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Front- vs. Down-Firing Subs and Amp Issue

A couple of assertions in the audio world have me perplexed as to how to select a subwoofer for my two-channel system.

Richard Hardesty makes the blanket statement in his Audio Perfectionist Journal that down-firing subs should never be used for high-end two-channel audio. Only front-firing subs are suitable for this application. I see, however, that some of the most-recommended subs on a'gon (Hsu TN series, ACI and REL come to mind) are down-firing (or up-firing in the case of Hsu.) Maybe the answer is that audiophile subs can't be purchased at the price point most mortals can afford, and the lower-priced subs just happen to be down-firing? Oh, Hardesty also says ported subs are not suitable for high-end audio; must go with a sealed box. Interesting.

The second assertion comes from Mike Barnes at nOrh, who says on his website that the plate amps used in 90% of subs today is crap and puts out only a fraction of power that is claimed. The sound that was rattling his windows and creating "earth-shaking bass" was not bass at all- it was distortion. He also states that he began tests in subwoofer development using the popular Peerless 12" woofer, which was literally shredded by a (non-plate) 150-watt amp.

So now I'm confused. Is it possible to buy a high-quality sub for relatively little money? I can't bring myself to spend $3-5k on a pair of speakers only to turn around and spend nearly that much on a sub. Oh, and then I hear that if I want the best possible configuration I need two subs at twice the price, making my subs more expensive than my speakers. Is this just a fact of life that I'll have to come to grips with if I don't want to buy speakers that go down to 20hz?

Thoughts?
aggielaw
matchstikman
205 posts
 
What about horn or horn-like subwoofers like this one:

http://www.decware.com/WO32/wo32.htm
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rauliruegas
13,003 posts
 
Dear Onhwy61: +++++ " it's that sealed designs have potentially better..., but in the real world is that potential always met? " +++++

This depend on the design and the execution of that sealed design.
The " sealed design " can't warranty: " per se " that that particular sealed subwoofer is a good performer or that can be better than a vented one.
There are bad sealed subs, as I told you this dependes on the exellence of the builder and the excellence in the execution of that design.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
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rauliruegas
13,003 posts
 
Dear Aggielaw: +++++ " Is it important to have sealed towers or monitors as opposed to vented models for accuracy? " +++++

Yes, it is important. But here the manufacturer has a problem: how to build a monitor in a sealed small box with good " bass " down to 30/35Hz?

He can do it with a vented design or he can do it in a sealed design with a bigger box, of course there are other alternatives ( but we are talking here about vented/sealed designs ).

Now, it is possible that every thing the same: the sealed design can be more accurate and " easy " to the room that a vented one.
Now, one issue that is important to these two designs is at what volume/level you want to hear your music. If we are talking of 95 to 105 db SPL then ( probably ) the vented design will be in " problems ", but if we are talking of SPL between 70-85 db we can have the same quality music reproduction from either design.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
matchstikman
205 posts
 
Raul, do you have a list of sealed subs that you think are not as good as they should be? It would be nice to know.
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rauliruegas
13,003 posts
 
Dear Matchstikman : The horn subwoofers can be really great, the problem is that for a horn sub can handle the normal sub frecuency range: 100Hz down to 18Hz +.- 3db, it has to be enormous and very hard to match with a normal room size .

The ones that you mentioned there are no true subs: they go down only at 28Hz.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
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