Why full range speakers are better

If a sub solves bass problems why do full range speakers need so many woofers?

[stevefisher]

This all depends on where the crossover from the mid to upper bass is. You can use a smaller sub (like an 8") that can mate very well to say a 5" midrange, if the mid is able to be crossed at around 150Hz. A larger say 12" sub can also be added to the mix with a low pass cut-off at say 40-50Hz so the very low bass is reinforced. Here the selection of the full range / midrange driver becomes the most important. Avoiding multiple woofers also can reduce cost and certainly the need for large cabinets with all that bracing.

[joelowens]

Some people have home theater and listening audio double duty systems on a budget. That's typically where you see separate sub and satellite type speakers. Now for theater only having separate sub you mainly are using for heart pounding bass to feel the movie. With easy listening system you are using for coherency and oneness of the sound. Back in the day I had a big home theater set up. Had the M & K dual 12 inch subs in push pull configuration behind my bean bag when I was a teenager. They were absolute monster I felt in my soul. They were competing with Velodyne back then and were not cheap in price but excellent quality.

[stephenwilson]

Hi Paul, always love to listen to your answers to questions and enjoy reading your book as well. Question: Who makes the diffusers you have there? I think someone asked this question previously, but not aware of a specific answer. Thank you.

[TriAmpMyFi]

. Why do you recommend putting the amps on the ground (or 4 inches from it) between the loudspeakers? Do your amps function at waist height? Are your amps limited to speaker cables of 8 feet or less only?

Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊

[NoEggu]

Paul, Hand in France's question was not fully addressed.

The lower part of your FR30 speakers are akin to subs, as they go down to very low octaves.
What Hand was asking was why do you not have your FR30 speakers split into separate cabinets. As you described, your FR30's woofer section integrates seamlessly with the midrange driver section.

As such, if your FR30 speakers were in two sections, then their integration would be ideal, and you could place the bass cabinet separatly, to achieve the best bass response at the listener's seated position.

[mstax]

Not to mention MONO sub sound vs STEREO sub sound... and, of course, the in-line array of all the speakers delivering sound totally in phase to your ears.

[JDavidG.]

I am going to make it to Boulder one day and hear these.

[sudd]

full range speakers is a noble goal, as long as you do not cut to many corner to get there.
and more powerful bass from a speaker makes for easier subwoofer integration in general if you do not have any dsp.
even port or passive radiators can help so it matched the delay in the subwoofers at those frequencies, not optimal but it can work for that use.

[mr.george]

I had that M&K David & Goliath sub/satellite system back in the "Old Days" !

[lexicon]

I went from exclusively bookshelves with stereo sub's (wired directly from my amp's terminals) to Large presentation AR Classic 30's. I am no longer a bookshelf with sub's guy. All of that 30-20k emanating from the same location, nothing like it. That's not to say I don't run a pair of highly resolving subs with them just the same. I do, to augment the bottom end to the point I can feel the strums of a bass guitar. No, the bass is not overpowering with the sub's. Hits like a sledgehammer...with definition and delicacy when required. Gr Research just designed new crossovers for my AR's. So good, I have no words yet. That one augmenting sub Paul talks about, usually at the back of the room making us feel the bass down to 20Hz in style is why some are confused.

[babubabu]

A very good suggestion from Paul Sir...
I don't have any speakers to use at the moment but still love to gather speakers/amp related knowledges from Respected Paul Sir.

[djlafg]

Ah yes, but the point source folk would challenge you about all of those different point sources you have in the displayed speakers. It is also the argument behind the Sibelius speakers. A small woofer handling bass and mid-range (and an attempt for it to handle treble as well). The Sibelius definitely covers the point- source claim for a more natural integration of sound.
The first speaker pair I made in about 1960 used a single wide-range 10" Richard Allen speaker. i loved it but after a while I felt that it needed quite a boost of the tone control to bring out the treble. Trouble was the boosted treble from the whizzer cone of the 10" was quite harsh.
Solution? I added a small cone tweeter and that gave me nicer treble. Since then I always included a specialist tweeter in any speakers I made. A pity about the point source going out the window!

[tothemax]

I find an 8" sub/s mates nice with same/and or smaller drivers, especially dual subs and placed behind the speakers (2-way) and gives me full range. I'm not in the weird 'scatter subs here, there or everywhere' world, but whatever.

[oliverbeard]

There's a bit more to it than simply having a larger driver, or drivers to "mate" with a subwoofer. While a larger driver may be more able to shift air, the compliance of the suspension, system tuning and room all play their part in how the bass sounds. Adding a sub or two can be effective if positioned in such a way as to deal with nulls at the listening position. This is somewhat relying on the ability to place the subwoofer(s) in a position that allows that compensation to take place. This may not always be practical if there's furniture located in the "hotspot" areas, so a "second best" location may have to do as a compromise. Some subwoofers on the market lack the flexibility and facilities to compensate for less than optimal positioning and the slope of their filters, which has an effect on their ability to blend with the main speakers is rarely, if ever mentioned. Additionally, if the end user isn't familiar enough with how their main speakers integrate with the listening room he, or she will be quite unable to judge how to blend the subs with the main speakers properly. Below around 200hz the room is the dominant factor for the low end and if there's not sufficient ability to see how the speakers are affected by the room and placement (including the subwoofer(s), then it's more of a guessing game.Not that enjoyable results can't be attained, but if one is looking for accuracy and "properness" in the bass they'll need to be able to measure the effects and compensate with DSP or EQ.

[Joe-mijw]

There's no substitute for surface area. The ideal speaker has large woofers that don't play the deepest bass. They play the mid and upper bass that is where the energy is. Subs still fill in the bottom.

[bayard]

THE issue is room modes. One needs to understand room modes and learn about the room mode situation in their own listening room and then figure a way to neutralize the room modes. As long as you don't do that you will be forever mystified as to why you can't get good sound.

[Natan]

Is this effect you mean the same as having good crossovers in speakers/sub satellites?

[albertquirante]

Pag Hilom dha Paul oy... Bsan unsay klase nga speaker basta enjoy ka sa imong pagpaminaw sa music ok na na

[ianbigsand]

I will soon find out how well LS3/5a mate with a sub. TBH, I can't afford any other route to filling in the lower registers. The LS3/5a does have a hump in response to give an illusion of bass, so it won't be perfect 🤞.

[clearbrain]

Paul's answers and explanation are really helpful and intuitive....
❤❤❤