@atmasphere : I fully agree with you that multiple subs are the way to go. They smooth out room response that can not be achieved with EQ. What I disagree with is your comment that 'most rooms have standing waves' and 'bass traps work poorly'
All rooms have standing waves regardless of size and shape.
Now lets suppose we have a swarm of subs that has been optimally installed in a room and we are now left with a nice smooth response, verified by both ear and measurement. The swarm alone will improve the sound in the room in an unmistakable and impressive way that most people can not conceptualise.
But what about the time this nice smooth response takes to decay? If outdoors its a different story, however we are in a room of finite dimensions and if there is nothing in the room to absorb some of this bass there is an effect on the whole spectrum. If the T60 ( the time the sound takes to decay by 60dB) is longer than about 400ms, depending on size of room, then we will hear smearing or congestion obscuring detail.
A 'swarm'/ DBA and real bass traps will astonish all but the truly enlightened. I say real bass traps because dinky little pieces of foam do nothing. So to address your comment about bass traps working poorly, well anything poorly designed, implemented or used will be poor. They are however indispensable for optimised sound.
The fact is: the best place to position bass drivers in a room is not conducive to creating a believable soundstage or clear images and the best position for imaging etc. is unlikely to be good for bass. So IMHO it is folly to buy hugely expensive monster speakers that can never do it all.
Many manufacturers have a speaker range with a model or two below their megabuck flagship that uses the same mid and tweet in a smaller cabinet with smaller bass driver/s. If possible high-pass this model at about 60 to 80Hz for even cleaner performance. Then swarm the room, trap the room, stir well and enjoy
All rooms have standing waves regardless of size and shape.
Now lets suppose we have a swarm of subs that has been optimally installed in a room and we are now left with a nice smooth response, verified by both ear and measurement. The swarm alone will improve the sound in the room in an unmistakable and impressive way that most people can not conceptualise.
But what about the time this nice smooth response takes to decay? If outdoors its a different story, however we are in a room of finite dimensions and if there is nothing in the room to absorb some of this bass there is an effect on the whole spectrum. If the T60 ( the time the sound takes to decay by 60dB) is longer than about 400ms, depending on size of room, then we will hear smearing or congestion obscuring detail.
A 'swarm'/ DBA and real bass traps will astonish all but the truly enlightened. I say real bass traps because dinky little pieces of foam do nothing. So to address your comment about bass traps working poorly, well anything poorly designed, implemented or used will be poor. They are however indispensable for optimised sound.
The fact is: the best place to position bass drivers in a room is not conducive to creating a believable soundstage or clear images and the best position for imaging etc. is unlikely to be good for bass. So IMHO it is folly to buy hugely expensive monster speakers that can never do it all.
Many manufacturers have a speaker range with a model or two below their megabuck flagship that uses the same mid and tweet in a smaller cabinet with smaller bass driver/s. If possible high-pass this model at about 60 to 80Hz for even cleaner performance. Then swarm the room, trap the room, stir well and enjoy