Distributed Bass Array configuration
It seems to work well almost regardless of how the subs are laid out. Geddes, a DBA progenitor, has several pre-conditions before the above statement is true. For a simulation comparison of the effect of moving DBA subs in a room and system similar to the claimants, see http://ielogical.com/Audio/misc/DBARoomSim.php |
Here's a good article on the subject of multiple subs that I think is worth reading. https://mehlau.net/audio/multisub_geddes/ My general advice is to also learn as much as you can about how sound waves behave in smaller, domestic-sized rooms and how humans detect sound waves through our body and how our brains interpret/process these inputted senses before creating the perceptions of sound in the room. Spoiler alert: bass sound waves behave quite differently than higher frequency sound waves in our rooms and we perceive them differently based on their frequency range, too. Tim |
Well, I am going to join the DBA Swarm club, will, let’s call it the “Magnum” Swarm club. Instead of 4 10” subwoofer driver cabinets, I am getting 4 12” subwoofer driver cabinets in 36”x14”x14” dimensions. After speaking with James Romeyn about my room and equipment setup, my subwoofer experiences and experimentations over the years, and my listening preferences, the Swarm Magnum was the best option for me. I am overwhelmingly curious to see what type of improvement and listening impressions, and affect it will have in my room. I have used Velodyne SMS1 EQ and Rives Audio professional measurement kit for years to dial in the bass. With the recent acquisition of my humongous Classic Audio T-5 Reference speakers, I found myself using less subwoofer bass due to the larger speakers excellent bass output capacity. But, and this is a big caveat, I am okay experimenting with the Swarm Magnum to evaluate its efficacy in my room and for my particular tastes. For those listening sessions when you want to hear Aerosmith Back in the Saddle and crank the system up to hear the kick drum of that song, it’s glorious with lots of bass…no one at those loud music levels cares about stereo bass or mono bass, just the fact that you can jam out to this badass rock song. For more subtle music, such as Stevie Ray Vaughn, Tin Pan Alley, then, subtle rolling bass that is more articulate and defined makes a huge difference. Playing this song at louder volumes, I tend to want to be immersed in the music entirely with the bass enveloping you in a different way than the rock you this way that Back in the Saddle can do. Because I straddle variety of genres of music, the Swarm Magnum seems like a solution that can solve my need for deep and loud bass zone with one song and not so much with another type of music as the Swarm Magnum is able to rise to the occasion without resorting to turning up each sub to get louder when I want to rock…just simply turn up the master volume and the bass should equally support the music, no matter the genre. Mind you, I have been utterly satisfied with my methods for years; however, after overwhelming positive feedback and the scientific approach that the DBA method uses to achieve satisfactory bass, I guess I should finally explore this in order to ensure that I am maximizing my listening pleasure. |
Hello audioquest4life, Congrats and welcome to the DBA Swarm Club, be prepared to be amazed! I wasn't even aware AK offered a larger Magnum version of their Swarm system. James Romeyn, of Audio Kinesis, was also the person who convinced me to give their 4-sub Debra DBA system an audition in my room. He and Duke really know their stuff and are very helpful. Congrats on your humongous and impressive Classic Audio T-5 Reference speakers, too! I wouldn't think those huge things needed any bass help. But that's the amazing thing about the whole 4-sub DBA concept, it'll integrate seamlessly with virtually any pair of main speakers and in any room, when positioned and configured properly. My only advice is to configure the volume and low pass crossover frequency filter settings as low as possible with the bass still sounding very good to you ("very good" meaning powerful, detailed, dynamic and natural). Oh, and don't forget to make sure your chinstrap is securely buckled. Tim |
