Advantages of a large subwoofer driver
Low frequency extension and sound pressure level (SPL) are widely considered to be the two most important factors in subwoofer performance. The laws of physics indicate that a large subwoofer driver has the potential to produce greater SPL and deeper bass than a smaller subwoofer driver. Being able to shake our trouser legs, hit our chests hard, and make the room feel more breathing, these are the advantages of a properly designed large subwoofer driver.
However, SPL and low frequency extension are not the only important indicators to measure performance, and not all large drives perform equally calmly. When judging the performance of any size subwoofer, accuracy, transient speed, and the ability to seamlessly integrate with full-range speakers are also key factors. The quality of the subwoofer driver depends on the support of the motor and amplifier, so a larger driver Does not always mean better performance.
Pitfalls of the big subwoofer driver
Acoustics, subwoofers with 15, 18, and 20-inch drivers are more susceptible to rumble and distortion than subwoofers with 10, 12, or 13-inch drivers, because the pistons with such a large surface area move more. Hard to control. Poorly designed large subwoofer drivers and motors are insufficient to produce accurate bass, and it is difficult to start and stop immediately. This can cause the low-frequency output to sound fuzzy, rumbling, or bloated, and reduce the credibility of the audio experience.
If the motor magnets in a smaller subwoofer can generate more force and exert better control over the driver, then a subwoofer with a 10-inch or 12-inch driver might even outperform a subwoofer with a larger driver . This is why the size of the subwoofer driver can be overestimated when determining the overall performance. In short, a large driver is more difficult to control, and compared with a small subwoofer, it cannot guarantee a greater sound pressure level or a deeper bass.
Engineering challenges of large subwoofer drivers
The subwoofer driver is only theoretical bass. The larger the driver, the greater the amplifier current and magnetic energy required to drive and control the piston movement, and this current can only allow you to go further.
The current must effectively pass through the voice coil located in the magnetic gap of the motor magnet. The magnitude and direction of the current passing through the coil generates an electromagnetic field, which reacts with the permanent magnetic field of the motor magnet. This will push and pull the voice coil, and then move the driver cone to the extreme offset level, thereby moving enough air. This air movement is the sound we hear and feel, including tangible SPL and bass notes below the limit of human hearing. The more challenging part is maintaining precise control of the large drive at the same time, so it only plays the notes and subsonic speeds that should be heard and felt, not unwanted distortion.
Beat the pitfalls of large subwoofer drivers
When starting to develop the 16-inch driver, SVS engineers tried to win the battle for output and deep bass extension without sacrificing frequency response accuracy and transient speed. This is the main reason why SVS has spent more than 2 years in development (including many burnt-out drivers) so that the design of SVS meets the reference power and accuracy standards of all its subwoofer designs.
The turning point of the 16-Ultra series of subwoofers involved a number of key innovations. The first is an 8-inch edge-wound voice coil, which is the largest voice coil ever deployed in a consumer subwoofer. The huge voice coil circumference allows the woofer to exert full control over the 16-inch Ultra driver and remain accurate and distortion-free at precise speeds in transients, even at the reference playback level. The four heaviest toroidal ferrite magnets used in the subwoofer produce unprecedented levels of magnetic force, and the machined motor components produce amazing low-frequency output levels with minimal distortion. The cone material is composed of high-quality glass fiber resin composite material, which can move a large amount of air and sound energy without bending or losing control.
Promoting the driver and motor components with effortless power is the conservatively rated Sledge STA-1500D amplifier with 1,500 watt continuous and 5,000 plus watt peak power, with a completely discrete MOSFET output. The discrete MOSFET output unleashes almost unlimited power in the Sledge amplifier and pushes the 16-inch driver to the ultimate level of performance. MOSFET also represents an upgrade to the less robust integrated circuit output stage in almost all other Class D subwoofer amplifiers.
The 50 MHz analog device audio DSP with 56-bit filtering utilizes almost unlimited power. This advanced DSP is the most advanced processing engine used in consumer subwoofers. It can provide 16-Ultra subwoofers with exquisite behavior and original output, while achieving precise tuning to release perfect low frequencies at the right time Energy, just the right frequency.
