What's the Point?

[Audiosouse]

Since there are few truly full range speakers on the market, what's the point in buying a large tower if it will only be crossed over at 80 Hz to the sub anyway? I mean, why pay the extra just to lose the capability?

I'm referring specifically to a home theatre set up and not a purist two channel where a sub may not be desireable; and after buying my first two DTS DVD Audio discs I can't imagine why! Wow! THAT'S what I've been missing out on all this time?!

It would be logical then to buy bookshelf or tower mains that are good to an octave below the 80 Hz crossover and ensure you've got a kicka$$ sub to handle all the LFE, which it's specifically designed for. This way, you'll save a ton of dough and increase WAF exponentially. I could have gone a step up in quality and performance on my last HT purchase and come in close to what I actually bought (because I've always wanted towers). Now I feel dumb as a post.

Or is there something I'm missing?

 

[Sleestack]

Related thread:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11529

 

[j_garcia]

It can go either way. A properly setup system should be able to integrate a sub well enough that there's no reason to complain about the sub being present for music. I prefer a good bookshelf speaker myself because it is, or should be, focused on doing the best job of reproducing the range it was designed to handle. There's less driver interaction, a simpler x-over, and many can perform quite well on their own without a sub.

I think you already partially answered your question - if the speaker covers enough below the x-over to blend well with your sub, why have a larger speaker that can go much lower than that?

DTS CDs and DVD-A are not the same thing.

 

[Vancouver]

Since there are few truly full range speakers on the market, what's the point in buying a large tower if it will only be crossed over at 80 Hz to the sub anyway? I mean, why pay the extra just to lose the capability?

I'm referring specifically to a home theatre set up and not a purist two channel where a sub may not be desireable; and after buying my first two DTS DVD Audio discs I can't imagine why! Wow! THAT'S what I've been missing out on all this time?!

It would be logical then to buy bookshelf or tower mains that are good to an octave below the 80 Hz crossover and ensure you've got a kicka$$ sub to handle all the LFE, which it's specifically designed for. This way, you'll save a ton of dough and increase WAF exponentially. I could have gone a step up in quality and performance on my last HT purchase and come in close to what I actually bought (because I've always wanted towers). Now I feel dumb as a post.

Or is there something I'm missing?

I really hope this is true becuase I just spent $6,000 on ordering B&W FPM speakers which sound amazing but dont provide the bass like most other speakers. I have yet to choose a sub but im working on it.

 

[mulester7]

I really hope this is true becuase I just spent $6,000 on ordering B&W FPM speakers which sound amazing but dont provide the bass like most other speakers. I have yet to choose a sub but im working on it.

.....Vancouver, were I youse, I would look for a sub that is noted for smooth high-range for a sub rather than a rep for bone-crunching lows....that's if you're pretty sure there could be a gap between the main speaker's lows handing off to the sub....then again, I'm not sure a slight gap isn't good for cleanness.....I believe that's the most critical handoff to not get mud from overlap, mainly.....

.....guys, advise me on one of these one-foot square subs with a bazillion watts that can fry the air in a coliseum....the end of the room my mains and subs are in, is about 12 feet wide and I've got a box in each corner with about seven feet between the subs....I'm thinking about an airfryer in the middle....quality 50 foot rca for signal.....advise me on which you think are the most impressive ones....

.....gone for the evening to meet with a 22 year-old young Lady who I consider to be one of my daughters, and I was really the only Dad she knew from 12 to about 17....she's having problems and wants to talk with me....her Mama alerted me to the situation about a month ago.....oh well, would appreciate your thoughts.....

 

[hopjohn]

It would be logical then to buy bookshelf or tower mains that are good to an octave below the 80 Hz crossover and ensure you've got a kicka$$ sub to handle all the LFE, which it's specifically designed for. This way, you'll save a ton of dough and increase WAF exponentially.

We share thoughts on this matter. The following might be of interest to you.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10658

 

[Audiosouse]

DTS CDs and DVD-A are not the same thing.

I know, both are DVD-A discs with a DTS layer (DTS ES on one).

Thanks for the thread, couldn't find one.

 

[Audiosouse]

.....guys, advise me on one of these one-foot square subs with a bazillion watts that can fry the air in a coliseum....the end of the room my mains and subs are in, is about 12 feet wide and I've got a box in each corner with about seven feet between the subs....I'm thinking about an airfryer in the middle....quality 50 foot rca for signal.....advise me on which you think are the most impressive ones....

The only one I know of besides Carver's Sunfire subs is the Paradigm Seismic 12.
http://www.onhometheater.com/product/20040701.htm
(Kind of a fluffy mag, but they do provide NRC measurements wherever possible.)

I've heard it and I'm pining over it. I understand Energy is about to release some tiny subs with a flat driver. Haven't even seen a picture yet though. Just how many subs do you need Mulester? You're already got two subs? Your mulesting the air in your room!

 

[AVRat]

Personally, I like those in the Def Tech SuperCube series. They offer a wide flat frequency response. I have the SC I in a 15' x 19' x 8' basement area and it shakes the roof shingles.

http://www.definitivetech.com/loudspeakers/subwoofers/subwoofers.html

 

[mulester7]

Just how many subs do you need Mulester? You're already got two subs? Your mulesting the air in your room!

.....well, well, I guess I gotta' be me, haha....AudioSouse, just like Buck, I gotta' experiment, and hear all the options.....

.....my two big front-firing boxes are wonderful....they are like two big mouths that emit a smooth and well-defined PAAAAAAAAHH....I may like a little point to them with a tastefully-volumned airfryer in the middle, who knows?....will probably try it....thanks for the suggestion as to units....you also, AVRat....will now begin the pilgrimage of looking and reading......

 

[Audiosouse]

I'm selling my new in 2004 Paradigm PW-2100. It's 10 inch. driven by a 400 watt RMS, 1500 watt peak Ultra Class D amplifier. I've got every piece of the original packaging.

It energizes my 4,800 cubic foot room, but the room is just a little big for it. It's quite compact, close to the cubic foot dimension. $500 USD.

 

[Spiffyfast]

I'm selling my new in 2004 Paradigm PW-2100. It's 10 inch. driven by a 400 watt RMS, 1500 watt peak Ultra Class D amplifier. I've got every piece of the original packaging.

It energizes my 4,800 cubic foot room, but the room is just a little big for it. It's quite compact, close to the cubic foot dimension. $500 USD.

wow big room for just a 10" sub, probably your best bet going with some else, hope someone picks up that sub, great price on it

 

[j_garcia]

wow big room for just a 10" sub, probably your best bet going with some else...

My room is just a bit smaller than that and I am using a 10" sub also. It doesn't struggle at all, and is good to 18Hz. Driver size is just one factor, and isn't the limiting factor as to how well it can fill a given space.