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Is the ideal multi-way a 3-way with limited bass?

Hear me out here.

3 way speakers with the traditional large woofer benefit from high bass output, and improved midrange clarity due to the lack of Doppler distortion affecting the mids, but with a lot of modest listening areas the big woofer can also be detrimental.  They produce too much bass, which together with room gain and room modes causes flabby and exaggerated bass.
So, lacking ARC or EQ capabilities perhaps the best compromise for the purist is to have a big woofer 3-way but with a limited -3 dB point, say 45 Hz or so.


erik_squires
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,942 posts
 
There's something to be said for huge woofers and not making them dig too deep would be easier to drive
I certainly don't find this to be the case! My speakers are 98dB, 16 ohms and are flat at 20Hz owing to dual 15" TAD woofers. 
steve59's avatar
steve59
1,789 posts
 
If you can afford it all you can have it all.
audiokinesis
2,750 posts
 
I agree with jamesbgood. If there IS an ideal, imo it probably includes adjustable bass.

Several manufacturers use powered woofer sections which include a lot of adjustability, but often a ported box is more adjustable than it seems at first glance. Port cross-sectional areas can be reduced, which lowers the tuning frequency and tightens up the bottom end. Or if the speaker has multiple ports, perhaps one or more can be outright plugged, again lowering the tuning frequency and tightening up the bass. Or open-cell foam can be placed in the port to reduce the airflow. Any of these approaches will almost inevitably involve some trial-and-error, but they can make a worthwhile difference in whether or not a given speaker works well in a situation where its low-end is excessive.

Duke
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