The arguments against down-firing subs that I've seen revolve around gravity's effects on the woofer. I've never heard a down-firing sub, so I don't have any personal basis to compare the two types.
I couldn't find Hardesty's assertion that front-firing is better, and he has a hard-on for all things Vandersteen. From the photo on the Vandersteen website, it looks like their subs are down-firing. Interesting.
The consensus that sealed subs are more tonally accurate than vented subs makes me wonder: is this premise true of woofer-handled frequencies as well? Is it important to have sealed towers or monitors as opposed to vented models for accuracy?
I don't have any answers, but the great responses I'm reading are making me alot smarter so far!
I couldn't find Hardesty's assertion that front-firing is better, and he has a hard-on for all things Vandersteen. From the photo on the Vandersteen website, it looks like their subs are down-firing. Interesting.
The consensus that sealed subs are more tonally accurate than vented subs makes me wonder: is this premise true of woofer-handled frequencies as well? Is it important to have sealed towers or monitors as opposed to vented models for accuracy?
I don't have any answers, but the great responses I'm reading are making me alot smarter so far!