Posted by JustinC [ 146.115.44.219 ] on April 28, 2007 at 14:56:07:
In Reply to: Re: Subwoofer array questions---Justin posted by Marlboro on April 28, 2007 at 08:09:03:
the room is close to 6000 cubic feet.
One thing you have to remember is that 2 ported 12" subs will have very similar output down low to 6 or 8 sealed subwoofers. They should typically have a 6-9db increase in efficency near the tuning frequency depending on how high or low it is tuned.
When using multiple sealed subs, I actually cut the output between 20-80hz anywhere from 6-12db in order to achieve a moderately flat frequency response from 10hz and up. I guess you could also do the reverse and use a linkwitz transform circuit and turn the gain down? So although 8 subwoofers does initially seem like overkill when you use them in this fashion, the overall spl is actually probably less than a big ported system but provides much better accuracy. Think of the big IB systems using 4 18" subs or 12 12" subs, but instead using small sealed boxes.
For most music the subs look like they are barely moving using maybe half of their xmax at best. Having multiple subs just coasting along provides much cleaner output with very little distortion. When you start watching movies is when they will use all the xmax from those 10-15hz signals.
Using this type of set up, you have no subsonic filter so you really do need the displacement capabilities of lots of subs. It's not so much about how extremely loud. It's more about how low, and detailed at a listenable level.
Justin
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