Does Anyone know what makes some speakers bassier?

[TomA1234]

Hi,
I have often wandered what makes some speakers bassier than others. I would guess that it is the cone or diaphragm size but my bose earphones are bassier than my headphones with a speaker about 5 or more times the size.

I have done a few google searches and come up with nothing. Please can someone answer this, prefferably in terms that I don't need a physics PhD to understand.

Thanks,
Tom

[mmbongo]

In the case of Bose, they generally are perceived to have more bass because they reproduce midrange and highs so poorly. So they don't actually reproduce more bass than anything else, it's just that their poor sound makes you think they do. That's part of their marketing, sadly.

So a better pair of phones will not reproduce 'less' bass, it's just that the will reproduce everything, the way it's supposed to sound. The bass is not supposed to be overpowering.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by TomA1234

Hi,
I have often wandered what makes some speakers bassier than others. I would guess that it is the cone or diaphragm size but my bose earphones are bassier than my headphones with a speaker about 5 or more times the size.

I have done a few google searches and come up with nothing. Please can someone answer this, prefferably in terms that I don't need a physics PhD to understand.

Thanks,
Tom

There is no simple answer to your question. Low frequency sound reproduction efficiency is determined by a combination of a number of factors. Diaphragm area and cabinet design are very important in loudspeakers, but small cabinets with lots of low end are possible, which depend more on speaker excursion and low free air resonance frequencies of the drivers. And that doesn't address differences between headphones and earbuds, where driver distance from your eardrums plays a big part. Also, not all low frequency response is good; some cheaper cabs produce a lot of low end at some frequencies and almost none at others.

[TomA1234]

Originally Posted by ggunn

There is no simple answer to your question. Low frequency sound reproduction efficiency is determined by a combination of a number of factors. Diaphragm area and cabinet design are very important in loudspeakers, but small cabinets with lots of low end are possible, which depend more on speaker excursion and low free air resonance frequencies of the drivers. And that doesn't address differences between headphones and earbuds, where driver distance from your eardrums plays a big part. Also, not all low frequency response is good; some cheaper cabs produce a lot of low end at some frequencies and almost none at others.

I understand that, and it answers my question!
Thanks

[plangentmusic]

It isn't so much the size of the speaker than the weight of the magnet.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

It isn't so much the size of the speaker than the weight of the magnet.

Not necessarily. There are lots of factors in play, and speaker magnet weight is a relatively minor one. Sure, all other things being equal, it plays a role, but all other things are never equal.

[kesslari]

So to add in/pile on...

Bass response is a complex interaction of factors:
The driver (not just size, but excursion);
The cabinet (not just size, but how well it is designed for the particular driver or drivers in it);
Myriad things in cabinet design (porting, loading, etc).

There's a saying - you can have loud, low, or small - but not all three.
Meaning that you can have a small, bassy cabinet, but it will probably be inefficient (need lots of watts to get loud). Acme B2 is a great example.
Or you can have a large, low, loud cab.
But typically, if you go small, you will give up either low end or volume.

All this is oversimplification, and there are guys here (Bill F, greenboy, rpsands, etc) who can provide much more detail and science.

[FunkyMan]

Please move this to "Amps" Section, i'm curious about this topic!

[waleross]

+1 on the Bose speakers, I use a pair for my Dell and they sound great , but that's are far as I would go with them .

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

It isn't so much the size of the speaker than the weight of the magnet.

Weight of the magnet means little. In fact there comes a point where more flux gives less bass.

Please can someone answer this, prefferably in terms that I don't need a physics PhD to understand

PhD not required, but a Masters in Acoustical Engineering helps.

There is no simple answer to your question.

Word. A starting place:
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshow...29&rak=500-035

[champbassist]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

In the case of Bose, they generally are perceived to have more bass because they reproduce midrange and highs so poorly.

Really? I thought Bose headphones did well to deserve their massive reputation (at least around my neck of the woods). So, if Bose doesn't make good headphones, which brands would you suggest for high fidelity headphones?

[esa372]

Originally Posted by champbassist

...which brands would you suggest for high fidelity headphones?

Grado.

I dig their RS1i 'phones.




~esa

[aqsw]

Originally Posted by champbassist

Really? I thought Bose headphones did well to deserve their massive reputation (at least around my neck of the woods). So, if Bose doesn't make good headphones, which brands would you suggest for high fidelity headphones?

I love my Shure 750 DJs or Shure SRH 840. Way cheaper than the Bose, and they sound SO much better. I like a closed headphone. The grados are not closed.(even though I do use Grado SR80I for the computer to watch a movie (light and comfy), but when it comes to music, give me the Shures. Boses really(and deservedly) have terrible reviews on the major headphone sites like www.head-fi.org

[KJung]

Originally Posted by champbassist

Really? I thought Bose headphones did well to deserve their massive reputation (at least around my neck of the woods). So, if Bose doesn't make good headphones, which brands would you suggest for high fidelity headphones?

Bose Headphones sound fine, as do their speakers. Lot's of people hate the brand due to their marketing hype. However, if you ever heard one of their Wave systems, you would be impressed. Of course, the price value might be off a bit (something has to pay for all that marketing). However, just like Monster Cables, Bose marketing is overhyped and the performance is over promised, and the price is a bit high. That does not mean the product itself is 'bad' in any way.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by KJung

Bose Headphones sound fine, as do their speakers. Lot's of people hate the brand due to their marketing hype. However, if you ever heard one of their Wave systems, you would be impressed. Of course, the price value might be off a bit (something has to pay for all that marketing). However, just like Monster Cables, Bose marketing is overhyped and the performance is over promised, and the price is a bit high. That does not mean the product itself is 'bad' in any way.

Read this:
http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html

[Tronographic]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Read this:
http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html

My favorite slogan was: " No highs, No lows, ALL MIDS... BOSE!"

Better sound through marketing indeed.

[John D]

Originally Posted by KJung

Bose Headphones sound fine, as do their speakers. Lot's of people hate the brand due to their marketing hype. However, if you ever heard one of their Wave systems, you would be impressed. Of course, the price value might be off a bit (something has to pay for all that marketing). However, just like Monster Cables, Bose marketing is overhyped and the performance is over promised, and the price is a bit high. That does not mean the product itself is 'bad' in any way.

Correct on all counts.

[R Baer]

Originally Posted by champbassist

Really? I thought Bose headphones did well to deserve their massive reputation (at least around my neck of the woods). So, if Bose doesn't make good headphones, which brands would you suggest for high fidelity headphones?

I've been using these as my main headphones for years. They sound amazing and are the most comfortable headphones I've tried.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DT250/

A bit off track, but if anyone is looking for a great pair of computer speakers, I just picked up a pair of these M-Audio powered speakers. They sound great and have very impressive bass response for their size. Plugged into my MacBook Pro, these things actually fill the room with very accurate sound and mixing on them translates very well. Nothing else I've found in this price range even comes close.
http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Studio...9156775&sr=8-1

[KJung]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Read this:
http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html

As I said, lots of bull in their marketing. The w=Wave stuff sounds wonderful to me, and is the best small all in one unit I've ever heard. The phones sound fine too.

They are WAY overpriced, which IMO doesn't make it bad.

I do understand there is lots of bitterness of their success. That's kind of par for the course IMO and IME.

Old, tired discussion IMO. Use your ears... if you don't dig 'em, don't buy 'em. Simple

[Jim C]

How about this for a variation on the original theme:

How comes the same size driver has such different characteristics in the same cab?
For example, a Carvin 15 sounds much brighter than a 15 EVM isn the same TL606 cabinet.
(may not be acousticaly correct but I prefer the Carvin)