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Why the obsession with the lowest octave

From what is written in these forums and elsewhere see the following for instance.

Scroll down to the chart showing the even lowest instruments in this example recording rolling off very steeply at 40 Hz.

http://www.homerecordingconnection.com/news.php?action=view_story&id=154

It would appear that there is really very little to be heard between 20 and 40 Hz. Yet having true "full range" speakers is often the test of a great speaker. Does anyone beside me think that there is little to be gained by stretching the speakers bass performance below 30-40 cycles?
My own speakers make no apologies for going down to only 28 Hz and they are big floor standers JM Lab Electra 936s.
mechans
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,308 posts
 
"Hook up a spectrum analyzer."

Good idea!

I had one (Audio Control I think?) years ago. The spectrum analyzer was a display mode on the equalizer as I recall. It is quite educational to see what is really in the sounds you hear frequency-wise, both coming over the wire and as detected in room using a microphone!
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
Mapman, that kind of sa probably uses frequency bins but may help show what is going on. The issue people forget is that we're not dealing with simple sinusoid signals. A single note from a musical instrument is a very complex sinusoid. That is how the same note from a sax and from a trumpet sound different, or at least they should or our system is really crap.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,308 posts
 
Dan,

Yes, the resolution of the analyzer I used was limited, but you still got a decent picture of how the music was distributed across the audible frequency spectrum, so that was educational albeit an approximation that does not relate all the details

I'm sure there are some good analyzers out there these days if one is interested, maybe more on the professional gear side.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
I have learned a lot from my Behringer DEQ2496 which has a spectrum analizer function, 61 frequency bands, 1/3 octave. The internal wide bandwidth noise signal is a good representation of music, but you can also look at externally generated signals like a sine sweep.

And, after you understand your problem you can fix it with the EQ function. $350 including mic. What a deal!
hififile
236 posts
 
Excellent comments and observations!

My experience(s) grew me into the desire for 20hz to 30hz bass. I use Merlin TSM-mme stand mount speakers. They are amazingly musical and love the sound. The bass is very good but not so deep (mid 40's in my room).

I purchased JL fathom subwoofers and very carefully adjusted them and blended them with the Merlins. I much perfer the full deep bass. On Ray Browns Moonlight Serenade I could hear all the notes pleasingly. But, with the JL's I can hear and feel the low 'E' just vibrating away.

I also listen to pipe organ works and enjoy the subwoofers in the system. I am convinced I need and desire bass to about 20hz.
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