Hello Matthew,
I think you actually just made a pretty strong case why we should set crossover to 60 Hz instead of 80Hz:
The lower limit likely falls somewhere between 50hz and 90hz. In any case, it suggests that bass managing below the lower limit won’t negatively impact the spatial effect. The problem is that the area in which multiple subwoofers tends to make the biggest difference is in the upper range of the subwoofers, between 50hz and 100hz. Some might argue that bass managing below 50-60hz is a good safe solution. Dr. Floyd Toole has argued that 80hz is fine as it falls into the range that some of the more recent research suggests is the lower limit of this effect. One concern I have with Toole’s suggestion is that there is still a significant overlap between the monophonic subwoofer and stereo mains. I worry this overlap could lead to significant disruption of the effect.
However, I do not understand how you go from the above paragraph to recommend
against setting a 60Hz crossover for people
without multi-sub?
"It is my opinion that smoothness and consistency in the amplitude response are more important than the spaciousness afforded by stereo bass. Given the choice here, I believe that it is better to stick to a mono bass system characterized by multiple mono bass sources spread throughout the room and crossed over at around 80hz. After experimenting with this concept and sharing it with other Audioholics, my end conclusion is that Floyd Toole is probably right. I say this with the utmost respect for David Griesinger and with the firm belief that he is generally correct in many of his assertions."
Especially for someone that does
not have multiple subwoofers, what argument against setting crossover at 60hz, provided their mains can actually reach the upper 50s?
For context, my mains are two Bowers & Wilkins 607s (maybe will get some Dali Zensor 3s), I don't know if you'd consider them like the 'prime' bookshelfs in this video:
but I'm listening in a quite near field set-up (equilateral triangle with not much toe-in btw), so I don't need them to play loud at all.
I didn't see many real reviews (with measurements) for them, but the specs say:
range: 52Hz - 28kHz ±3dB
sensitivity: 84dB spl (2.83Vrms, 1m)
Why not set crossover at 60Hz for these kinds of setups and at least get some of that directionality/bass spaciousness that does exist in that content?
EDIT: Probably I will still set my crossover at 80hz, but for those with bigger mains and a mono sub, why not recommend the 60hz crossover so they at least have a chance to experience the stereo bass if the content they consume contains it.
With regard to content, you said:
"the shorter answer is that stereo bass exists, it’s not a unicorn, there is actually quite a bit of content" - I guess especially in
video games you will find content such as that, since it's mixed "on the fly" and it's mostly up to the user's chosen crossover frequency in the AVR that determines where the content is sent (sub or mains/surrounds)?
