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Bass Reproduction in Audio System

Posted by Frantzm (D) on May 24, 2003 at 11:59:45

Hi (Beware Long POST)

My first post in this most interesting forum. Let me introduce myself by stating that I have been an audiophile most of my life. I am both an audiophile and a music lover. I love music and enjoy it onany medium or reproducing system. I do care about its proper reproduction however and whenever possible will go toward the bestter sounding reproduction. I have some strong opinions on Hi-Fi. To me an Hi-Fi speaker must be full-range, I also do consider price as an issue and a 5 K speaker must reach 50 Hz with aplomb. 10 K You better rattle the floor.. Over $20,000, 20 Hz to 20 KHz flat. I must tell you that the best bang for the bucks IMHO comes from Magnepan and they are the yardstick to me. A $20K speaker must really surpass the 20.1 to strike my fancy. I am still lamenting the demise of Dunleavy speakers and I like what Dynaudio has done in the Evidence series. I do not have much prejudices in term of speakers, I prefer Planars but will take any speakers which reproduce the real thing with verisimilitude. My current very-much-liked speakers include, the Maggie 20.1, The Soundlab M-1, The Dynaudio Evidence Temptation and the Wilson X-1. In term of Electronics , I have been simply impressed by the quality and the sound (of complete absence of) the Burmester Electronics, their whole line is incredible. Their digital gears do not have any peer so far... Cables, I am using Nordost and they simply are the least obstrusive cables around. All this IMHO.

I do not mind cost-no-object attempts but am more impressed with real world products with extraordinary performance. I have a thing for Magnepan but that will not stop me from acquiring what my money can afford me if there is no other alternatives.

I do subscribe to other Forums whose sensibilities are NOT audiophiles. The "whatever you like and the “there is no significant differences” are the norm, Zip Cords are the best speaker wires…etc... Nothing new there ... Differences that to me are so obvious seem not to be discernible by many, this often borders on bad faith but hey… To each his own!

HT has brought to the Forefront Bass reproduction. Tom Miiller of TAS decribed in a review the two exigencies of HT as Low and Loud. These days Low and Loud they do get. There exist these days a plethora of subwoofers some quite capable. I live outside the USA now and does not have the luxury to audition as many subs as I would like to.
I conducted the experience of mating the Sunfire True Sub Signature with a Magnepan 3.6. The results were extremely good. The time was too short to really optimize the system and the subs are back to their owner, an HT enthusiast. I have recently come across some people who pointed me toward a brand of subwoofers: SVS. On-paper they surpass the SunFire in all areas, including lower distortion while costing much less, the same can be said about HSU. I have heard none of these subwoofers. I must quickly add. Then there are the IB (Infinite Baffle) subwoofer. On-paper and spec-wise, it is very difficult to surpass the output and the specifications of IBs, the design philosophy is quite sound. The multiplicity of drivers allowed by the approach keeps distortion very low, all the drivers can work in their optimal linear range. The output of IB are unreal as well: 120 dB (!!!) at 16 Hz are quite obtainable and the cost of the whole contraption is a small fraction of what one pay for a good subwoofer . I agree one does not listen to specs but Flat from 14 Hz to 50 Hz with THD under 3% at 110 dB are quite interesting numbers. Transient response have been said to be good.. People are using Pro-Sound which is probably heresy in Audiophile circles (and are to me anyway) but opening my mind, I cannot help but to think that Pro Sound Amplifiers are probably a set-up from the “plate” amplifiers used in most powered subwoofers including many with audiophile pretenses… What are your opinions?

I am interested to know how many audiophiles have successfully mated subs with their main speakers? I would also like to know your opinions on IB subwoofers. In all my years as an audiophile, I have never heard one, rarely or neither have I seen the mention of IB in an Audiophile magazine with one exception: In the early years of The Absolute Sound PHD (Patrick Henry Donleycott) used two Hartley 18” or more in the floor of his listening room, I can safely assumed they were mounted in an IB configuration.

There is also the issue of the Behringer DSP 1124. I have used with excellent results in an HT and the result were excellent in term of gut wrenching bass, clarity and pitch definition. Who has used this unit on their subwoofer system?. What were the results? I am thinking about going toward an IB for my new listening room with a Maggie 20.1 as the main speakers, I will cross very low around 35 Hz. HT will be completely different/room/system. I do not care much for AC-3 and will not go crazy on this…The sub will certainly be an IB there.

I welcome your opinions, experiences and advices.

Thyank you

Frantz
Port-au-Prince, Haiti

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