What are Bass reflex cabinets?

This mini series looks at the mechanics of bass reflex, transmission line (Voigt pipe, TQWP), and mass loaded transmission lines.
I'm giving a PRACTICAL explanation, Please do not expect a fully technical documentary. That is NOT the purpose of this little series.
The purpose is to help you visualize and APPLY how these technologies work, and what are the CONDITIONS that will warrant the use of one or the other.
Thank you for watching! ;
Janos

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

Every technology has it's benefits or /and shortcommings................BR is a commercial solution to produce bass levels unexpected relative to the volume of the speaker....in ( to ) many conform to the " wife acceptance factor " and to keep the peace in the household ( am I sexist ? )..as well as for financial considerations ( cheaper than bigger enclosed speakers )..............great bass from a relative smaller speaker rather than the bass of BIG high efficiency speakers /Volume monsters in " comparrison " ...........everything being relative ( thanks Albert ! )........... IS it the same bass experience and expression ...........NO ! There's a BIG difference between heavy bass , controled loud bass wiyth impact and the very fast bass without the bumps and the rainbow of all ,the colors ogf the bass notes , just as RICH as in the medium ..............mostly absent in most commercial speakers.....the same dance and fellings of nuances that makes music sing in all regsiters.. real deep bass is not in the amount off bass deliverd but in the feeling of the presence and experience of the SOUNDSTAGE.................the place where it happens .........tehe space be it outside or in a church , a foom , a castel ............or whatever ........and the feeling of the air present when the recordings is taken..........one can sometimes feel the weather , cold or hot , rainy cloudy day , mornig sun or evening atmosphere............that's what a very revealing system is capable to set a scene ..............and thats the paradise of tubes and high sensitivity speakers ...and good sources ( mostly analog ) ...........When it works .............one instantly recognizes the natural world with it's magic without the gimmicks glorified by a ceratin kind of high end illusions.... Well içf that suits the demand and expectations............than glorify and standardize the BR as the standard ...........Whatever ! Do I have BR speakers .....................YES I do ! ...but not only BR speakers !!! What is a good indicator for a CORRECT tuned BR enclosure and speakers sedd inside ......... have a look at the impedance curve.................there are TWO distinct peaks in the low part od the impedace curve...............IF ..........they are similar in value and dimensions..........then the BR was well conceived ..............Many are not ! Pushed in output volume there's a tendancy to start hearing the PUfffffsssssssssssssss. Many try to limts those BR defaults...... Below the cut off frequency the BR shuts down very steeply....................Closed enclosures fall off more early but the slope goes down gradually ................so it can be compensated with a boost inthe lows.........( withinlimits of the amplifier and the speaker output ) Bigger or huge close enclosures have the advantage in the lower registers ...........and what I like about it is the "speed" of the bass instead of the resonanced bass off the BR. But anyway as long as one can enjoy any technology ............... I am curious about the Voight pipe for several decades , Maybe it's time to think about realizing one ......... Nothing compares ...........as in that song............... A sunny day to everyone. I have a pair of P3ES ...(BR) ................and a pair off old KEF 101rr.............( Closed ) ................i listen more to one of them than the other ( proximity listening ) I position them like listening to free headphones ......or better earspeakers....and that works well in that case............with bigger speakers it doesn't , with nearfield style LS3/5 it does . Does it compare to tube SET and high efficiancy speakers.............NO ! But can it be enjoyable and musical with a good source and a good amplifier at a moderate listening level ?....................YES. SO everything is RELATIVE................When music flows into your heart ......ALL is ok whatever make a good combination that one can forget when listening.........

[@carlosmacmartin4205]

"You have to choose the right one for your room and for your listening needs." 👍 Bravo 👏Makes complete sense! Thank you!

[@NickP333]

You touched upon something that I think people need to understand. Some people think that audiophiles have “golden ears”, which isn’t true. It takes time to learn what to listen for and you need to train yourself to do so. I’m glad you looked into your crystal ball and saw the bass reflex cabinet questions on their way…lol Great description, btw. My speakers are bass reflex speakers. They’ve got a MTM / D’appolito style configuration with two 10” drivers and three soft dome tweeters between the drivers, and at 95dB sensitivity are very easy to drive. They have a frequency response of supposedly 20Hz -30kHz. Thankfully, my room is rather large with wooden walls and ceiling with two wooden beams. But…I still want to build my own speakers as well, and I am going to. I really feel I can build my dream end game speakers. 😊👍🔊🎶🐱 Thank you, Janos.

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

One has to learn by experience..................difficult in a world drifting away from the earth's nature.............just like choosing a modern very high priced high end system without never have experienced real music , a real classical orchestra , a real singer not backed up by amplification or digitl tuned to eliminate the singers errors..................or having listened to nature far away from the noise generated by the human society ........ The ear can be easily impressed by created sounds ....as well can it recognize natural sounds ........

