It sounds like having subwoofer(s) is the only solution. In other words, having bigger speaker doesn’t really help much in giving more or better bass, because we are constraint by the volume.
Speaker size and bass
I have a finding and would like to hear what you think.
I always have been using floor speakers in my room thinking the bigger the speaker, the more bass it can produce. I think this is true based on the physics. However, I found out a “problem”, that is the listening volume.
My listening area is 18’ wide x 12’ depth. It is the listening room, so, I can’t play the music too loud otherwise my wife complaints. Also, I listen to Jazz and Bossa, doesn’t need to be loud. It seems that at low volume, it can’t bring out the bass of the drivers. But if I turn it up, it will be too loud for me. I think that make sense, the bigger the driver, the louder it gets.
So, when considering the appropriate size of the speakers, besides the room size, is the listening level also a consideration? That means, for a smaller speaker, is that I can turn the volume knob more, and that will output more power to move the driver more to produce the bass, and yet it will not be too loud?
I always have been using floor speakers in my room thinking the bigger the speaker, the more bass it can produce. I think this is true based on the physics. However, I found out a “problem”, that is the listening volume.
My listening area is 18’ wide x 12’ depth. It is the listening room, so, I can’t play the music too loud otherwise my wife complaints. Also, I listen to Jazz and Bossa, doesn’t need to be loud. It seems that at low volume, it can’t bring out the bass of the drivers. But if I turn it up, it will be too loud for me. I think that make sense, the bigger the driver, the louder it gets.
So, when considering the appropriate size of the speakers, besides the room size, is the listening level also a consideration? That means, for a smaller speaker, is that I can turn the volume knob more, and that will output more power to move the driver more to produce the bass, and yet it will not be too loud?
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- 12 posts total
The other thing that you can do is biamp your speakers with an amp that had its own volume control. I did this many years ago when I had a smaller room. At the lower volumes, there was no bass, so I just adjusted the bass amps volume to play a little louder. I eventually went to 2 subwoofers that had a separate external controller that provided eq settings as well as volume |
I've always suscribed to the notion that if you want a big sound you need a big speaker. If you compare this to say, an orchestra, then the more instruments the larger audicence they can play to, This is the same for say a marching band. A properly adjusted sub can reinforce the bass at lower volumes but will require constant setting changes for almost each track to maintain the proper balance. As for the wife, perhaps you might find what she likes listen to and play it loud until she complains....you should already have a SPL meter and at the level she complains is the same level you should be able to play your music. There are zero quatentees this will be met with a rational resoponse - afterall she is 'THE WIFE' There might also be certian days of the month that her response will not be consistent - afterall she is 'THE WIFE' The other solution is either BOSE noise cancelling headphones for her of perhaps a High Quality set of headphones for you...I have a pair of 'old school' Koss Pro 4A's but haven't had to use them for many years as I replaced the wife with a loving dog who loves to listen and sometimes howles along to 'the floyd' :) |
You could try tone control. I've heard great things about the Schiit Loki. It's fairly inexpensive and would cost you maybe $25 bucks to try it if you didn't like it. https://www.schiit.com/products/loki |
- 12 posts total