Dual vs single sub

Yeah I bet it would. Which is why I did it. Details posted just now in my Tech article.

noble100

Hello millercarbon,

    Congratulations on getting your custom 4-sub distributed bass array system built and operational! Are you planning on posting some kind of more extensive review of your dba results? How about a new thread devoted to how to build and deploy a custom dba?
    Using an Audio Kinesis Debra 4-sub dba myself for the past 4 yrs, I already knew your results would be spectacular but I think others really benefit by knowing how incredibly well this concept actually performs in virtually any room and with any pair of main speakers.
    If you're anything like me, you're going to find it hard to resist posting about the dba concept as the ideal bass system on the many threads consistently started by members looking for better bass response in their rooms and systems.
    However, I completely understand if you'd rather just enjoy your newly improved system for a few weeks, months, years or decades. The truth is that neither of us will ever need to buy another sub or bass system again.
    I'm just still amazed the dba concept isn't more widely known and used, especially on a high-end audio site like Audiogon. The fact that it's so difficult to overstate how well these dba systems actually perform, whether a complete $2,800 complete dba bass kit like my AK Debra or a custom dba system such as yours, I hope you agree we have an obligation to spread the word to our A'gon brethren and beyond.

Enjoy,
Tim

Thanks and yes, definitely will be writing it up, might even be posted today. Not sure but thinking best fit will be technical. Definitely agree this is a game-changer everyone needs to know about. No one should suffer the anguish of trying to perform the impossible, not to mention the sound of what people pass off as good simply because they don't know and never had a chance to hear. All it takes is a few minutes with a distributed bass array to know it leaves the conventional approach in the dust. I mean its so much better you truly cannot believe it until you try it, and then its just about the most obviously better thing you are likely ever to hear.

The Ford Motor Company did a study some years ago, to determine what exactly was needed for really good bass. What they found is that below something like 80 Hz the bass on virtually all recordings is mono.

I just got my Swarm-based distributed bass array up and running last night and so I can now say from factual actual experience there is nothing else like it. If you want really good bass you will use FOUR subs distributed around the room. Period.
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/audiokinesis-swarm-subwoofer-system/

   As far as my understanding of psychoacoustical bass principles and DBAs are concerned, I think of Duke as Mr. Miogi and he's showing me how to wax his car.

Mr Miyagi? Really? And after he said these are not the subs you are looking for?

bdp24
Hey, when I told Duke what drivers I was going to use he said mine will kill his. How rare is THAT?!?!?!

millercarbon,

     Yes, you'll be amazed just how well it works. Have you given any thought about positioning your 4 subs in your room? If not, I can detail the process I used that worked out very well.

Let me know,
    Tim  

The one sub I have now was a nightmare to place. Because: one! With one you can move it around forever and never find the right place. I know. I tried. With four though....

From what I read they seem to work best distributed asymmetrically around the room. I'm thinking one front wall near the left corner, one right wall near the front corner but further from the front than the left one is from the side. Asymmetrical. Then one along the left wall further back than the sweet spot but not far enough back to be the same distance from the back corner as the front right is from the front corner. More asymmetry. Finally the right back one same deal, maybe a little further back than the one on the left. More asymmetry, more modes, more better.

As cool as it would be to play 3D asymmetry I think putting one up on a stand near the ceiling is aesthetically speaking a bridge too far.

I don't mind wire on the floor which is good because drilling holes is for me a tunnel too far. 

Yes four subs is the way to go. Which is why I am going that way. Frustratingly close to being done and able to offer first hand opinion! But I know it works. Or I wouldn't be doing it.

You will have much better results adding than subtracting. The problem is none of the conventional approaches addresses the fundamental problem of resonance nodes at low bass frequencies. Two subs are better than one, but three is even better and four is better still. Beyond four continues to improve but the benefit in terms of smooth response falls off rapidly so that four is the sweet spot so to speak.

You're right about it being covered elsewhere. Unfortunately few seem to have bothered to read, or if they've read then to understand. The place to start if you're interested this review explains the what and the why better than most http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/audiokinesis-swarm-subwoofer-system/
Then if you want more technical http://www.gedlee.com/Papers/multiple%20subs.pdf
Then of course there are useful threads right here, although with the usual caveat of having to sift through mounds of dirt to mine the occasional gold nugget https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/will-a-subwoofer-add-depth-and-clarity-to-my-system-or-just-b...

Or you could go straight to the gold itself
https://forum.audiogon.com/users/audiokinesis/posts