[@NickP333]

@@frankgeeraerts6243 So true and so well described, Frank. Human kind and technology isn’t always a positive. This instant gratification given by social media seems so detrimental to our species. Unfortunately, too many people have not heard real unamplified music, and rely on these ridiculously priced systems and say how “realistic” it sounds……The auto tune digitally tuned vocals are an abomination. Imagine if they’d used that on someone like Bob Dylan. It’d have been a total tragedy. Many thanks, Frank. I always appreciate your comments, and I truly enjoy reading them

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

Hello Nick , that remembers me of my old neighbor while sitting on the bench in front od his house......he has over 90 years old and doesn't hear or see very well any more...............but when a pretty young girl walks by he turns his head ...... Golden ears .................hahaha........but besides the brain has to learn to listen to natural saounds and music.........in an arrtificial world the brain never learns and the I pod and the in-ear speaker are the ultimate in the musical experience for the many..............reality is in the perception .........and tasting a good wine is tasting a good wine........ Have a nice day

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

@@NickP333 Indeed Nick .....auto tune is a fine example where something goes realy wrong even if for mass consumption it turns errors into the new art. Or many try to imitate the voice / tonality of the ONE that has all the succes and the money that goes with that commercial rewarded succes. I have no objection to customers spending their money on these overpriced illusion ( a choice is something personal ) but I do not agree with the lies of the marketting to create those customers by very experienced marketting techniques......and the made ( fake ) beliefs that go with that . same happend to MoFi recently , it's not because of the digital masters used but not to tell the truth , everybody , most customers made the assumption they were buying real remastering of the original analog mastertapes............ommision to tell the truth is recolting / stealing the money of people who trusted the company... I still learn every day and I am happy to share with you , as well as to learn from you ...... I was very troubled in the seventies to discover that some very popular singers /musicians on the radio .........sounded not so real when played back on a better more revealing system , at that time digital processing didn't exist but reverberation and the graphic equalizers were extensivley used ..........the albums sold a million times ..........but when the truth revealed itself , realy good systems revealed the lie. Have a good time..and to continue the passion....

[@NickP333]

Hahaha 😂 Great story, Frank. The brain picks up a lot more than I think people give it credit for. Yes, Frank! I believe our brains want natural sounds and music. Our world in becoming more artificial, but as you so brilliantly put it, “tasting a good wine is tasting a good wine”. So well put. I so much enjoy reading your comments, Frank, and I’m very much glad to have the privilege of hearing yours and sharing my thoughts with you.

[@mikesaunders4694]

Very clear summary thx

[@realworldaudio]

Thank you Mike! ;

[@csabaszeverenyi4318]

Először gyanus volt az akcentus, aztán bemondtad a neved és nem volt kérdés , hogy ezt a nyelvet használjam. 🙂😉 Gratulálok a csatornához János ! Nagyon hasznos , tartalmas , értékes. Most találtam rá...... Köszi. 🙂

[@realworldaudio]

Köszönöm Csaba, örülök hogy tetszik és hasznos! ; János

[@dilbyjones]

Sounds legit.

[@nicktube3904]

Great to see your channel growing Janos! I really appreciate the work and effort you put in the channel. You do it without expecting something back, sharing valuable knowledge here. Great great work! Is it an idea to create some kind of forum perhaps? To go more in-depth with DIY. Where other followers can respond and help each other in the proces. Just an idea what came in my mind..

[@realworldaudio]

Thank you Nick! Yes, there's a lot of request for a forum! It would be totally awesome, but that for me would be another major effort on top of the channel. I'm already at the point of either answering comments or making videos... I hope though to make it happen, Dan has offered help in making it happen. I'd like to start it up around the end of the year / early next year, when things quiet down a little for me.

[@anandshah71]

Are you going to have a video on the sealed tapered horn and TL

[@realworldaudio]

Yes, VP/TL coming out tomorrow, and I'm planning a BR/MLTL one within the week. ;

[@anandshah71]

What do I need to get great sound of my system in low volume at night when family is sleeping

[@realworldaudio]

Full range drivers... they are kings of low volume, nothing comes close.

[@dannixon247]

I think it's a product called Xanax?.....😏

[@realworldaudio]

@@dannixon247 Or a single malt... ;)

[@NickP333]

@@realworldaudio 😂

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

A GOOD headphone...............but a closed type hahaha........

[@wsissons1]

How are the cube audio drivers breaking in.........

[@realworldaudio]

Superbly! Every materials choice in a drivers construction imparts specific strengths and weaknesses. I am truly amazed that the inherent weaknesses that come from the parts choices are not pronounced, in fact, are barely noticeable. (This might not seem very enthusiastic for many readers, but it's really the highest praise any driver can get! - Delivering the strengths of the design & materials choices while avoiding the pitfalls.) It really shows in the sound that Grzegorz and his team have investigated every corner of driver mechanics, and came up with an exceptional solution - and they used their ears in the process, instead of flying blind! For the subjective experience with break-in: very musical, involving, yet detailed sound! Holographic textural details without the feeling that it's a "show", or a faked production. Extremely high detail level, yet retaining connection to the music.. 👍✨

[@wsissons1]

@@realworldaudio Try some Tracy Chapman....

[@NickP333]

@@realworldaudio That’s fantastic, Janos! I was going to ask the same thing, but I’m glad I found this response. So glad they’re providing that high of a level of performance for FR drivers!

[@realworldaudio]

@@wsissons1 I've been on a Lisa Gerrard marathon... ; )