How much bass boost do you consider ok to use with your fullrange speaker before you start to become concerned about distortions, intermodulation distortion probably being the most relevant?
I don't use any at all, but there is no single answer to that question unfortunately, beyond 'it depends on the drivers, the enclosure / load alignment, the programme material (specifically, its low frequency dynamic range), the available amplifier power, and the SPL headroom required at the listening position'.
The former comes under the category of SPL headroom required at the listening position (as for casual listening rather than monitoring / mixing on a professional basis, this is a matter of individual taste); to a point that also includes position & room acoustics given the potential for cancellation nulls etc., although I agree it's worth separating them out if possible so they can be dealt with most effectively. This is rarely with EQ alone, unless you have significant power and headroom at your disposal, which is rare with unsupported wideband drivers and material with much LF output.
I also use none on my fullrange speakers. But i build cabinets with drivers that or have enough bass on their own, or i use a helper woofer.
But in general you need to look at the xmax and max power of the driver. It needs to have enough excursion to be able to do that clean, and the driver must be able to handle enough power to do it. Most fullrange drivers have little xmax and are low power, so eq possiblities are very limited.
But in general you need to look at the xmax and max power of the driver. It needs to have enough excursion to be able to do that clean, and the driver must be able to handle enough power to do it. Most fullrange drivers have little xmax and are low power, so eq possiblities are very limited.
Which drivers do you use that have enough bass of their own, I presume they are either large and/or have large excursion? At what point can the excursion become an issue due to IMD?
Presumably 'enough bass on their own' falls into the category[ies] mentioned above, viz. 'it depends on the drivers, the enclosure / load alignment, the programme material (specifically, its low frequency dynamic range), the available amplifier power, and the SPL headroom required at the listening position'.
Re IMD, or more likely FMD, the audibility in a broad sense is open to question and in circumstances where it is, it will vary with circumstance, i.e. material, SPL and excursion, so again, there is no fixed single answer.
Re IMD, or more likely FMD, the audibility in a broad sense is open to question and in circumstances where it is, it will vary with circumstance, i.e. material, SPL and excursion, so again, there is no fixed single answer.
Yes, frequency modulation distortion is likely the most audible modulation distortion related to excursion.
I think the best question is 'why' would you compromise the attributes of a good full range driver by overdriving it to the point of teetering on audible distortion? Is it a space issue? Low bass is non-directional so irrelevant to the performance of the FR. Even a small sub would benefit.
I take your point. I'm not talking about overdriving it, just wondering whether people use EQ as an option to boost the bass and their thoughts and experience regards IMD, or as Scottmouse pointed out, more precisely, the FMD
Right, I wasn't necessarily referring to thermal overdrive or Xmax, but also forcing the driver to do what it was not intended for, ie: changing the frequency response.
I use the Mark Audio CHN110 in an own design MLTL with good bass down to an F3 of about 33hz. I also use the Mark Audio Alpair 10.3 in an own design bookshelf tuned to an F3 of 45hz. And i’m working on a big ported cabinet for the Fane 12-250TC that should go toan F3 of 30Hz when using less than 20w says modelling it. That last one is still under construction altough…
There can't be an exact answer to this question.Max SPL you are using is the answer.For any driver is no problem to use much bass boost if you take into account the max cone travel. So if you want to linearise fullrange driver with bass boost you have to lower overall volume level by the same amount you add boost.And in such case you don't have to worry about distortions added.But you lose SPL. So tune to your preference, and choose what is more important for you. SPL Distortions Bass..
How would maximum cone travel of, say, +/- 5mm effect FMD, would it depend on the cone and how it flexes?
If a speaker needs significant EQ (other than woofers dealing with the room, my room is big, irregular and has few of these), i consider it a failure. The only “EQ" i use, and only on WAWs, is to be able to set the relative level of woofer & FR.
dave
dave