Subwoofer
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Recently, someone pointed out something that
was missing from my web pages about subwoofer design - methods and techniques used by
people to successfully integrate subwoofers into their audio systems. As this is as much a
subjective field as an objective one, I asked members of the DIY Loudspeakers List to
let me know about their methods they use to integrate subwoofers with their systems. The
following details some of the answers I received, and my own methods. Note: I don't necessarily agree with some of the methods detailed below, apart from my own! If you'd like to add your own experiences or methods to this page, please contact me via e-mail. First, my own method: John Whittaker (DIY
Loudspeakers List)
Jan Nielson (DIY Loudspeakers
List) John Janowitz (DIY
Loudspeakers List) Richard Greene I actually use an older model Richter Scale with an 18 dB/octave crossover fixed at 100 Hz. and five band (1/2 octave) bass equalizer for my subs. I use an AudioSource 10 band equalizer for my EPOS speakers to tame a midrange peak and cut the bass below 100 Hz. -- I don't use the Richter Scale output for them because one equalizer in the signal path is enough! I set both equalizers using pink noise and a sound analyzer. I can't imagine integrating a sub and small satellite speakers like mine without the Richter Scale unless the sub crossover was below the useful frequency response of the satellite speakers -- perhaps a 50 Hz. 24 dB per octave crossover. Before buying my Richter Scale in the early 1980's, I had difficulty integrating subs and satellite speakers even with the use of a 10 band equalizer. My only recommendation is to place more emphasis on locating subwoofers in room corners - most of the time other locations over-emphasize bass in the octave from 50 Hz to 100 Hz which is rarely needed. Corner placement provides more room gain below 50 Hz which usually is needed. Also, one sub playing mono provides smoother frequency response than two subs playing stereo. Somewhere between 75 Hz and 100 Hz bass becomes directional and mono is not better above 100 Hz, where I've found corner placement is not the best. I guess the answer is to use a 24 dB/oct crossover in the 50 Hz - 70 Hz region for the one sub placed in a corner and let the main speakers handle higher frequencies. I have heard subs placed right next to the listening position sound good too - they had crossovers at about 50 Hz. |