Home Speaker Asylum

General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

the issue isn't the watts

The issue is reduced distortion from your main speakers by not asking them to reproduce the lowest frequencies. This will create two positive effects: (1) preserve spectral balance as you play louder, because smaller speakers reproduce an increasing percentage of harmonics (typically 2nd harmonic) was you ask them to reproduce bass frequencies louder and louder. For example, 50 Hz is a bass frequency well within the range of a bass guitar or a string bass. The instrument does not produce a pure 50 Hz tone, but a 50 Hz tone and a series of harmonics (100 hz, etc) at lesser volumes than the fundamental. The mix of fundamentals and harmonics is what gives the instrument its characteristic sound. For example, the typically greater presence of the fundamental tone makes a string bass sound different from a bass guitar reproducing the same note. If you drive the speaker into distortion, it will change the ratio of fundamental tones to harmonics from what is in the recording, making the instrument being reproduced sound different. You won't hear this as "distortion" but the timbre of the instrument will have been changed. The second positive effect is that by removing the bass drive from the main speaker, it will have a somewhat higher loudness capability (but only about 3 db).


This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  Sonic Craft  


Follow Ups Full Thread
Follow Ups

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?
Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
  Remember my Moniker & Password  (What's this?)    Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:
Message:   (Posts are subject to Content Rules)
Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:  Automagically notify you when someone responds.