Maybe it's my imagination, but we seem to be living in the golden age of subwoofers. They're getting better, smaller and cheaper! Hsu and SVS come up a lot, but AudioAdvisor.com also offers a ton of inexpensive subs from reputable manufacturers. I don't know their subs, but Energy usually makes a decent product. Their 8" model is $100. A pair of Velodyne SPLR 8" will produce bass about as well as any speaker I've ever encountered (I use 2 in my system with the Velo SMS controller) and now costs $600 per. There are probably 2 dozen choices between those price points.
My first pair of high end speakers was the Kef Corelli (ca. mid 1970s). I tried adding an M&K sub, but never got it to work right. Later I tried that sub with the ProAc Tablette. Again, no luck. Today, the Velodyne/Ohm combo I'm using works brilliantly. Sub integration is damn near perfect. Total cost for the Ohms ($1800) SPLRs ($1200) and SMS-1 ($600) is $3600. I'd be surprised to find a (non-sub) system at any price that can produce significantly better bass in my room. IMHO, the economics of high end loudspeakers are really being transformed by these developments.
Marty
PS The SMS-1 allows seamless integration of subs/mains. I've used analyzers before, but this one integrates PEQ and active x-over in a way that is uniquely effective IME. It's a truly amazing tool. |
Shadome
I understand the skepticism - total bass output from a sealed volume + given radiating surface is certainly limited by physics. I just don't think that this limitation has been the practical problem.
I have a radiating area just under that of a 12" sub + two small enclosures + high power/long excursions. The total output from that combo is more than sufficient for my largeish ( app. 6,000 cu ft.) space even at the highest spls I'd personally require. It is powerful, clean, punchy and -to my knowledge - obeys the laws of physics. It is also nearly, but not quite, ruler flat (in room) to 25hz at typical listening levels
Presumably the audible distortions associated with that combo of box volume, radiating area and excursion have been significantly reduced due to better drivers, more rigid boxes, and more powerful amps. Real world performance is getting closer to theoretical limits. That's why I don't think that the laws of physics were ever the real limitation. I imagine that there's plenty of room for further improvement which will likely come primarily in the form of even smaller boxes rather than greater output or reduced distortion since those parameters have already been (IMHO) adequately addressed for (all but the largest) rooms out there by the better subs on the market. While I am certain that many people will disagree with that statement, that has been my experience.
The other real improvement has come in the area of integration. Modern devices provide room analysis + PEQ + a flexible crossover, allowing far better integration of subs to mains.
IMHO, the result has been eye (ear?) opening. I'd say the performance I'm getting from 25hz to 150hz would be difficult to improve, given the ultimate limits of my ability to discern improvements in this area beyond this level. Of course, I'll acknowledge that, if you heard the system, it's certainly possible that you might reach a different conclusion.
Marty |
Bob,
I've used 3 different room measurement systems. By far, the Velodyne SMS-1 yields the best, most consistent, and to my ear (although I'm comfortable making such judgements only from above 60ish hz) most accurate results. Many people would agree that 5db or so in rise is useful in the deepest bass. "Not quite" ruler flat means a gentle rise below 50hz to app +2 or 3db at 25 hz. With organ music (my test for this region), the gentler rise "feels" better TO ME than what you suggest at my normal listening level. Again, I'd be the first to acknowledge that others might side with you on this one.
Marty |
Bob,
I'm using a PAIR of SPLR 8" subs ($600 per) to generate total output somewhat higher than 95 db max. There are too many variables for me to comfortably calculate an equivalent between my room and the tests you linked to, but I'm very confident that my results include distortion equivalent to the much lower output levels (they got 2% at 80db 40hz in the test) they acheived using a single sub.
The real point of the SPLR 8" vs the SPLR 15" is that the same vendor wants $1600 for the latter. Three smaller 8" subs offer just under the total radiating are of the single 15" sub (if my math is right) and my guess is that distortion levels are slightly (i.e. proportionately)higher.
You pay a $200 premium for very nearly the same performance (more accurately, slightly inferior distortion per given spl) and greatly increased placement flexibility which, in the end, may very likely allow the 3 smaller subs to outperform the larger one.
I don't know the SVS sub, but there's no denying that this is great performance for the money. In the right room, I imagine that it's hard to beat. But don't underestimate the value of placement flexibility, especially if your room is a tough one.
Marty
PS - I've read many of your posts to other threads, supporting the large woofer side of the argument. They always seem well thought out and clearly stated. I don't know how you feel about multiple small subs to effect the same radiating surface as a single large sub. I'm sure that I have less experience than you do - this post reults from a single month of very intensive work with the 2 SPLR 8s and the SMS-1. I'd love to hear your take on a pair 8" subs vs a single 11" sub of similar design. |
Drew & Bob,
Thanks for the thoughtful responses. I'm aware that displacement is the relevant measure, but I assumed that a smaller driver would have the benefits of lower mass - usually key to acceleration. Evidently motor considerations are more critical here - makes some sense. I'll have to learn a bit more about the physics of these devices. I can say, pretty unequivocally, that from A1 on up through the next 2 octaves I'm getting phenomenal results right now. It may be that my listening levels are insufficcient to tax the 8" subs into audible distress (at least audible to me!)
BTW The PEq has 2 functions:
1) A boost at 20hz followed by some cut a bit higher up (differs one sub to the other, but in both cases allows effective response to 25hz). I detect no distortion on organ tones around this frequency, but others may be able to hear what I can't. Defeating the PEq essentially removes this info from the music.
2) Smoothing at/around the x-over frequency. This has been the most critical element of the excellent performance I'm getting. Defeating the PEq yields instantly audible deterioration.
Marty |
Bob,
Just curious - Do you know if the cylindrical SVS subs perform on a par with the equivalent model box units? They might work logistically and the SVS money back deal would allow me to test your hypothesis ;-) ! I'm afraid the box models just wouldn't fit. As wonderful as the SPLR experience has been, I must admit you've picqued my curiosity.
Marty
BTW - One reason I bought the pair of SPLRs was that - if they proved unsatisfactory in my 2 channel set-up (and I really suspected that that would be the case) , one would end up behind my digital piano and the other in a pretty low rent (the sub being more a "no rent" model) 5 channel set-up in my family room - as supplied by the builder. Obviously, subs are here to stay in my music room, but I have some flexibility as to precisely which subs.
The piano and family room situations still exist. If the SVS proves audibly superior to the SPLRs, I can keep 'em and relocate the Velodynes. If not, the SPLRs stay and the SVS can go back. |
Bob,
I believe that a pair of 12+ subs could be accomodated in my room. They're certainly smaller than the NSD cylinders! I was only focused on the NSDs because you linked to some attention getting performance tests. Have you seen similar data for the 12+? There are enough variations between models that it's difficult to intuit how your sealed 12" performs vs any of the subs tested at avtalk.
Marty
PS - I hope it goes without saying that your assistance here has been enormously appreciated. |
Bob,
Thanks again. If I do this, I might as well dive in for the cylinders to get as big a perfomance delta as possible. I'm really, really curious as to whether I'll hear a difference at the spls in my room vs the essentially anechoic test conditions. If I'm gonna test the theory, I want the best test I can find!
Marty |
...within the limitations of my room! |
