Thanks for that, that was exactly my next question - would a 2-way actually reach deeper in low end than this 2.5version and ZD5 (I don't need more bass, I need it to go DEEPER)? The reason I didn't go for 65L in the first place is that my "room" is small (11m2).
In short, I am not after bass volume, I am after low end depth, to run flat as deep as possible.
@D1sco - they are in phase - checked, doublechecked and triplechecked with 15Hz signal generator from REW. There's plenty of bass, it just does not reach deep enough.
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I completely forgot one detail about ZD5 - it was built as 25l floorstander, but with reduced depth minus the sand chamber. This was messing up the mids, so the box was eventually reduced internally to 14L, but the vent remained the same - it was tuned to 30Hz for 25L box (3,8mmX123mm). With reduced volume according to the Virtuix, the tuning actually went up to 38,4Hz. So I ended up with a unique sounding 14L vented ZD5 that noone has 🙂 I will try to tune ZRT to the same frequency so maybe it will be able to match that low end reach that my ZD5 has.
I'm wondering whether Zd5 tuning and placement just happens to align to your room modes. Doing the same to the ZRT might net the bass response you're looking for.
Personally I would also try stepping through sine wave increments (WinISD and REW have generators) and just listen to ZD5 taking notes as you step half octaves up the scale. Repeat with the ZRT and compare.
Personally I would also try stepping through sine wave increments (WinISD and REW have generators) and just listen to ZD5 taking notes as you step half octaves up the scale. Repeat with the ZRT and compare.
ZD5 was able to pull that same luxurious deep end in at least three different sized rooms - 11m2, 13m2 and 45m2, so probably nothing to do with the room response or placement...
You have obvious room modes on 35, 65 and 130 Hz or close to that...if you have deeps you also have peaks of bass....can you find them walking around... are there areas with excessive bass?
It is, and also mids are fascinating on ZRT... New 40Hz port installed. BWs are brand new, burning them in right now.
Just to make it perfectly clear:: there is no lack of overall bass in ZRT - they just do not go as deep as ZD5 (40Hz area?). But B&W does not reach that sweet low end either.
But ZRT is slowly getting there (I hope).
But ZRT is slowly getting there (I hope).
I am considering building another, more narrow box just for testing, with baffle width reduced to 191mm (from 231mm). Baffle step will move upwards from from 77 to 93Hz, and looking at SPL it might help to dampen a peak around 90Hz.
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So the conclusion is - nothing wrong with ZRT, I just chose the slightly wrong design. They are high efficiency speakers that don't go very deep. The voices and pretty much everything sounds just incredible, beats B&W 703 S3 on almost everything. I have my eye now on DXT MON 182 (https://heissmann-acoustics.de/en/dxt-mon-182/) which looks impressive on low end. If they can match voices on ZRT, that would be a way to go for me. Low efficiency does not bother me, I run on class D or AB. Thanks for the help everyone, time to close this off 🙂
I still think you should try the 2 way ZRT before getting rid of that project. Just replace the crossover and replace the lower woofer with a cap.