bass

[duckycrayfish]

right now i have big speakers and no subwoofer. the speakers are next to me and it feels like the bass is all around me :P. but im thinking about changing them for a surround sound system with a subwoofer... but little speakers.... will it have the same effect? or will it just sound like the bass is on the floor where it will be

[EarthDog]

Bass below a certain frequency (60hz maybe?) you cannot tell the source anyway... but I highly doubt you are going to notice a difference really.

[duckycrayfish]

jeez thats a fast responce...
so i will still get the effect that the bass is like RIGHt there if its below that? ok :P
could i get help finding new speakers? im looking for a surround sound system that is under $300. obviously im worried about bass.... because right now i have a sterio system with speakers that are a foot tall and 3/4 wide and give amasing bass and i really dont want to give up that effect, especially because of how good that sounds when listening to music.

[duckycrayfish]

what about this.... my speakers right now... they have to be the EXACT same distance away from me or one sounds way closer then the other. if any... what tech spec would change that? :D

[Nechen]

I'm very familiar with sound setups, frequency responses, low-pass, ETC...

Most home-theater subwoofers are mediocre primarily because the Amplifier/Stereo can only do 100watts RMS per channel, thus your Subwoofer is only going to be able to handle 100watts @ 8Ohms resistance.

Having said that I doubt that any "Home Theater" subwoofer would sound any better than the big setup you have right now.

For example, I have a 400w RMS @ 4Ohm Subwoofer in the trunk of my car, it can handle so much power that it can get down to around 25Hz on the Lows which means they shake the car, however trying to hookup a "Car" specific subwoofer would be a pain and extremely ugly.

I myself have a Kenwood VR-615 Hometheater setup for movies and gaming on my PC and I love it but its not *great* overall...I'd say just save the money and keep what you have.

If you have any other questions you can PM me at anytime :)

[Nechen]

In reference to your most recent question - the only thing that affects how far the speakers can "Pitch" the noise the produce is purely based on Wattage (RMS/Continuous, not Peak)

Unless you have a 40' x 40' room a 100Wx6 setup should do just fine.

[Wicked Klown]

Most home-theater subwoofers are mediocre primarily because the Amplifier/Stereo can only do 100watts RMS per channel, thus your Subwoofer is only going to be able to handle 100watts @ 8Ohms resistance.

Having said that I doubt that any "Home Theater" subwoofer would sound any better than the big setup you have right now.:)





I'm guessing you mean HTiB type subwoofers. As the Elemental Designs A7-350 is rated at 1300watts RMS. Even their cheaper A2-250 is rated at 200watts RMS.

[EarthDog]

Thats my guess as well. Also most HT setups the sub is powered on its own with much more as you aluded to.

I would like Nechen to elaborate a bit on what wattage has to do with "pitch"...

[dejo]

Thats my guess as well. Also most HT setups the sub is powered on its own with much more as you aluded to.

I would like Nechen to elaborate a bit on what wattage has to do with "pitch"...

or power having anything to do with how low a transducer will play.

if you get rattles from anything near a real sub you will be able to locate it also.

[EarthDog]

Thats EXACTLY what I was getting at dejo!! :)

[Bobnova]

I've run a car sub (~800w 12" Kicker) on a home stereo, it worked just fine and sounded great.
Main thing there is to make sure that the amp is rated for the speaker impedance. Running a 2ohm speaker on an amp built for 6 ohms will drastically shorten the life of the amp.


Personally, i would keep what you have unless you absolutely must have surround sound.
Even then, just add more speakers, at one point my computer sound was fed into 17 different speakers on four or five amps. It sounded wonderful, though it took a while to get the volume set just right on everything :P

[duckycrayfish]

i dont NEED surround sound... but i would like some for gaming and movies. but im not sure i would want any if it would reduce music quality. would a really good subwoofer make up for small satelites? because as i said i have 2 pretty big speakers... but then i have smaller ones too and they dont sound neerly as good. and im afraid the small ones will ruin the surround sound setup. hardstyle doesnt sound too good with higher pitched sounds :P

[Wicked Klown]

A nice sub helps even when you have bigger speakers. At first I started with 5 3" satelites and a 5" sub. The sub helped alot, til I upgraded to Klipsch B-2, C-1 and S-2and a 10" sub.

