[maple leafs]

What design has more impact?


I'm presently shopping for two side and two rear surrounds and was wondering if it would be better to buy your typical surrounds that go down to around 35-60 hz and add a second sub OR buy four surrounds that go down to 25hz and set them at large?


(I would use the surrounds strictly for home theater and not critical music listening. Also cost might not be as much of an issue as if I do go the low frequency surround route I would diy them into the walls or buy def tech bipoles or earthquake in-walls as I see they are quite affordable)

 

[hometheaterguy]

Most pro users agree on the small satellite setting for home theater use. That setting is usually around 80Hz and when bass management is implemented the surrounds wouldn't be playing lower than the 80Hz. Essentially, all satellites play a 20-20KHz bandwidth with the LFE engaged. It is always a benefit using more than one sub. Dual subs make you feel bass more, add more impact and SPL, smooth out standing waves and even provide a better dynamic range.

 

[maple leafs]

hometheaterguy, I'm not sure what you mean regarding all satellites play 20 -20khz.


Also what I was thinking was to keep my center and mains on small and set the surrounds to large, if I go the low frequency capable surround route.


I did some searching and read some have had problems with multiple subs and have had to move them around to correct it. If this would also apply to low frequency capable in-walls, I wouldn't be able to move them around like conventional sub woofers.

 

[bpape]

Keep your surrounds on the smaller side. Personally, I have mine crossed over around 60Hz.


Using a second sub can help smooth out the bass response in a room tremendously. Yes, it's a little more effort but can return huge rewards.

 

[hometheaterguy]

The satellite speaker will be crossed over at 80Hz or what point you select and only play 80Hz and up, but the logic behind Bass Management is that with the sub playing 80Hz and below the satellites essentially sound as if they are playing 20-20. http://www.mkprofessional.com/bass_mgmt.htm

 

[maple leafs]

The idea of having all surrounds play down to say 25hz occurred after reading an article somewhere ( either THX or Vandersteen) stating the ultimate set up for home theater is to have every speaker with their own sub. Since it wouldn't cost that much more the idea is appealing, but I don't know if it is universally practical when considering room make up.

 

[hometheaterguy]

I was reading an article from this months Stereophile's Guide to AV, written by Russ Hershelmann. I was amazed at the diagrams in his article showing multiple subs placed all over the room! I can only imagine the wildly varying sound waves in that room. I have also seen pros that once preached 8 or 10 subwoofers that later went to two. I guess the key is experimentation. If you really like low mid-bass satellite, try the M&K MPS-2575. 500 watts, 13 drivers, tripole surround. I believe it plays to 20Hz. But, with BM it will not be sent a full-bandwidth frequency if set that way.

 

[maple leafs]

Correct me if I am wrong but if someone has a receiver or processor where you can set each individual speaker to either large or small, then one could send lfe to the surrounds even though the cutoff is 80 hz. I would just leave the mains and center small so I don't over tax them, while the surrounds are asked to give more slam sacrificing fidelity.

 

[tulum]

Maple Leafs, I've believe that the problems in using a true full range speaker would be similar to problems running two subs and the positioning and room tratments would be of critical importance.It's not impossibe to do but it's certainly not easy as you would be dealing with both the positioning of the speaker for surround effects and essentially two more subs tied into their positioning.