Distributed Bass
- Thread starter newguy1
- Start date
Putterman
Super Member
I find it fascinating that in the 6 months or so that this thread has been going that nobody has mentioned research done by TODD WELTI AND ALLAN DEVANTIER of Harman Audio, although Geddes does reference it. They did it by computer program using multiple combinations of different numbers of subs and different room placements of these subs. They then check tested their results in a 'typical' room. To summarize, they found that 4 subs placed either in the corners or middle of the wall gave the best results, but that 2 subs placed one in the middle of front wall and the other mid back wall gave almost as good results and better low frequency extension. While this is probably not the last word in sub placement, it is certainly worth reading. I've listed the references below. The first is a Harman Audio document, second is their paper for the AES, and finally what appears to be someone's interpretation of these papers.
http://www.harman.com/EN-US/OurCompany/Technologyleadership/Documents/White Papers/multsubs.pdf
http://www.aes.org/tmpFiles/elib/20111018/13680.pdf
http://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/get-good-bass/subwoofer-connection-guide
http://www.harman.com/EN-US/OurCompany/Technologyleadership/Documents/White Papers/multsubs.pdf
http://www.aes.org/tmpFiles/elib/20111018/13680.pdf
http://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/get-good-bass/subwoofer-connection-guide
Last edited by a moderator:
ive read it and i dont thikn ill benefit from this setup. i dont care about walking around the room listening to the music. i sit at my pc and listen to the music. most stuff i see for distributed bass is for multiple seatings where you have many people listening to the same piece. for me sitting here listening to music for couple hours while checking email or browsing forums, this isnt worth it for me and people telling me my setup isnt good cause i dont adhere to what they think just makes me mad. it all looks good on paper. again it is a good read for anyone wanting info on it.
as taken from the aes.org link
The desired result in each case is to allow the system to
be equalized over a seating area rather than just one seat. Results are shown for several
listening rooms.
as taken from the aes.org link
The desired result in each case is to allow the system to
be equalized over a seating area rather than just one seat. Results are shown for several
listening rooms.
Last edited:
dnewma04
The Healer
I'd love to have the listening space for "distributed" bass so I'll have to be very happy with my favs with "dedicated" bass.
Distributed bass need not take up much space, but it will be an issue for some because of space and some because of aesthetics.
240sx4u
Lunatic Member
Bump, just got my 3rd subwoofer installed. Time to get everything dialed in. It's wild how much of a difference the woofer nearest me makes. I can't hear it when I am close to it, but changing the level and phase definitely effects what I am hearing from the system as a whole.
It does take a while to dial them in, and mine probably still aren't as good as they could be because I've had to do it by ear, but I swear, I'd use no subs over just one because it's so hard to get one right, in fact in most cases I don't think its possible, but 2, and especially three make a world of difference. I use two in my near field computer setup, and three in my main system.
gusgranite
let the words flow
I have to admin I hadn't heard of distributed bass. Thanks for the info in this thread.
tomlinmgt
Lunatic Member
I had my audio-geek buddy over Friday night and it was his first time to hear my DB setup. Music started playing and he says "bass sounds awesome, but I never thought those Watkins woofers (in my QLS-1's) ever needed any help...listen to 'em, they sound great. Now turn on the subs." To which I said "they're already on". And he said, "You mean the subs behind us are on? No way, all the bass is coming from the front of the room, like it's supposed to. How's that possible with two subs right behind us?" I just smiled.
Last edited:
tomlinmgt
Lunatic Member
Nice, Evan! Where do your bookshelves roll off on the low end?
dnewma04
The Healer
I had my audio-geek buddy over Friday night and it was his first time to hear my DB setup. Music started playing and he says "bass sounds awesome, but I never thought those Watkins woofers (in my QLS-1's) ever needed any help...listen to 'em, they sound great. Now turn on the subs." To which I said "they're already on". And he said, "You mean the subs behind us are on? No way, all the bass is coming from the front of the room, like it's supposed to. How's that possible with two subs right behind us?" I just smiled.
I love situations like that.
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
I use two H-frames along with a sealed sub which is another approach to achieving DB. For OB woofers to work well they need to be large and driven with powerful amps to get adequate SPLs.
I had my audio-geek buddy over Friday night and it was his first time to hear my DB setup. Music started playing and he says "bass sounds awesome, but I never thought those Watkins woofers (in my QLS-1's) ever needed any help...listen to 'em, they sound great. Now turn on the subs." To which I said "they're already on". And he said, "You mean the subs behind us are on? No way, all the bass is coming from the front of the room, like it's supposed to. How's that possible with two subs right behind us?" I just smiled.
I don't always have the distributed bass setup in play,especially if I'm using my amplifiers for biamplifcation.
However when I do set up the DB, I daisy chain a pair of 12" Sequerra subwoofers and a subwoofer unit from an Ohm Model I, all passively powered by a stereo amp with gain controls.
One sub at the fore, one on the opposite side in the middle of the room and on its back, The Ohm sub is located(where it's usually "stored") up on a table toward the back of the room and facing the back wall.
I notice an overall increase in well balanced bass presence and an improved sense of non-directionality of the low notes, more out of the box sound:yes:.
marantzfan
...
I'm not sure how I somehow managed to miss this thread all this time, but I've been hearing more and more about distributed bass and I'm now curious to give it a try. This will be interesting as I have never even tried one sub in my system and now I'm looking at adding three! 
Any recommendations for a decent, non expensive sub (DIY preferred) that would work well with my Altecs?
Any recommendations for a decent, non expensive sub (DIY preferred) that would work well with my Altecs?
tomlinmgt
Lunatic Member
^^^
Like I mentioned in the other thread, I use the 12" Dayton Titanic III in this box....
http://www.parts-express.com/goldwood-e-12sp-12-single-vented-box-speaker-cabinet--260-630
...which I crossed braced front to rear and side to side and also added a solid front baffle of 3/4" MDF to reinforce the existing one and cover the slot port so it became a sealed design. I power each sub with a Dayton 240 watt plate amp.
I got the Titanics used off of ebay for around $80 each and back when I did this the Goldwood box was just a little over $30. I think the plate amps were around $100/ea (on sale). It's provided an enormous ROI. :yes:
Like I mentioned in the other thread, I use the 12" Dayton Titanic III in this box....
http://www.parts-express.com/goldwood-e-12sp-12-single-vented-box-speaker-cabinet--260-630
...which I crossed braced front to rear and side to side and also added a solid front baffle of 3/4" MDF to reinforce the existing one and cover the slot port so it became a sealed design. I power each sub with a Dayton 240 watt plate amp.
I got the Titanics used off of ebay for around $80 each and back when I did this the Goldwood box was just a little over $30. I think the plate amps were around $100/ea (on sale). It's provided an enormous ROI. :yes:
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
I'm not sure how I somehow managed to miss this thread all this time, but I've been hearing more and more about distributed bass and I'm now curious to give it a try. This will be interesting as I have never even tried one sub in my system and now I'm looking at adding three!
Any recommendations for a decent, non expensive sub (DIY preferred) that would work well with my Altecs?
These blew me away on my last visit to the Hornshoppe.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=611029
