Can a sub goes to low?

[daniel]

I know there's different schools regarding subwoofer.
Some say "go as low as you can".

Other argues that if it reproduce a to low frequency, it will overload the room and muddy the sound.

But that last few hz are very tempting!

What is your personal experience.

[drdoan]

LOW, LOUD, CLEAN, the only way to go. Dennis

[tonyvdb]

Your going to find it tough to find a sub that will go below 15Hz at any decent db's but theoretically the lower the better there are lots of things in the real world that can produce frequencies even lower, Thunder for example or a sonic boom from a jet can defiantly hit frequencies in the single digits.
The so called muddy frequencies are usually in the higher octaves between 200 and 40Hz. this can be corrected by proper acoustics and bass trapping.

[bobgpsr]

Tough to buy a single hi output @ 15 Hz sub. Not so hard to build -- ala Steve Callas LLT.

Multiple sealed 18" subs with eq will also do it. Or those nice multiple 18" driver Infinite Baffle DIY installations.

If you have the space.

[imbeaujp]

The question : Is that frequency range (5 to 15 hz) present in the source you are listening to ?

Some movies use verry low frequency but I think that is not the case with many CD.

Am I right, please correct me.

[tonyvdb]

Not in most CD's but I know of a few one in particular by Telarc that was recorded at least 15 years ago that has a warning on the front saying to turn down your system and test first as there were digital cannons that had frequencies in the subsonic range that would cause damage to speakers if played to loud.
Telarc is well known for there dynamic digital recordings that will tax any system.
ALot of newer recordings done in a studio will have tracks that have a wide dynamic range including stuff in the 15hz and above range. GRP records also does some really good recordings on CD.

[bobgpsr]

imbeaujp wrote:

Some movies use very low frequency but I think that is not the case with many CD.

I have a DVD-A of Saint-Saëns, the Symphony No. 3 "Organ", that pushes some über low floor vibrating notes. For the deep notes, wait for after the overall 27 minute mark, during Part II (~8 minutes into it).

Of course pipe organ music can be an entirely different scenario for music lovers and the need for subwoofers that can reach down really deep.

[ISLAND1000]

"Can a sub goes to low" ? No, let the sub play as low as it can without the cone falling off.

[mazersteven]

daniel wrote:

I know there's different schools regarding subwoofer.
Some say "go as low as you can".

Other argues that if it reproduce a to low frequency, it will overload the room and muddy the sound.

But that last few hz are very tempting!

What is your personal experience.

I want a sub that it Tight, Accurate, and goes Sub-Sonic without distortion or sounding boomy. I also want it to have enough headroom for it's environment.

[SQBubble]

the lower you go, the more air you have to move, multiple driver or a/some high excursion subs are needed to have the best result.


Also, just want to add, theres a big percussion construction machinery that produce some very, very incredible low-frequency sound at loud volume. Was literally shaking the road and had to speak louder than usual to have a conversation. I was really surprised!

[imbeaujp]

Everybody knows that 2 way or 3 way speakers are a good concept because each drivers performs on a specific range. In the sub woofer domain, is this concept apply ? Would it be more efficient to have a specific sub to address the 5 to 30 hz range and another for the 30-100 ?

JP

[bobgpsr]

imbeaujp wrote:

Everybody knows that 2 way or 3 way speakers are a good concept because each drivers performs on a specific range. In the sub woofer domain, is this concept apply ? Would it be more efficient to have a specific sub to address the 5 to 30 hz range and another for the 30-100 ?

Just likely would quite expensive and it is rarely done. The 30 Hz crossover should be done, IMHO, at line level with power amplifiers afterwards. You would have to do that crossover yourself since AVR/Pre-Pro's do not -- although some can be adjusted to do the sub crossover as low as 40 Hz.

Better (more practical) to use (set to LARGE) big 3-way L/R full range mains that have 12" woofers that are rated to -3 dB @ 30 Hz (full power) and use the extra low range sub crossed at 40 Hz.

The problem with that is that the LFE channel is supposed to supply sound from the lowest freqs (5 Hz?) to a normal high end freq of 120 Hz.

[conchyjoe7]

I have heard that "Telarc" disc and the warning is valid. It has been a very long time, but if I remember correctly, it has the "1812 Overture" on it and the cannon blasts are what the warning is about.

Cheers,
Konky.