Ravindra Desai
Well-Known Member
Hello,
Most people on this forum buy components from the market and put it together to make a system.
Below is a guideline to follow when you are in the market looking for a subwoofer. It applies for all the categories: Stereo, Surround, PA, Branded, Unbranded etc.
For good bass reproduction, it is very important that the cabinet volume is correctly calculated.
The enclosure type can be sealed, ported, Transmission Line, Open Baffle, Bandpass etc.
If, for any enclosure type, the enclosure volume is less than the calculated volume, then the speaker response will peak at a certain frequency making the subwoofer loud in a very narrow band of frequencies.
In the spur of the moment, we tend to like a compact enclosure, loud bass and fall prey to it.
When we get home and listen to a variety of music, we find that the bass is missing, booming and what not.
More often that not, the tonal quality of bass is monotonous and causes fatigue, quickly.
One area where you find such one frequency wonders is cars.
Smooth bass...but it tends to sound the same.
If its there in the recording, you should hear it. But if its not in the recording and still you get enhanced bass, chances are that your subwoofer is a one frequency wonder.
In case you suspect something is not right, resort to listening on headphones for comparing.
Keep this in mind. Listen to different types of music and take your time before selecting one.
Remember, compact and cheap is often a no no.
Do this irrespective of how reputed the brand is.
I hope that this will help you make a good purchase.
Regards,
Ravindra.
Most people on this forum buy components from the market and put it together to make a system.
Below is a guideline to follow when you are in the market looking for a subwoofer. It applies for all the categories: Stereo, Surround, PA, Branded, Unbranded etc.
For good bass reproduction, it is very important that the cabinet volume is correctly calculated.
The enclosure type can be sealed, ported, Transmission Line, Open Baffle, Bandpass etc.
If, for any enclosure type, the enclosure volume is less than the calculated volume, then the speaker response will peak at a certain frequency making the subwoofer loud in a very narrow band of frequencies.
In the spur of the moment, we tend to like a compact enclosure, loud bass and fall prey to it.
When we get home and listen to a variety of music, we find that the bass is missing, booming and what not.
More often that not, the tonal quality of bass is monotonous and causes fatigue, quickly.
One area where you find such one frequency wonders is cars.
Smooth bass...but it tends to sound the same.
If its there in the recording, you should hear it. But if its not in the recording and still you get enhanced bass, chances are that your subwoofer is a one frequency wonder.
In case you suspect something is not right, resort to listening on headphones for comparing.
Keep this in mind. Listen to different types of music and take your time before selecting one.
Remember, compact and cheap is often a no no.
Do this irrespective of how reputed the brand is.
I hope that this will help you make a good purchase.
Regards,
Ravindra.
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