music frequency

Zargon...My point is that those seven lowest piano keys rarely get played. A speaker that doesn't try for the lowest frequencies may reproduce higher ones better (not worse as you suggest) because it can use a smaller lighter cone driver, which is not being driven in and out to the ends of its excursion range. If one must compromise, skipping low end extension is a reasonable choice. It depends also on the quality of the bass that is present...is the response smooth or lumpy. The Magnepanar MG1.6 speaker (which I use) quits at 40 Hz, but for most music the bass sounds OK because the response is unusually smooth.

I am not saying that very low frequency capability is worthless: rather I am suggesting that a separate LF driver (called a subwoofer) is better. (That's what I use).

Could not agree more with Eldartford. The same can be said of tuned ports to extend frequency range...often the results are less perfect than can be achieved with a separate dedicated driver (usually from a subwoofer) just for the low end. In the end it is often about compromise. Getting transducers to cover a broader frequency range helps in some sense by eliminating the challenges of cross overs but the downside is that the optimum freq range for that particular driver (size/material) may be exceeded and this usually results in more THD/IMD distortion and significantly less dynamic range.

Discrete transducers appropriately sized for their frequency range and precisely integrated using separate active electronics for each transducer is a solution that some speaker manufacturer's have adopted. A system of this type with large dynamic range and low distortion requires a four way system: subwoofer for 20 to 60 Hz, Woofer for 60 to 400 Hz, Mid range from 400 to 3000 Hz and tweeter from 3K to 20K Hz. The drawback of a system using more transducers and discrete active electronics is higher cost. The advantage is relatively low distortion and high dyanmic range (for a speaker). Nevertheless, harmonic distortion is in the 0.3% range, which is still hundreds of times more distortion than typical digital source and SS circuits.

My comments did not assume a sub, and it didn't sound like Odnok was considering one as well.

Yes, I agree with you there are compromises. One more you didn't mention is that the speaker with the higher cutoff will also probably be more efficient and require less power.

I am using a 4 way speaker (sub built in), where the sub goes to 18Hz. Granted, not a lot going on that low, but it's great to know that if it is present, it will get attended to.

I like this chart from the PSB website. I believe that all frequencies are important. There are orchestra pieces that go down to 16 Hz and some that are only going down to 30 Hz. I believe that there are harmonics above and below the principle tone that are important and anything less is a significant compromise. Add a sub to get that low (integration difficulties assumed).

website:

http://www.psbspeakers.com/audioTopics.php?fpId=8&page_num=1&start=0

I agree Tgrisham! If you look at the orchestra and the various pieces in the orchestra rep there are many that go very low. There are extensions for the double bass that allow it to play the lowest "c" on the standard keyboard, which is about 33 htz. Also if you really listen to things like bass drums you would realize that the decay can produce noises that are well below 30 htz. Additionally, there are a select group of pianos, the Boesendorfer concert grand, that have freqency extensions down to 16htz...Now the only written piece that intends to use these extra pitches were written specifically for this piano, but don't you want to have the capibility to hear every note as it was intended to be heard in the concert hall??? I actually had the opportunity to give a recital with a Bosendorfer concert grand, and I can honestly say that I enjoy its sound much more than your standard Steinway...Without the ability for your system to reproduce even the sympathetic low vibrations of any instrument, you will never be able to acheive the actual sound and hear any instrument for what it really is!