Why do you guys pursue a flat frequency response when you buy a subwoofer?
@audiokinesis -- Deep: "I sure would not want to add another adc/dac into the chain with a subpar DAC on something like miniDSP for bass management (when i have a Denafrips DAC in my 2 channel setup). Guys i know have waaaay more expensive speakers, DACs, monoblocks, etc on their 2 channel music setups than i do. They are probably not gonna do that either. " Unless your speaker platform is all-active to begin with, in which case (expectedly quality) digital filtering is already a vital part of the configuration - sans passive cross-over parts that would otherwise be regarded the bottleneck. There are pro vendor, excellent digital cross-overs out there that doesn't cost a fortune, like the ones from Xilica, but even with passively configured main speakers - the primary focus in this context, it would seem - I find they're nigh on fully transparent being implemented into the chain. I'm stressing 'nigh on' despite my not being able to detect a sonic degradation with a Xilica unit put into the signal chain that ends with passive speakers (based on my experience with my previous, passive speaker set-up), because I wouldn't want to presume its total transparency in more academic or theoretical terms. Forest for the trees, as they say; with passive speakers in mind, what does the outcome of putting a quality digital cross-over/DSP into the signal chain potentially bring with it advantageously, high-passing the main speakers instead of letting them run full-range, compared to the (mostly theorized?) audible influence the added component itself will have? That's certainly up to debate, but I find high-passing passive main speakers with a quality digital DSP for subs augmentation to be worthwhile, and with an all-active configuration like I'm using now it's a naturally integrated option. High-passing mains to me is all about relieving them and the amp(s) driving them, rather that protection per se. |
@tomic601 , here are some tracks i use when i'm tinkering with it and listening for things (non compressed FLAC versions of these, 24bit 96khz when possible). Overall SPL levels are relatively high (farmhouse/no neighbors). Hans Zimmer - Mombasa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPgPxGX6nNo Rom Di Prisco - Caverns of Suursonnabu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqKyS8WES7Y Jesper Kyd - Approaching Target 3 about 2.35 onwards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NipZFlauZ8E Yaeji - After that https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAtkZ9iVEwc Strappin young lad - love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL9Aohgd79I John Peasano - First Contact Protocol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJO6i2b5pH8 |
Only able to speak for myself. I have a pair of MC275 in bridged mode, a pair Sonus Faber Olympica Nova V speakers, a pair of SVS PC-4000 subs, and to deal with sonic inequities in the room, a McIntosh MEN220. The MEN220 requires some set-up where you enter information like the distance between your listening position and the speakers. Then the distance between the subs and you. There are outputs to the speakers and subs, each separate. you set the crossover in the MEN220 & I have no crossover set to the speakers, I do have the subs set to engage at the lowest frequency of the Sonus Fabers. There are several other parameters to set in the unit. Then you use the provided mic to first measure exactly where your head is going to be when you listen & it runs through an information gathering sequence. Then you place the mic in various places around the room & let it collect that data as it generates complex sounds. It tells you when it’s done. You have it analyze the data and it adjusts the equalization for the room. The remote offers many options depending on the future listening audience including bypass. Once you use the MEN220, you never use the bypass option, the 220 is a magnificent device. With that, when I’m listening to anything containing 35 Hz down, the subs handle that and there is an objective difference depending of what is being played. Listening to a movie, you feel the explosions, the subaudible crashes so often in the soundtrack thanks to the subs. Part of this is because the 1200 watt subs are vertical and the sound wave hits the wooden floors & the subaudible vibrations are obvious in my chair. The subs, often play little part in most of the music I listen to, the speakers do a fine job of that, but, the subs do play a part and I’m glad they’re here.. |
