|   Does a subwoofer "cover up" bass from 8" mains? (JBL) | dapperdan
Nov 27, 2001 5:54 PM | | Very beginner question. I can get a good deal on JBL S38 floor speakers (only have 8" woofers.) I also like them because they are smaller, as I don't have unlimited room. I'd probably use speaker stands with them as well.
Anyhow, I figure low bass won't sound all that great on these speakers. My question is if I add a subwoofer later, wouldn't I be just covering up the poor low bass coming from the mains? I guess this question goes for about all speaker setups; some people have four bookshelf speakers and a big powered subwoofer. Without the subwoofer, bass would be kind of weak. With a subwoofer, wouldn't bass coming from the bookshelfs still be distorted, making the sound not so good?
Some people say "these speakers are weak on the low end; nothing a subwoofer couldn't fix." Aren't they just covering up crappy bass with better bass? |
| re: Does a subwoofer "cover up" bass from 8" mains? (JBL) | paulbl
Nov 27, 2001 6:26 PM | | This is why you would set your mains to small - to prevent them from playing frequencies that your sub will cover. Also, some smaller speakers won't play anything below 60hz or so, so there's no danger there of duplication. The best thing to do is to experiment with mains set to small and to large while the sub is set to on or yes. |
| re: Does a subwoofer "cover up" bass from 8" mains? (JBL) | Pat D
Nov 27, 2001 6:30 PM | | You mention a couple of different things. First, there is weak bass. This presumably means that the deep bass is rolled off. Low bass fed to them at high volumes may produce audible intermodulation distortion with somewhat higher frequencies. The better speakers will simply not reproduce the low bass, but will remain clean at higher frequencies. There are volume limits to any speaker of course, and they will vary with frequency.
Now, most subwoofers have high pass filters (these pass the higher frequencies but roll off the lower onees) and low pass filters (these pass the low frequencies on but roll off the higher ones). Anyway, if you keep the deep bass out of the main speakers, they are less likely to distort. Distortion is the second thing you mention, and it is a different issue. So, keeping the deep bass out of the main speakers can clean up their performance (although with many speakers, this will not be noticeable), while the subwoofer can handle the deep bass.
So, the statement "these speakers are weak on the low end; nothing a subwoofer couldn't fix" can make perfect sense, within limits.
However, one must ask how much output a smaller speaker is likely to have below the crossover. Suppose one has a crossover set around 70 or 80 Hz. With most smallish speakers, the output may sound clean up to 80 dB or so, but less so by 90 dB or above. You shouldn't be listening any louder than that, anyway, if you value your hearing. As well, a subwoofer is likely to be going strong at 80 Hz. At higher output levels, a speaker with decent response an octave below the crossover range will probably be capable of substantial output in the crossover range.
Of course, one must ask what music you are playing that your speakers can't handle. You may be pleasantly surprised at how well they can do. |
| re: Does a subwoofer "cover up" bass from 8" mains? (JBL) | dapperdan
Nov 27, 2001 7:05 PM | | Thank you for the replies. I must admit that I am not technically knowledgeable, yet, but I think I pick up on your points. The floor speaker I want goes down to 45hz. The JBL subwoofer drops down to 25hz, which would be the deeper bass.
So I should not have any problems with that setup because the bass at 45hz should be pretty clean, and I'll just be adding bass that goes beyond that point, while probably adding some bass above that point. Does that sound about right? |
| re: Does a subwoofer "cover up" bass from 8" mains? (JBL) | paulbl
Nov 28, 2001 10:04 AM | | How speakers perform is HIGHLY dependent on placement and your room acoustics. Your speakers may not do much below 50-60 hz. in your room. Try setting your mains to small and to large, see what works best for you. Be prepared to spend some time experimenting. |
| re: Does a subwoofer "cover up" bass from 8" mains? (JBL) | classic
Nov 29, 2001 6:11 AM | | you must be a rap guy.
I have a pair of s38 and a sub. for music, I seldom use sub. S38 will do the job. it is a very good one.there is no distortion. what you means is double the nature base sound is normal.
You also can connect receiver to sub, to front speakers. set crossover freq. to 50-80hz.
or buy a drum, when you feel need some base, beat it. |
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