We all know that subwoofers play a crucial role in handling low-frequency content, and the presence of subwoofers in music playback systems is hardly a new concept. However, not all subwoofers are created equal, and their contributions to a music system can often leave music fans disappointed with the result.
Many subwoofer manufacturers prioritize their design decisions in favor of “movie bass,” focusing on a limited frequency response. The industry refers to this response as “one-note bass,” and even basic measurements reveal the story. The result is a system that lacks integration and sounds annoyingly disconnected.
The Secret? Linearity
In contrast, linear subwoofers aim for a more faithful and authentic representation of the audio signal, reproducing bass frequencies with a balanced output across a wider range. One important benefit is that properly designed subwoofers extend higher in frequency, allowing for a more seamless crossover with the main speakers.
Just as a properly designed three-way loudspeaker’s woofer relieves the stress of bass frequencies from the smaller midrange and therefore allows it to focus on the reproduction of voice, a linear subwoofer can do precisely the same for the woofer. Therefore, each does its own job more efficiently, delivering a lower distortion and a more harmonious experience with no gaps in reproduced frequencies. The result? Your ears tell your brain that you’re experiencing a more natural, “lifelike” reproduction, and you melt into the content instead of (often unconsciously) attempting to reconcile why what you’re hearing isn’t quite right (usually causing listening fatigue).
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Infrasonic Bass
Take this a step further and apply it to infrasonic frequencies down into the single Hertz digits. ASCENDO’s infrasonic subwoofers reproduce frequencies below the range of human hearing, adding another layer of depth to the audio that you feel rather than hear. [Editor’s Note: Sutherland AV Marketing is the U.S. distributor for ASCENDO.] Like a linear subwoofer effortlessly crosses over to seamlessly blend with the woofer, infrasonic subwoofers pick up where traditional subwoofers leave off on the bottom end.
ASCENDO offers a wide range of infrasonic subwoofers, starting at 24 inches and extending up to 50- and 80-inch behemoths. Just as is the case with a woofer versus a midrange, reproducing even lower octaves requires substantially more cone surface area, which explains the large size of ASCENDO’s infrasonic subwoofers needed to pressurize big rooms at sufficient SPLs without distortion.
Many people incorrectly assume that when they see a big cone, it must be slow, sluggish, and unresponsive. Because ASCENDO’s 50- and 80-inch subwoofers have the proper motor structure behind them and with the right enclosure size, they are actually some of the most efficient and responsive subwoofers in the entire line.
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Elevating Home Theater and Music Experiences
The use of infrasonics in home theater is gaining popularity, as many movie soundtracks contain ultra-low-frequency content. What’s even more remarkable is the transformation that happens with music when subwoofers in the system are freed from handling the deepest bass frequencies, and this task is given to infrasonic subs.
Music becomes incredibly involving, transcendent, and natural. Stereo listeners might question the presence of such low-frequency information in their music recordings, but the reality is, there’s more than they expect. Much of what we perceive in music involves harmonics, and while not all recordings contain extremely low-frequency content or harmonics, those that do benefit significantly from proper reproduction.
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When a system is finely tuned, with tweeters, midranges, woofers, subwoofers, and infrasonic subwoofers working in perfect harmony, the music gains an effortless quality, enhancing enjoyment from the highest to the lowest frequencies. This integration not only enriches the musical experience but also reveals ambient clues within the music, often revealing a spatial quality in the low bass region that opens up the room and makes it feel significantly larger.
Until they experience it firsthand, most consumers don’t realize the depth of information and enjoyment that can be uncovered in their favorite music. And once they do, they can’t live without it.
