Geddes multiple subwoofer method - 3 subs vice 4
Geddes recommends 3 subs for optimal sound - a different perspective
Interesting video depicting Geddes philosophy on using subs. Also, he treats the main speakers as part of the bass solution and does not recommend using high pass filters as this takes away from the total bass capabilities of the entire speaker sub interface system. I am going to experiment this weekend. Also, a higher crossover frequency for the first sub collocated closer to the main speakers is new to me. Recommended above 100 hertz for the first sub and then incrementally lower for the 2nd and 3rd sub in an asymmetric pattern.
I feel like the Geddes approach for sub integration closely resembles what I have been doing for years without even knowing this method. So, my 18” deep bass and 15” mid bass drivers on the field coil speakers become part of the solution instead of being taken out of the equation. That’s what I have been doing and that’s what I thought sounded best to me. Multiple ways to do sub integration but this method is the one that pretty mirrors how I have been doing it for years.
"I will always disagree with using the main subs without a high pass filter as being universally better, especially with smaller mains." That may be true for small speakers. I guess my giant mains with aforementioned 18" and 15" bass drivers don’t fall in your small speaker category, so I am safe from ridicule for using the Geddes method. Diversity of thought is such a valuable thing to embrace. Not many people get it.
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Dear @audioquest4life : @erik_squires is rigth even with bigger speakers than monitors smaller ones and I disagree with Geddes.
In the other side you are doing nothing new and nothing as what Geddes says because you are talking of what speaker manufacturers do: midrange, mid bass and bass no matters wich kind of drivers they use in their speaker designs ( field coil or not ). It depends what the manufacturer is looking for and at which market price he wants to offer.
R. R. |
I agree with Geddes and this he is one of the few out there with the right idea. ATC has always agreed with "don't insert another filter in a very audible place" idea when adding a sub. Our efforts on the pro side with multiple subs have worked every time in solving room bass issues, especially avoiding bass build up on the back wall (behind your listening position) and nulls in the space that you cannot resolve due to console placement (which would parallel a sofa position in a home listening room). So we follow the plan that multiple, smaller, lower SPL level subs located on different walls (if at all possible) seems to give us the most even bass in the listening space. What appears to be more important than high pass filtering the mains (which inserts a very audible dip in response at 80-125 and gets worse with distance of mains to sub) is adding delay to the mains. This part ATC does not agree on inserting a DSP across the entire audio band to accomplish this mains delay, as you can "hear" many of these DSP platforms. This is why they stick with an analog input to not force you to listen to a permanent unchangeable DAC. The DSP effect is certainly as audible as cable differences, or differences between DACS, CD players or other digital sources. The reality is that in many cases the negative sonic effect of the DSP platform may be less than the negatives of not using delay at all or filtering the mains and creating phase issue. Brad |
“The reality is that in many cases the negative sonic effect of the DSP platform may be less than the negatives of not using delay at all or filtering the mains and creating phase issue.” I agree with this statement. Any negative of high-passing or time alignment is greatly out weighed by the positives. |
