I've been seeing a lot of DSP subs around lately and it seems to be mostly confined to more expensive models... what is it, really?

I know it stands for Digital Signal Processing, but does it actually make a big diff? All the advertising says so, including Axioms, "and it (EP400) uses the custom DSP algorithm to extract maximum sound pressure levels..."

Right now I'm looking at the Axiom EP350 for my HT... but I'm also looking at a 200W 10" Paradigm DSP in the same price range.

At this point I'm thinking I don't care... and just go with Axiom's 12" 350 unless DSP is a "really big deal"

Feedback?

Thanks
snazzed

Correction, that was the bottom end Paradigm DSP. I was looking at the next one up, the DSP-3200, 12" Woofer and 300Watts. Its a little more expensive than the Axiom at my local dealer.

Thanks again
snazzed

I have had a chance to hear both the DSP 3200 and EP350, pretty much identical, IMO, although I never did a side by side comparison.

People who have a lot more technological savvy than I do could probably explain in more detail how DSP subs work, but the way I understand it is that the amplifiers in them stabilize the signal more than a regular sub along with making it virtually impossible to overdrive it. Environment is such an important part of how subs will sound so unless one has the opportunity of comparing them side by side, especially in the environment it will be placed, I don't know how one makes a choice.

normally, a DSP sub if designed correctly like the Axioms, Can't distort at any SPL levels.

The DSP allows the amp very precise control over the cone's movements. I'm not 100% sure of the inner workings. But by delaying the signal slightly (DSP subs need additional time delay applied to the other speakers in the receiver) it can make changes to the waveform to counter act the physical limitations of the driver. Sort of how an amplifier uses feedback to look at the output signal vs. the input, and then apply an inverted difference (the distortion) to the input to reverse-distort the input so the output is cleaner. If you know the inertial effect of the cone, surround, air, then you can pre-compensate for how you want the cone to move vs. how it is actually moving. I don't know if this is done from reading some sort of feedback, or from pre-computed tables for each system. But I've read that this absolute control over a speaker cone can only be applied up to a few hundred Hz. Which is why it can't be done with anything but subs (for now).

Thanks for the info guys.

Now for the kicker. Do you think DSP would be a big enough deal to pay the extra couple hundred in a similar size sub, or take 1 step down in Driver Size and Power?

Paradigm DSP-3100, 10", 200W -$100
Axiom EP350 12", 300W $Reference
Paradigm DSP-3200, 12", 300W +$200

I think perhaps I'm making to big a deal about it. My listening area is less than 100sqft (whole room: 200sqft) so any of these subs will likely fill the space with power to spare.

At this point the difference would have to be substantial to make me deal with more than one speaker company. (I like to keep things simple)

Thanks
snazzed

If you like your bass played at coffee table shaking levels, then a DSP sub will bring some peace of mind that you won't over drive it into distortion or even damage. I don't believe it will make a significant difference in audio quality until you hit levels when the protection would start to kick in.

In my experience 12" subs move that much more air and work much better for HT due to the larger driver size. I have found just about any driver size will work for most music, extreme low pipe organ music withstanding. I would stick with the 12" driver versions for future proofing due to possible larger rooms.