Situation

Live music is played using individual instruments meaning they all have their own source and acoustic space. When recorded and played back through speakers and a subwoofer, resonances plague the sound. These resonances are more obvious in the bass ranges. When the subwoofer is resonant all of the sound is smeared. True innovation is rare in the world of loudspeakers. It’s even rarer when the category is narrowed to subwoofer theory. 

The issue is resonance and the role it plays in subwoofer designs. All speaker drivers have a resonant frequency. It is well known and accepted to avoid the resonant frequency when using a tweeter or midrange driver. Although resonance represents efficiency the input signal has little control in this range. Damage can result if resonant frequencies in higher ranges are not filtered out by a crossover network.

Conventional Subwoofer technology

Subwoofer designs have always been based on operating the driver at its resonant frequency. When this approach is taken large enclosure and driver dimensions are the general approach. An artificially high moving mass is employed to reduce the resonance of the driver so it can resonate at a lower frequency. The resonance is now the factor that provides efficiency in a narrow range but negatively affecting all bass output. The added mass even makes ported subwoofers inefficient requiring hundred or thousands of watts to operate. The issue is more profound with sealed subwoofers as even more mass is required. Sealed subwoofers also require extensive bass boost and higher power requirements. The resulting performance is slow sluggish sound output.
Resonance is a time event that delays the efficient output of the ported subwoofer. Resonance takes time to develop and decay. Resonance keeps the drivers acoustic impedance unstable making it easier for room reflections to modify the drivers sound further. This is the situation described as small room acoustics. Attempting to solve this situation using DSP is mooted by the fact that room modes are unique for each part of the room. The subwoofer or woofer in the mains are the only affected sound sources experiencing this type of problem in small rooms.

TBI-HDSS-PLAA

TBI Audio Systems has developed innovative subwoofer technology that brings your audiophile system into Century 21! Our addition to the subwoofer technology is to define the proper method of loading the moving system of the driver. The Virtual Acoustic Transmission Line (VATL) is the result of patented technology. In employing the VATL our engineering team has determined that smaller is better for subwoofers. When the enclosed system is small the pressures created can be isothermally managed. Small enclosure dimensions minimize any time delays for VATL acoustical processes to complete.

The (LAA) Loudspeaker Acoustic Adapter manages the pressures created in operation. When the pressures are managed high moving mass is not required. The smaller dimensions allow for all frequencies to find their load and attain the proper velocity. Additional air mass is virtually added in the dynamic processing by the VATL to extend the low frequency response to below 20Hz.

There is no resonant principle delaying the output of the MS-6 series so the bass response is immediate. There are no unstable periods for the drivers diaphragm to be affected by room reflections. When the resonance is not there integration with your audiophile  music system is absolute. The subwoofer cannot be audibly located with its output becoming a part of your sound stage! It’s diminutive dimensions complement your well thought out music system. Conventional subwoofer designs are an eyesore before they become an audible enemy. Choose our MS series with confidence that it will solve your musical bass extension