What am I missing? (1 Viewer)

[drobbins]

I read all the discussion here about subs and their sound. I see many make their own sub. I am wondering if I am missing something. My theater is about 12’ x 14’ and I am using a Sony 12” forward facing sub. At ¼ volume, my SPL is in line with my other speakers. I put a plywood floor on 2 x 2s over my basement floor, but I can not feel the base on the floor. I do feel the bass in the upstairs floor, and the sub can rattle everything else in the room if I turn it up. I do run it a little “hot”, but any more bass and it will be disproportionate with the rest of the audio. I realize that it goes down to 30Hz and other subs can go lower. I have some questions:
What does the lower Hz add to the experience?
What is the advantage to more sub speakers if the SPL is the same?
What am I missing?
Should I ask? Is ignorance bliss?
Thanks,
Dave

 

[John S]

Get a meaner sub.

The lower it goes the more you generally will feel it.
Sounds like you did a really good job on your floor.

Have you moved it around some, to see if placement in general could have some bearing on it? You would be surprised the difference it can make.

 

[Phil Iturralde]

So, once you REF Calibrate a SVS for example, it really won't change the overall volume levels that your familiar with from your AV REC sub's x-over up to your highs, ... but you'll hear an "...increased ... overall Dynamic Capability .... by playing back unknown/unfelt/unheard pant-leg flapping LFE ENERGY already encoded in your Blockbuster DVD’s".

I agree with John, room integration location for your sub is a key to maximize the performance. Read this on-line article "Sub-woofer Purchasing, Positioning and Calibration" from SMR HT website.

Phil

 

[Elinor]

>"What does the lower Hz add to the experience?"

Two things.

You will be able to locate all the loose screws in the room.

You will eventually discover the resonant frequency of your chest cavity.

(I.e. in movies there is often sound you cannot hear but can feel ... deep ... deep in your chest)

 

[John Garcia]

Elinor always cracks me up

Resonant frequency of your EYEBALLS is more like it. Ever had an eyeball massage..from the inside?

What the added depth seems adds that extra tactile dimension; impact that a lesser sub cannot deliver. What you are literally missing is some of the really low information that most subs do not reach. The Grudge is a good example. It's not the greatest flic (I enjoyed it), but it is fun and I was quite surprised at the amount of ominous, low bass that was used and very effectively I must say.

LFE should be felt, not heard

 

[drobbins]

Let me see...

- unknown/unfelt/unheard pant-leg flapping LFE ENERGY!
- locate all the loose screws in the room!
- discover the resonant frequency of your chest cavity!
- Resonant frequency of your EYEBALLS!
- an eyeball massage..from the inside! :star: :star:

Sounds like a monster truck show!!

Guess I am missing a lot! I need to get some of this. How do I talk the wife into putting it into the budget?

Dave

 

[Elinor]

Budget twice as much as you need: the other half gets HER nice jewelry/new stainless fridge/whatever tickles her fancy.

 

[John Garcia]

Yep. A night out on the town will do wonders for your HT budget