new "synthesis 3 array"

[porsche911]

JBL has announced the updated Synthesis 3 Array, using speakers from the Array Series. Apparently though, the system consists of (4) HTPS400 subwoofers. The HTPS400 is THX Ultra certified, and according to the .pdf its -3db@28hz.

Does anyone know it having multiple subwoofers extends the frequency response? More SPL at lower freq. Is that why they use four subwoofers? They also seem to do this with the other Synthesis series: Syn Hercules, 4 Subs ; Syn 4 subs; Syn ONE 2 subs.

Are they just doing this more SPL at say 30HZ or for lower range say below 20Hz.

Honestly -3db@28Hz seems unimpressive for a $35,000 system. Especially when other subs nowadays seem to go much lower. The subs alone are $2000 x 4 = $8000. Seems to me JBL could make a Godzilla-King Kong-earthquake subwoofer for that much. Hey don't get mad, just an opinion.

[Mr. Widget]

It is difficult to get a good bass response in many listening rooms and home theaters. If you use four subs it can make it easier to achieve quality bass without the usual room modes causing far too much bass in some locations with almost no apparent bass in others. There are a number of white papers and articles by Dr. Floyd Toole of Harman International describing this. If you do some searches on these discussion forums you'll find many interesting links.


Widget

[edgewound]

I believe that in certain acoustic spaces it's just not possible to get lower than a certain frequency and have it be usable without it bleeding or spilling out to adjacent areas...like the neighbor's house...or that obnoxious pounding from that other kid's car next to you at the stop light and you can't hear your own system.

Often-times it just make more practical sense to have bass shakers installed in your seating to take care of things below say 25 hz if you really feel the need to "feel" the bass anyway. That way you don't risk too much SPL in the room to cause more structural wear on things....like your ears...not too mention your house.

Unfortunately...many buyers are spec driven and will buy the product that has the most impressive printed specs, that might not necessarily be true or even useful.

[Ducatista47]

The major restriction for low bass in most listening rooms is the size of that room. Mine is 24 x 15 x 8 and nothing below 24hz will propagate. There are room calculators available on the web; I think a handy one in excel lived on the Harmon white papers web page, but it is down right now.

The other thing is, most people who have heard a test cd are not concerned with anything under 35hz for music, only movies. Twenty hz is just about inaudible, and no musical fundamentals exist down there. OK, the largest pipe in a few organs. Otherwise, only synthetic "music."

Clark in Peoria

[Mr. Widget]

The other thing is, most people who have heard a test cd are not concerned with anything under 35hz for music, only movies. Twenty hz is just about inaudible, and no musical fundamentals exist down there. OK, the largest pipe in a few organs. Otherwise, only synthetic "music."

Clark in Peoria

That is mostly true... OK, I have no idea what most people think, but typically music doesn't contain deep bass. This was absolutely true back in the analog days as tape and albums just don't handle frequencies below 30Hz real well.

Not just synthetic, modern, etc. types of music... if you listen to the last cut on Sapphire Blue, by Larry Carlton you'll hear an "acoustic" guitar with pickup on the left channel and harmonica on the right... and there is a wee bit of synthesizer in the background... along with an extremely lively and dynamic guitar sound there are intense subharmonics that are more pressure waves than acoustic... it is kind of audio pyrotechnics, but it is certainly very cool... and if you are using a speaker that plays deep into the 20Hz zone you won't get to experience all that they put on the album.


Widget

[Robh3606]

Often-times it just make more practical sense to have bass shakers installed in your seating to take care of things below say 25 hz if you really feel the need to "feel" the bass anyway. That way you don't risk too much SPL in the room to cause more structural wear on things....like your ears...not too mention your house.

Have you ever tried a demo with them??? I did at one of the HE shows Stereophille does. It's not even close to real deal. There nothing like having the whole room energized. It comes through the couch naturally. Doesn't feel right without feeling the pressure over your whole body. I am not talking crazy high levels either. Certainly less than a movie at THX level.

Rob

[Ducatista47]

That is mostly true... OK, I have no idea what most people think, but typically music doesn't contain deep bass. This was absolutely true back in the analog days as tape and albums just don't handle frequencies below 30Hz real well.

Not just synthetic, modern, etc. types of music... if you listen to the last cut on Sapphire Blue, by Larry Carlton you'll hear an "acoustic" guitar with pickup on the left channel and harmonica on the right... and there is a wee bit of synthesizer in the background... along with an extremely lively and dynamic guitar sound there are intense subharmonics that are more pressure waves than acoustic... it is kind of audio pyrotechnics, but it is certainly very cool...

Widget

Well, I will admit to being an old fart, but my musical tastes often drive people out of the room. Arnold Schoenberg, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Sam Rivers, Jimmy Lyons, Sun Ra, Jan Garbarek, Maria Pia De Vito. I love the sax "solo" in Lost Highway. A memory I keep close is having worked twice with John Cage. I'm no musical prude.

What I was getting at is that most music below 35 - 40 hz is produced with synthesizers, and without musical genius behind it such music sounds synthetic, and that is not a compliment. Caoineadh Cu Chulainn from Riverdance, for instance, is done well, and it moves me greatly. There, the instruments are handled with equal grace and it works quite nicely.

I'll go out on a limb here and state that IMO the problem with most music presently made below 35 hz is that it is being produced by really bad musicians or non musicians without a clue. I don't care if an artist uses his GI tract to make music as long as the talent is there. If it isn't, a Selmer Paris sax or a Lloyd Loar mandolin won't help. Something that never changes through the years: copping an attitude, working on your cool, looking good on camera or sampling a phenominal talent like Jamie Jamerson has never been a substitute for having musical, or any kind of artistic talent of one's own. I'm sure I would enjoy the work you cited, but it would not be representative of the genre.

Moderators, feel free to move this to the music or the off topic forum, or to nuke it as needed.

Clark