10th August 2008 - by Ben Anton
Home Theater Speakers: Understanding the Bass
We all know what bass can do to a movie soundtrack. It can
create drama, danger, even a feeling of strength depending on
the visuals that go along with it. Bass is one of the most
important elements of any audio format because it provides
balance and contrast to the overall score of a movie,
television show, even commercial. Quality bass in a sound
system is impressive while not being overpowering.
In a 5.1 surround sound system, one of the most common for home
theater installations, the '.1' is the bass. The speaker for
the bass sounds on a soundtrack is called a subwoofer. Lower
frequency sound waves use a larger diaphragm to move the amount
of air it takes to make these sounds. While smaller speakers
can produce these lower frequency waves, they typically cannot
produce the kind of quality that one would expect from a
quality theater. Smaller speakers can often sound tinny when
trying to produce these lower sounds. Large home theatre
speaker towers are capable of handling this part of the
soundtrack though it may require the reduction of sound quality
from the mid and high range frequency speakers.
Choosing a good sound system with a quality bass speaker is not
impossible, even for people who do not have a lot of
experience. First, start with the subwoofer. Homeowners will
need to consider whether they require a passive sub or an
active woofer. A passive subwoofer does not need a separate
power supply. Rather it uses power from the same amp that is
driving the other home theatre speakers. Volume from the
amplifier can usually be controlled, there is less control
overall with a passive sub. An active sub has a separate power
supply. This means that the signal received from the
amplifier/receiver is enhanced by the subwoofer itself, without
taking any of the power from the other speakers.
Once you have your home theater subwoofer and other speakers
picked out, lay them out to get the best sound from each. Bass
sound is omni-directional, meaning that it goes out from the
speaker in all direction. To decide where to place the
subwoofer, put it in the same position that you will be sitting
in, whether it is on the couch facing the television screen or
in a home theater chair. Turn on a favorite film then move
around your room and listen. Find the spot that the bass sounds
best and move your subwoofer to that location. It can be set on
the ground, on a shelf or off of a wall depending on where you
feel the best low tone sound is heard. Since the sounds are
going out and bouncing around the room in roughly the same
direction, the sound should be great when you get it into
place.
We've all heard the laments of mothers and fathers forced to
deal with the incessant thumping and pounding of boom box bass
lines from their adolescent's car or room. There is something
to say for the potential for this phenomenon to occur in a home
theater as well. While walls, ceiling and floor will generally
block high sound frequencies from leaving the room, they can
actually increase the volume of the lower range sounds. While
laying out your speakers, try to also find the right volume
balance for all frequencies that your family can enjoy the
sound quality a bass can provide without driving your neighbors
crazy.
~Ben Anton, 2008
Article Source: http://www.megamusicsite.com
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