[duckycrayfish]

wow that looks amasing! i dont have enough money tho :bang head. but i cant what is the rear and front speakers... is the b-2 the front ones? the b-2 is kinda what my speakers look like right now! how are they? i could get surround sound that doesnt come in a set...

[Wicked Klown]

Yea B=bookshelf and C=center and the S=surrounds. To all that has heard my system, think it sounds great.

[duckycrayfish]

oh so bookshelf= front speakers? surround= back speakers? i thought the front and back speakers are usually the same... what makes those speakers unique?

[Wicked Klown]

Klipsch B-2 (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41NJd0nakLL._SL500_AA280_.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Synergy-Bookshelf-Loudspeaker-Pair/dp/B000NGTKOI&usg=__qLcz-Ct-0dLfkP8XIdpLcWQuzlg=&h=280&w=280&sz=9&hl=en&start=3&sig2=iBpx6CokRwjdHvJDHDw3IA&um=1&tbnid=D7W4Jogzh4i5KM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3DKlipsch%2BB-2%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1&ei=X2pfS4KYBaCWMdjt0fcL) and the Klipsch S-2. (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41tDNcSL40L._SL500_AA280_.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Synergy-Surround-Speaker-Black/dp/B0011YR8S6&usg=__D01-Cz6B7Ikdocl_-82qOOz72CA=&h=280&w=280&sz=9&hl=en&start=9&sig2=bmM99xQtruX0Zx8QFxgROg&um=1&tbnid=ROhMzKbOUWL-iM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3DKlipsch%2BS-2%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26um%3D1&ei=g2pfS7PTH4z0NabfhYMM) The side speakers are two horn tweeters vs the one in the B-2s.

[duckycrayfish]

so when getting a reciever i need to worry about watts and ohms? the lower the ohms and higher the watts the better? and why is this only for a car?
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=subwoofer&hl=en&show=dd&cid=17661827104715736706&sa=title&os=tech-specs

[Wicked Klown]

so when getting a reciever i need to worry about watts and ohms? and why is this only for a car?
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=subwoofer&hl=en&show=dd&cid=17661827104715736706&sa=title&os=tech-specs




You could use that in a home you would just need the right home theater amp. It would ahve to match the ohm rating of the subs and have the right inputs.

[duckycrayfish]

ok. this kinda killed my $350 thing :P. but i guess it will be worth it... so i need to find a reciever that matches the ohms and watts of that subwoofer or just the ohms?

[Wicked Klown]

When it comes to the hook up of the AVR and the Sub amp, ohms don't matter. As the sub will have it's own amp. You just run a single RCA cable from the AVR to the sub amp. You just need to make sure the sub amp matches the ohm rating of the sub-woofer.


With a sub like this, (http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-633) the plate amp is already mounted to the box. The amp and the sub have the same rating. You could if you have those subs already look at getting a plate amp. (http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-804) Not recommedning that amp just showing you a plate amp.

[duckycrayfish]

im sorry im just learning about audio technology so im having some trouble understanding. i could hook up any subwoofer (that comes with the subamp) to any avr?
could i also get any speakers for any avr?

[Wicked Klown]

Upgrading the speakers is up to you. Most like a matching front set. If it sounds good to you and the ohm rating is the same, do whatcha want.

[duckycrayfish]

hows this
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=subwoofer+car&hl=en&cid=9220907589090703404&sa=title&os=tech-specs
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=AVR&show=dd&cid=5188464442656426942&sa=title&os=tech-specs

[EarthDog]

Why do you seem to insist on putting car sub/boxes in your home? I dont know, maybe its just me but that is GET-O man... Do what you have to do and all, but even in HS and college I didnt go that route...

