I love this thread.
First comment, I want my system to be able to reduce all frequencies possible to be recorded on the playback device, i.e. blueray disk or what ever comes next.
It remains a goal.
Second comment, it seems people read things and then draw conclusions that are not proper.
Third comment, some of the documents that are supposed to support the 'harm will be done to you ' theory, upon further more careful reading seem to lack adequate references, scientific methodology, scope, or all three at once.
In searching for better sources of information, obviously are some of the more common sense comments and observations by our more astute members. We have among us (not me, not yet) those who have either purchased or constructed devices (subwoofers) capable of more low frequency reproduction than any other generation has had or has been exposed to. We have among us many who have both listened to these subs as well as contributed to our knowledge base by providing measurements using devices that seem to get better and more accurate as time goes on. We see waterfall charts, we now have cedia standards for measurements, and we have databases that allow us to compare how various subs produce sound, both expected and distortion free and what artifacts they may or do add while reproducing. This is all great stuff. In all of the listening I don't recall ever reading about any ill effects other than some mentions of nausea. And we have among us many, repeat many, who listen loud and who constantly push for the ability to listen to reference level, with clarity and as little distortion as is possible.
In order to satisfy my curiosity I continue to seek decent, well written articles to shed more light on this topic of low frequency sounds and their effects. Stop with all this nazi stuff and weapons stuff. If it could be done, effectively, we wouldn't be fighting terrorists with the weapons we are presently using would we? I think not.
One decent article I found was a group doing some research, in Germany, of people living in residential structures subject to vibrations. The work that they did can be taken for what it is. I thought the article was well written, but, the article didn't lead me to conclude anything of significance to subwoofers and how we use them. I think more good research needs to be done, but directed more towards the incidences of low vibrations, standing waves, and at levels and in locations that we DON'T want them. The article is titled
Disturbing effects of low frequency sound immissions and vibrations in residential buildings. It can be found here
http://www.noiseandhealth.org/article.asp?issn=1463-1741;year=2004;volume=6;issue=23;spage=29;epage=35;aulast=Findeis
I want to thank again all the AVS posters who have shared their knowledge and results of subwoofers and their performance levels achieved. It gives me something to strive for.
If any others who are serious about what CAN be said about the topic of low frequencies and their effects would share the sources, so that we can read and evaluate the value of those articles, that would be appreciated, at least by me. They certainly won't be as exiting as some of the GTG events, but, I think there is value, at least to me, of always learning more, always advancing what we know, but to do so carefully and scientifically. For those who don't find that search for knowledge personally enjoyable, well, do your own thing. I think there is value to us learning how the body reacts, to all stimulus. I do worry about noise pollution as some of what we are subjected to is referred. I don't think music, or soundtracks should be considered noise pollution. We can control our subs and our volume levels. The instrusive noise not under our control is of more concern to me.
Oh well, just had to post in the hopes of some sanity and decent research.
Onward to the next best bass in a movie thread!
Stay well everyone.
