Talk:Subwoofer

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Crossover

What is "crossover" supposed to mean? It was a redirect to electronic filter, but most of the links were talking about chromosomes. -phma

The crossover is a filter which splits the signal into frequency bands, each band going to the apropiate speaker.

I don't agree with the following sentences:

"People who are accustomed to bass in home audio systems and car audio many times think that the subs in a concert PA system aren't putting out that much." More like I agree with the statement but i do not agree with the explination given in the article which is wrong.

First, if you look at the Fletcher and Munson equal loudness contours you'll see that the more the SPL rises, the bigger the low freq. sensation. So if you turn the volume up without altering the eq settings or without using a loudness control you'll notice that the bass becomes louder and louder, and if you turn down the volume, the bass starts to disappear.

Well PA systems are putting a lot more than home and car audio subs and with a lot LESS distortion. Cheap home/car audio systems are putting a lot of distortion into the sound which are mainly harmonics and intermodulation of it's poor transient responce. These are superior in frequency and if you take a look at the Fletcher and Munson contours you can understand why the distorted signal will sound much louder, although if you are to measure it with a SPL meter you'll get the same reading. For example a lot of people think that 50Hz it's not such a low frequency. That because if you put a 50Hz sine wave through a low quality system it will sound loud, more like a buzz than a hum ("hmmm"). And the more you turn up the volume the more the buzzier it gets due to amplifier clipping and driver distortion (which rises 8 times when doubling the power (due to electromagnetic non-liniarities) or more if we add excursion related problems, cone deformation, and others) Comming from a good system, 50Hz will not give much to the ears instead will give your body a massage if played loud enough and will move your furniture for free :)

PA systems are handled (or should be handled) by professionals who are doing their best and the systems will sound correctlly and well tonal balanced. That's why they do not appear so loud than a cheap boom-box with it's bassboost set to max and with it's speakers bottoming out at each bass note.

(sorry for my bad english)

Legal Issues

These are a pain in the *ss, and we need to say so (in an NPOV manner of course). Walls of houses and flats are not designed to block these sort of frequencies, and (in the UK at least) complaints about domestic noise are rising. -- Tarquin 17:47 Feb 15, 2003 (UTC)

I hardly think the fact that some users of a piece of tech use it irresponsibly or in contradiction to local law is relevant. I'm sure that could be said of anything. Shall we add a note to the Automobile article that some people speed? Sapph 03:46, 20 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

In some cases, it's quite difficult to get full use out of a subwoofer without being 'irresponsible'. Because, as said, most places aren't designed to block such a mass volume of low frequency sound. And I have no fact, but in my experience, most people use subwoofer in contrast to law, rather than within the law. They just create a huge irritance to most anyone and everyone else in the vicinity. Peoplesunionpro 22:57, 20 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah, let's ban subwoofers, but not handguns. Subwoofers kill people.209.29.93.15 (talk) —Preceding comment was added at 09:01, 16 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Article clean up

I tried to clean up some of the writing in this article, but it seems a little unfinished. Should it be marked for revision to conform to the almighty higher quality standards?

Specifically, the equations in the last paragraph needs to be formatted. Thanks to all those who contribute to the page. =) Dept of Alchemy 06:03, 2 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

citing

Many speakers were capable of emitting subsonic sounds or were powerful bass drivers before the 1970s, like Cerwin Vega in the 1950s. Citation is needed.RCHM 01:43, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

This article needs help

This article needs to be rewritten becuase of the non factual common audio misconceptions about subwoofers. A good example is woofer speed directly linked to cone weight. This is untrue and is related to the inductance of the coil. See bellow link. http://www.adireaudio.com/Files/TechPapers/WooferSpeed.pdf

Suspension non linearities with Square cones are not a big factor in distortion, the reason is they reinforced the corners is because of the sorround tearing.

There is more I just have to read it again. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 216.98.239.15 (talk) 20:38, 10 December 2006 (UTC).[reply]

This article is also pretty biased, as one dickhead keeps deleting all kinds of information that is relevant, such as the effect of low-cost subs, kit subs, and other manufacturers. This article, like other hi-fi articles gets too subjectivist, and hides from real testing like that done by Tom Nousaine. Quit with the "high-end" and personal preference crap already. There is more to the industry, market and issue than was included. Sounds like the editor is favoring certain companies and philosophies...not objective writing.

Article should talk about teenagers annoying entire neighborhoods

damn teenagers...

I'm in full agreement with the above sentiment.

It's not just teenagers, though. It's also so-called "adults." These pieces of shit are making other lives miserable, and that's exactly what they want to do! Their subwoofers are vibrating people's apartments (such as mine, and other residents and tenants for miles around), vibrating and shaking windows while riding in their mobile, acoustical-terror machines, making spring and summer, and even fall, which are supposed to be the nicest and most tranquil and calm times of year, into misery. If you scoff at the term "accoustical terrorism" it is very much real. For just one example, here is an example from Wikipedia's Manuel Noriega article: Noriega fled during the attack and a manhunt ensued. He finally turned up in the Apostolic Nunciature, the Holy See's embassy in Panama, where he had taken refuge. U.S. troops set up a perimeter outside this building, as any direct action on the embassy itself would have violated the customs of international law (and perhaps treaties to which the U.S. was a party at the time as well). The troops guarding it used psychological warfare, attempting to force him out by playing hard rock music, like Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You, outside the residence,[1]... Now, going back to the situation on the streets of America, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. The vast majority of these "music lovers" have air-conditioners in their cars. Why don't they use them, instead of sweltering in the stifling heat? I mean, besides the fact that they have very little logic? Well, it's because these sociopaths are so hateful of people, they'd rather suffer and swelter and sweat in the heat than be nice and dry with the windows shut and their air-conditioners on, so that they can be cool, dry and comfortable, if it means that they can bring misery to people (such as pedestrians, people in other cars, people at work, people who work third shift and must sleep during the day, and those at work), so that these victims of selfishness can't concentrate, sleep, THINK. Of course, that's REALLY the reason for subwoofers, ISN'T IT... HA! What a joke! They call themselves "AUDIO ENTHUSIASTS!"

Slater79 00:04, 3 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wow man, you're making it sound like subwoofers are ruining modern society. In truth I think its that the people who get noticed are the obnoxious ones. 72.226.184.52 (talk) 22:47, 27 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

always hear sound

just got ipod dock mp3 player with sub woofer and it always makes loud sound even when playing music softly is this right —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.71.1.185 (talk) 22:12, 25 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

RMS ratings, types of cones etc.

I would like to see this article expanded dramatically. Subwoofers have been around for at least 30 years and there is little information readily available for those who would like to learn more about them. The article only briefly touches each of the areas such as the advantages/disadvantages of different types of cones and which ones would work better or give a better response time. If someone were interested in purchasing subwoofers for their car, this article would help them very little (if at all). I found only one or two other articles online that provide information that actually explain the type of woofer/amplifier that would work best, and why it would.

I really think there should be a section that discusses what type of amplifier would work with what type of subwoofer the best. This involves the CLASS of it, H/L pass frequencies, types of connectors, and surge/overload protection. Also, it should include how many CHANNELS would be needed for how many speakers/woofers etc. 12.215.147.98 (talk) 04:36, 21 January 2008 (UTC)X[reply]