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"Slam"--what is it, is it really accurate?

I put this question under speakers because I assume "slam" is mostly a function of the speakers, but perhaps a certain level of amplification is required. The only places I have experienced slam is listening to certain demos at audio shops, and some live music. Most speaker demos I have heard over the years did not produce slam.

So, what mostly accounts for a system producing that "slam" you can feel in your chest? Is it that certain speakers are "voiced" with a mid-bass hump that causes it? Do they EQ the signal to produce it? Do they employ super powerful amps?

Secondly, how accurate is slam? How much of a goal in speaker selection should the ability to produce slam be?

The reason for the questions is that I am getting close to being in the market for new main speakers. My current amp is a McCormack DNA 1, BTW. Thanks for any info!


mtrot
jafant's avatar
jafant
20,013 posts
 
Mtrot-

I have never liked the term 'slam'. I always equate it to SPL (a better term). It all relates to the size of speakers in a given room. One would not want under-sized speakers in a large, ex-large, listening space.

I concur that the power amp plays it part as well.
Happy Listening!
kentarnp's avatar
kentarnp
1 posts
 

If one likes slam, I would encore anyone to listen to the products of the late, great Arnie Nudelle’s products such as infinity IRS, RSB (I-III series) speakers.  Adequately powered, the speakers do all of this.  Arnie was a genius.  God rest his soul.  

bjesien
1,352 posts
 

Have you been sitting on this one?

I'll add well made enclosures.

jon_5912
605 posts
 

Big drivers in a big box.  The bass drivers need to have a high cutoff.  A big subwoofer with stand mounts can play 20hz-20khz but won't have slam.  The surface area of the woofer is the key.  

phusis's avatar
phusis
1,229 posts
 

Duke put it excellently into words:

”… It is a function of transient dynamics and raw SPL. If there's not much dynamic contrast, it doesn't come across as "slam". If there's good dynamic contrast but the sound pressure level is still soft, it doesn't come across as "slam".

From a loudspeaker design perspective, the solutions include high efficiency and/or large diameter (or multiple) voice coils. If a loudspeaker system is being pushed close to its RMS thermal rating on peaks, your peaks are softened and so is the emotion conveyed. If a loudspeaker system is just loafing along at fairly high SPL, it will deliver plenty of slam. That's why 5 watts into a 98 dB efficient speaker almost always sounds so much more lively than 200 watts into an 82 dB efficient speaker, even though "on paper" both are 105 dB capable.

Duke
dealer/manufacturer“

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