If your room has typical dimensions–20 x 14 x 8 ft., about 2,100 cu. ft.–one well-designed subwoofer with an internal amplifier equal in size to the full output of your receiver (full power for 1 channel + 1/8 power x the number of other channels) and a 10-inch or 12-inch driver should deliver solid deep …
Specialty Materials One reader sent along a link to www.quietsolution.com which markets a popular specialty soundproofing drywall called QuietRock, comprised of three layers of viscoelastic, ceramic and gypsum material. QuietRock’s QR-525, which incorporates these layers, claims to be remarkably effective—one 5/8-inch layer of it is said to be the equivalent of up to eight layers …
As much as we all love home theater movie soundtracks and music at realistic playback levels (“realistic” does not necessarily mean extremely loud), most of us have to deal with other people in our lives—family, roommates, companions, younger children and/or older relatives in the house, or neighbors in nearby, adjacent or adjoining homes. Even if …
Don’t get frustrated if you initially don’t hear anything from the subwoofer. You can easily test it. Disconnect the AV receiver subwoofer cable from the sub input jack and make sure the sub is connected to AC power and set to “On” or Auto-ON. You will need a portable iPod or music player of some …
However, not all sound enhancers require huge outlays of dollars; often a simple tweak of existing equipment, a modest purchase, or simple adjustment can make substantial audible improvements – and I emphasize audibility as the criterion by which any proposed upgrade should be judged. Frequently (with a couple of exceptions I’ll get to later) it’s …
Sometimes, however, after setup, the initial impact of the experience may not meet the owner’s expectations. Disappointment ensues. Frequently (with a couple of exceptions I’ll get to later) it’s through no intrinsic fault of the newly purchased audio-video equipment, but rather just plain old mistakes in system setup. Herewith are some of the most common …
Although it’s not the easiest thing to comprehend, doubling the amplifier power does not double the loudness. In the above example, the sound from the speakers would not be “twice as loud”; it would only be “a little louder,” an increase of 3 decibels. How loud is that? Hearing tests with large groups of people …