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The perfect satellite/subwoofer system ...

...is essentially a 4-way system and preferably fully active.

Bear with me.

The original satellite/subwoofer systems were often 2-way satellites with a subwoofer, or a 3-way system. This caused a number of problems which I think have overall contributed negatively to their acceptance in the modern day audio world. Either the satellites were too small, and had a high crossover to the subwoofer or they used larger mid-woofers and then the the tweeter crossover was too low, again limiting the dynamic range of the system as a whole. 

A perfect satellite/subwoofer system has to have lots of dynamic range in the satellite and the subwoofer along with excellent vertical and horizontal dispersion. The 2-way + sub is a compromise.

Also, by going active we can achieve something we almost never see in passive speakers:

Perfect 4th order filters.

That gives us excellent vertical and horizontal dispersion (assuming the right size drivers).

The solution is, perhaps, using a 3-way satellite system with 4th order (electro + acoustical) filters, and an expected -3 dB point of ~ 80 Hz (the THX standard). As part of this equation it also means the 3-way ends in an 8 or 10" woofer, which being bandwidth limited is going to have excess dynamic range.

Yes, I’m bored, and yes I’m hoping to take some wind out of the discussion about science vs. A’gon. :D

erik_squires

Showing 3 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires OP
16,592 posts
 

That's cool, let us know how it performs!!

erik_squires OP
16,592 posts
 

Well, my experience is that even 1 subwoofer, if PERFECTLY dialed in is not directional. However that caveat, PERFECTLY, is hard to achieve.

I would however worry about raising a subwoofer causing any wall or stand rattling, which is a major reason why listeners report they can hear the location of the subwoofer.

Let us know.

erik_squires OP
16,592 posts
 

Hey Kota1,

 

I just tried Anthem Room correction and you know, I was not very impressed. It’s a major reason why I’m making a new active center, so I can disable the receiver's ARC and use my own EQ settings.

It’s not immersive or transparent enough compared to what I could achieve when I had 100% control.

My point was,in any event, about what we know we can’t fix with ARC:

  • Dynamic range
  • Dispersion
  • Distortion

These are all heavily influenced by the physics of driver sizes. The thing we really can use ARC for, subwoofer integration, was not on my list.

Also, having now lived with the results of Anthem Room Correction and tried it, I disagree with the philosophy of ARC which insists on controlling the measurement points. As someone involved in actual theater installations and calibrations, I think that the methodology of multiple measurement points is best saved for larger rooms, and find myself agreeing with a quote from a review of the Bryston HT processor that the goals are ill suited for home listening.

I’m not anti-DSP at all, I’m thinking the way Anthem conceived it’s ARC is not working for me in my room, and now that I understand it better I can see why.

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