2. speakers
  3. 1339806115

frequency range for instrument vs speaker

http://www.independentrecording.net/irn/resources/freqchart/main_display.htm

After seeing this link in another thread, I wonder about this. Let say that you don't listen to any classical instrument/music, normal rock and pop with no heavy synthetizer, just drum, guitar, etc, it seems that there isn't really any need for speakers that go much below 40Hz, considering that the lowest instrument, the kick drum (I assume it is the same thing as bass drum?) only go down to 50Hz.
Certainly listening to this type of music via speaker that go down flat to 40Hz vs 20Hz, bottom end is certainly quite different but I am not sure what is it that I hear in the subbass area (according to the chart) that is not suppose to be there, at least according to the instrument's frequency? Does drum give out something lower than its fundamental?
suteetat
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,585 posts
 
Just to be clear, the SB touch frequency spectrum display would indicate the frequency distribution of the signal the touch receives as input. I wonder if it is based on the digital input signal or the analog output of the internal DAC? Dunno.

ANyway, my point is that this is different than the response one would measure with a microphone if one were to do that with another similar device that works with a microphone as input. Furthermore, what the mike would measure would depending on placement location in the room due to room acoustics. The normalized differences between the two at any point if analyzed somehow would tell you the effects of the room acoustics compared to the source music signal.

Probably some good fodder in there for another thread or two on how to quantitatively measure source material quality and/or related system performance. I am not up to date on all the specific devices/programs that can do this but the technology surely exists and could be applied by inquiring minds fairly easily these days I would expect.
paulsax
275 posts
 
I seem to recall that a typical electric bass guitar drops to mid to high 30's on the open low string. For some reason 38 is sticking out in my mind. lots of fronts will do that but the discussion on spl above my explain why the sub helps out.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 

06-20-12: Paulsax
I seem to recall that a typical electric bass guitar drops to mid to high 30's on the open low string. For some reason 38 is sticking out in my mind. lots of fronts will do that but the discussion on spl above my explain why the sub helps out.

If you check this chart, you will see that the low E of a 4-string bass is 41.203 Hz. For a 5-string, the low B is 30.868 Hz. Maybe that's what stuck in your mind (with a little modification). Or maybe you were thinking of Eb, which is 38.891 Hz.

Your second part is definitely true. You can't count on many speakers to make meaningful bass below 50 Hz. Many start rolling off around 80-100 Hz. Of course this depends on speaker placement, room-loading, etc. And more expensive speakers definitely go lower.

Still, if Wilson Audio tours the Alexandria XLFs with a pair of Thor subs, I'd say just about *any* loudspeaker would benefit from the right pair of subs properly blended.
tonywinsc
583 posts
 
"I'd say just about *any* loudspeaker would benefit from the right pair of subs properly blended."

That's true because it is adding more power (assuming powered subwoofers) to the whole system and low frequency reproduction takes lots of power. Properly blended is the key and that doesn't come cheap. Plus, at some point the stereo will either run everyone out of the house or shake the house down. The ultimate plight of the over-enthusiastic audiophile.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,270 posts
 
You can't count on many speakers to make meaningful bass below 50 Hz.
Way too broad a generalization.

I'd say just about *any* loudspeaker would benefit from the right pair of subs properly blended.
Benefit to a bass obsessed audiophile - yes. Required or needed for music reproduction - no.
More to discover