[duckycrayfish]

because its not that much more money and it looks like its amasing haha. but do those fit? or this avr
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=AVR&show=dd&cid=2845146713545653222&os=tech-specs

[duckycrayfish]

ok tell me if im right. i need to match the ohms with the speakers, sub, and avr? or if im going to get a set that comes with everything.... what should i look for? a subwoofer with less then 80hz.... and speakers that have good dbs right?

[EarthDog]

Just the speakers ad the Receiver. Your sub will be optical or RCA, so you dont have to match (assuming the sub is powered itself).

[four4875]

if you want to use the car subs, you'll need to also get an amp for them. if you buy a home theatre sub, it will have an amp (the plate amp) built in. a decent home theatre sub will probably have a flatter frequency response curve than a set of cheap, poorly designed car subs that are made to sound boomy and jsut be loud, not necessarily sound good. the sub you linked looks like it's in a bandpass box, which is designed to have a narrow frequency response, which isnt good for movies or music, unless you like music that only "hits" in the same tone range.

I have been running a couple Rockford Fosgate 10" He2s in old pioneer cabinets for years. the boots on the pioneers' woofers was dry rotted away, so i stuck the 10s in there to see how they sounded. 10x better than the qlogic bandpass box they were in. I've powered them with a variety of amps over the years, but the last few has been an older mid-90s onkyo 2channel receiver with it's vol turned all the way up and a "Y" RCA cable rigged up. AVR is a pioneer VSX-515k, I was using the sats from a cheap HTIB but i blew a couple of them so now my fronts are a couple infinity 6x9s in truck boxes, I took them out of my truck caus they were getting splashed with salt-slush through the many holes.

So if you relly want (mainly if you already have decent components to use) you can use car audio components in the home, but you'll have to get a standalone amp of sorts if you wanna use subs, and you'll need enclosures if you want to use smaller mid/highs.

What's powering your speakers you have now? It sounds to me like you would be best off starting with buying a good receiver, using the speakers you have now and possibly adding a sub and center channel, and get surrounds and surround back later if you feel the need to expand.

[duckycrayfish]

ok thanks. nvm on the car sub. and the ones i have right now are just hooked up to my sterio system with speaker wire, so my sterio is supplying power.
can those small surround sound speakers handle loud voloumes without getting blown out quickly? or like right now with my big speakers i cant go very loud because i will get major crackling. i want to be able to have loud sounds.
also, will a good subwoofer and small surround and front like i usually see be as good as just regular big sterio speakers?
also, im thinking about moving all my computer stuff to the basement for more privacy. the floor and walls are concrete. would i get as good sound in my room with drywall as i would if i put a carpet down and have thick blankets hang down as walls?

[Sir Barton]

Most loss of bass can be attributed to room setup. If youre in a basement, you wont get as much bass response because the concrete doesnt absorb bass. What kind of speakers are you running? Most times a properly set up and/or treated room will solve most bass issues with a 2 channel stereo setup.

[duckycrayfish]

i dont have a bad bass issue, i am actually worried that i wont have as good bass. im not even sure if its bass im talking about... im not talking about how i can feel it, im talking about how big speakers sound more.... clear, or lower, and kinda sound like someone could be in the room with u. with all the experience ive had with small speakers, it sounds more higher pitched and it sounds kinda like your in a more open room. i really dont know how to describe it. the reason i want to switch to surround sound is because.... well, its surround sound. and the speakers i have right now will crackle at higher voloumes. im going to do gaming and get a blue ray player for my computer, so i want really good quality.

[duckycrayfish]

i think what i was trying to describe before is it sounds as if the treb is higher or something.

[Sir Barton]

The treble is higher because the speaker is different. Different speakers are voiced differently.

[duckycrayfish]

but that has been like that with all small speakers ive seen? what is the specification i should be looking for in speakers if i want to have lower treble?

[Sir Barton]

Does your receiver have tone controls? There should be a bass, treble, and/or mid-range adjustment knobs on it.

