. ! ? ! ? but if he knew then what about that " artifact ".

Certainly: artifact is not the answer for me but for he is the rigth one, good even that maybe he had not those experiences. Who knows?

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

I am out listening to live music once or twice a week. Living in the SF Bay Area there are no shortage of events, from local spots to well known venues. I've also been fortunate to record or obtain recordings of many of the events I attend.

I believe in many of the attributes used in the definition of "tight bass" that have been posted. It's the term itself I don't agree with. That was the reason I asked and why I felt Ralph's response was notable.