Searching for matching(?) Subwoofer solution

Hi Tim,

My reasoning is simply this: Four one-foot-square footprints (2 mains w/built-in subs + 2 separate subs) are easier to shoehorn into a really small room than six (two stand-mounted mains + four separate subs). And I already make the latter.

If we use a little bit of asymmetry in the placement of the main speakers those first two subs are now asymmetrical, even if they are tied to the main speakers. And we have other tricks up our sleeve if needed... such as polarity reversals, or adding a second amp and dialing in phase quadrature.

The main driver arrays are fairly directional so they can be placed close to the walls with relatively little downside. Compared to most small speakers, they have less need of distance from the walls in order to get good soundstage depth. So their requirements probably are not going to screw up subwoofer placement all that much.

And with four distributed subs, the specific locations of the individual subs are a lot less critical than with one or two subs. So imo there is less penalty from those first two subs being stuck underneath the main speakers.

I hope to end up with a competitive system for those who can accommodate four footprints in a small room.

Duke

     Hello Duke,

     Thanks for the clarification, it all makes a lot of sense to me. 
     It seems like your new system concept will probably work well not only in a variety of small rooms, but also some medium sized rooms.  Plus, I'm sure you won't mind having a speaker system that has the very convenient and useful added benefit of working well in a hotel sized room.  

Tim
    

Darn, we all seem to be agreeing. You guys are no fun:)

Ok, hearing about Duke arranging each main speaker with a sub solves the majority of my small room size issues. 

Does it matter if the woofer is layed down horizontally on the floor?
If not, a horizontally situated woofer would fit under my floor stand supprted Ologe 5 speakers. 

Leaning towards the DEBRA system since the (flatter?) profile woofers would probably take up less floor space.

Unless,... 

Duke - are you building (or have built) a new sub array system for smaller rooms?

Thanks,
Hans

"It seems like your new system concept will probably work well not only in a variety of small rooms, but also some medium sized rooms."

The main speaker array has a lot more dynamic range than one is likely to use in a small room, so yeah the system should work well in a medium-sized room too. Virtually everything in speaker design being a juggling of tradeoffs, I did make a few in favor of small room optimization.

"Does it matter if the woofer is layed down horizontally on the floor?"  

Nope! I have several customers who use at least one Swarm unit on its side, sometimes on the floor, sometimes atop a book case.

"Leaning towards the DEBRA system since the (flatter?) profile woofers would probably take up less floor space."

Sounds good to me! (For the record, I don’t get a "kickback" on Debra sales.)

"Duke - are you building (or have built) a new sub array system for smaller rooms?"

Not yet, but shoot me a message or an e-mail if you’d like to exchange ramblings about tradeoffs.

Duke