 Help me understand these speaker graphs..
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 317
devotee
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OP
devotee
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 317 |
Hey guys, im kinda lost when it comes to reading the graphs all over the net about different kinds of speakers. For example, for the M60's. It says: "Freq Resp +/-3dB (Hz): 37 - 22kHz" Can someone break this down for me and help to understand what that means exactly. I have heard people say a good Floorstanding speaker will a response to 30Hz or so? Do the M60's do this and what does it mean? I have so much to learn... Thanks for any help guys. 
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Re: Help me understand these speaker graphs..
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,463 Likes: 1
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,463 Likes: 1 |
Jay, the most important part of those numbers is the +/-3dB. It tells you that the M60s will play down to 37Hz without a significant drop in spl. Axiom also includes +/-9dB numbers to tell you the limit of the speakers frequency response. In this case, the M60s can reach down to 27Hz, but at a significant drop in spl.
A lot of manufacturers will post numbers, but won't give you much more info. We had a thread on this a while back. What good is it if the manufacturer says speaker x can play down to 25Hz when in reality that number is -15dB?
***********
"Nothin' up my sleeve. . ." --Bullwinkle J. Moose
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Re: Help me understand these speaker graphs..
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,463 Likes: 1
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,463 Likes: 1 |
Also, having a speaker that can reproduce sounds down to 30Hz means you are pretty well covered in terms of producing almost all sound in popular music. Unless you like pipe organ, you won't be missing much musical info.
I ain't no expert tho. Someone will probably offer a better response. I gave you the nuts and bolts version, others can do the blueprint.
***********
"Nothin' up my sleeve. . ." --Bullwinkle J. Moose
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Re: Help me understand these speaker graphs..
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654 |
Jay, +/-3dB represents a "window" of 6dB, i.e. everything within the specified frequency limits should fall within that 6dB window. For example, if a high point in the response happened to be at 200Hz, then nothing within the specified frequency limits should be more than 6dB below that. The low point would almost always be in the low bass, here at 37Hz. Note also that Ian has reported in the past that when a response graph has been taken in an anechoic chamber rather than a room the bass response may not be accurately shown below 80Hz or so and a correction factor has to be applied to arrive at a more realistic lower frequency limit.
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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: Help me understand these speaker graphs..
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 317
devotee
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that makes more sense. thanks!
one question, when you say, "In this case, the M60s can reach down to 27Hz, but at a significant drop in spl."
this is going to sound dumb but why does the spl drop?
thanks for the help guys. much appriciated.
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Re: Help me understand these speaker graphs..
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 317
devotee
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Quote:
Jay, +/-3dB represents a "window" of 6dB, i.e. everything within the specified frequency limits should fall within that 6dB window. For example, if a high point in the response happened to be at 200Hz, then nothing within the specified frequency limits should be more than 6dB below that. The low point would almost always be in the low bass, here at 37Hz. Note also that Ian has reported in the past that when a response graph has been taken in an anechoic chamber rather than a room the bass response may not be accurately shown below 80Hz or so and a correction factor has to be applied to arrive at a more realistic lower frequency limit.
that actually answers my question that I just quoted St_Patguy.
last thing, could you guys give me an example of what a graph looks like for a bad speaker? just starting to really get into the audio side of thing and i think it would be great to actually compare different graphs and such now that I actually have a clue is to what it means!
thanks again guys!
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Re: Help me understand these speaker graphs..
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
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Posts: 10,654 |
Sure Jay; check these out at $3,600 a pair. You might also study Dr. Toole's excellent paper which deals largely with speaker measurements.
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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: Help me understand these speaker graphs..
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 317
devotee
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Quote:
Sure Jay; check these out at $3,600 a pair.
You might also study Dr. Toole's excellent paper which deals largely with speaker measurements.
Thanks you very much, Im going to read Dr. Toole's paper now!
Thanks again!
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Re: Help me understand these speaker graphs..
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,155
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,155 |
Ideally, for the most accurate music representation, you would want the graph to be flat. Of course, it is very difficult or impossible to do that with today's drivers.
As the graph falls off, you are getting less "music power" for each watt of "amplifier power." The speaker's efficiency just falls off.
If you have a "good" sub, I wouldn't worry about the bottom fall or roll off.
The Rat.
M80s, VP-150, QS8s,
SVS PC 20-39+, OPPO,
Onkyo 703s, Harmony 880
Sony 60" SXRD HDTV
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