DBX subharmonic synthesizer

[rubin]

I have this dbx product which runs through the tape loop of my preamp.When activated this thing will easily bottom out the woofers.Under the hood there is a large circut board and a very snall transformer.How does it produce so much bass?It's actually quite impressive.Would it be similar to the loudness button found on some receivers? When I do use it I have to be careful not to destroy the bass drivers.

[hoosier21]

Would it be similar to the loudness button found on some receivers?

yes, it is an EQ circuit with a bump in the bass dept.,

[GV#27]

I'm not sure if it works on the same principal but Audio Control had a similar product the Phase Coupled Activator.I believe the intent of both units is the restoration of the lowest octave only,whereas a loudness contour will work well up into the midbass and is only meant to compensate for low listening levels.

[hoosier21]

I'm not sure if it works on the same principal but Audio Control had a similar product the Phase Coupled Activator.I believe the intent of both units is the restoration of the lowest octave only,whereas a loudness contour will work well up into the midbass and is only meant for low listening levels.

your right, I over simplified my answer.

The DBX takes the lowest octive in the original signal, recreates it an octive lower and blends/adds it to the original signal

[rubin]

your right, I over simplified my answer.

The DBX takes the lowest octive in the original signal, recreates it an octive lower and blends/adds it to the original signal

Now that you guys mentioned it,yes that's what does, as I remember reading.But is it considered good/accurate bass or exagerated bass?Personally I like it.

[rubin]

I'm not sure if it works on the same principal but Audio Control had a similar product the Phase Coupled Activator.I believe the intent of both units is the restoration of the lowest octave only,whereas a loudness contour will work well up into the midbass and is only meant to compensate for low listening levels.

Ya I remember the A C unit also.

[GV#27]

.But is it considered good/accurate bass or exagerated bass?

I have no personal experience with it but my take is that as with any signal processor over zealous use will result in very unnatural effects.Used in moderation it "may" add a pleasing amount of bass extension to a system.The fact that you like what it does is all that matters.

[hoosier21]

fool around with it and have fun, but I would not use it for, well only for low level listening

[rubin]

fool around with it and have fun, but I would not use it for, well only for low level listening

Yep low level only otherwise too much(dangerous)cone movement.

[jm1]

A DBX subharmonic synthesizer samples bass frequencies between 55 and 110Hz, synthesizing corresponding frequencies exacly one octive lower and mixes then back into the music. This would not be the same as the loudness contour for low listening levels.

Setting amount of synthesized bass accordingly, you should have no problems listening at any spl level. These units are good for older material where they rolled off the bass as it creates corresponding amounts of bass in the lower octive.

[madmax]

I have the AudioControl version which supposedly takes the upper harmonics left over from the bass which was lost in the recording process and re-creates what used to be there from these higher harmonics. It sounds good so long as you don't over use it. Like a subwoofer you should only hear it now and then on something special. Of course we all know how everyone sets up subwoofers these days...
madmax

[rubin]

I have the AudioControl version which supposedly takes the upper harmonics left over from the bass which was lost in the recording process and re-creates what used to be there from these higher harmonics. It sounds good so long as you don't over use it. Like a subwoofer you should only hear it now and then on something special. Of course we all know how everyone sets up subwoofers these days...
madmax

ya too loud!!!!

[rubin]

A DBX subharmonic synthesizer samples bass frequencies between 55 and 110Hz, synthesizing corresponding frequencies exacly one octive lower and mixes then back into the music. This would not be the same as the loudness contour for low listening levels.

Setting amount of synthesized bass accordingly, you should have no problems listening at any spl level. These units are good for older material where they rolled off the bass as it creates corresponding amounts of bass in the lower octive.

It's easy to get carried away with it and over use .