[duckycrayfish]

it does, but when it sounds like i have higher treb when i didnt turn it up, plus it doesnt sound the same when i turn it down... a little bit less quality

[Sir Barton]

What brand/model of speakers are you running exactly? If we know that, we can give you better tips and guidance :).

[duckycrayfish]

my big ones are teac and my small ones are rca. i didnt know that mattered though

[Sir Barton]

Heck yeah the speakers matter. What model are your Teacs?

[duckycrayfish]

their old. i cant find any sight with them. they came with a sterio recever but i got rid of that and got a new sterio system. i kept the speakers, on the back it said the model # is LS-3680

[duckycrayfish]

can i plug my sub woofer strait into my computer or do i have to connect it to a reciever first?

[psionic98]

your comp wont be able to power a real subwoofer w/o an amp of some sort..

[RJARRRPCGP]

Bass below a certain frequency (60hz maybe?) you cannot tell the source anyway... but I highly doubt you are going to notice a difference really.

Speakers are DC, not AC. LOL. :bday:

So I believe it's possible to go an octave below 60 hz.

[s.t.a.t.i.c]

Speakers are DC, not AC. LOL. :bday:

So I believe it's possible to go an octave below 60 hz.

they respond to audio waveform, which is AC.

don't supply DC to the voice coil

[EarthDog]

Speakers are DC, not AC. LOL. :bday:

So I believe it's possible to go an octave below 60 hz.:screwy:

they respond to audio waveform, which is AC.

don't supply DC to the voice coil+1, thank you...

To add to this, Im talking about the source of a particular frequency of sound, not the current/voltage...electricity w/e going to it.

:bday:

[duckycrayfish]

your comp wont be able to power a real subwoofer w/o an amp of some sort..

im sorry i should have said this... i ment the kind that has the amp built in

[RJARRRPCGP]

they respond to audio waveform, which is AC.

don't supply DC to the voice coil

What you're talking about, sounds more like FWR (full wave rectified without filtering!)
O_O. :D

With filtering, then it won't have the AC influence.

[s.t.a.t.i.c]

What you're talking about, sounds more like FWR (full wave rectified without filtering!)
O_O. :D

With filtering, then it won't have the AC influence.

If you are talking about amp supply then yes, it has to be filtered DC on both + and - supply.

What I am referring to is the form of current that goes into the speaker(voice coil) terminal, which is AC form of current.

im sorry i should have said this... i ment the kind that has the amp built in

Then yes, since you have an active sub, you can hook it up directly to the PC. But it would be easier for you when changing
the volume if you connect the sub to the receiver together with your 2 main speakers.

[duckycrayfish]

wouldnt i just be able to turn down the volume on my pc and it would go for all....?

[four4875]

yeah you could do that, I ran my setup like that for a couple years, sound card into a 4 channel car amp running on power supplies. the 4 channel ran fronts and subs, and a cheap powered EQ ran the surrounds, i didnt have center at the time.

[TTP]

if you get a dedicated bass unit, you can probably get a better bass performance than what you would get from your big speakers. Have you tried adding a dedicated bass to your existing speaker setup?

[Joeteck]

Get a nice 2.1 system (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121034) and call it a day. You'll be more than happy...

And if that's too "Cheap" for you, try this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121122) set.

[KonaKona]

Get a nice 2.1 system (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121034) and call it a day. You'll be more than happy...

And if that's too "Cheap" for you, try this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121122) set.

Both of those are probably a bit to, how you say, logitech. :p

[Joeteck]

believe it or not, both sound great, and is more than most people need...

[dejo]

if you are going to hook it up directly to your pc, more than likely the sub would need to have some crossover filtering or it will not sound very good. being amplified I would guess that it does have an x-over but would make sure anyway

[duckycrayfish]

alright i think im going to go with a 2.1 setup, but what about regular speakers.... do i need to plug those into a reciever? im pretty sure yes but im asking just to be sure.

[EarthDog]

Yes. They wont magically power themselves, they need amplification (unless they have one). :)

[duckycrayfish]

lol i ment that vs just pluging them into the computer which provides SOME power :P