Genos 2 Speakers

[Lee Batchelor]

Bogdan is absolutely correct.

I speaker maker can claim to produce a speaker capable of 45 Hz reproduction. The question is, "How loud does that 45 Hz play?" Most speakers are designed to reproduce a flat response. There's no such thing as a perfectly straight line frequency response but they can come close. There will always be a few dB difference up or down.

When a speaker produces frequencies in the bass region where the graph begins to sharply drop by 3dB (-3db actually, or what's known as the F3 cutoff point), that is considered the lowest frequency the speaker can effectively reproduce. Manufacturers often publish a -10dB frequency response. I suspect they're trying to impress potential buyers as to how low the speaker can go. The problem is it can't really go that low in terms of our hearing. A -10dB drop is a lot! To the human ear, a -10dB drop (the speaker's F10 cutoff point this time) represents one half perceived volume. It works the other way too. If you use a trumpet voice on the Genos for a solo and increase its volume by 10dB, the trumpet will sound twice as loud.

So, don't be impressed with the F10 cutoff point. Only look at the F3 cutoff point. As Bogdan wrote, the F3 of the Rokit 5 is likely 50 Hz, maybe only 55 Hz. Probably the latter. That will not produce the deep warm bass people like.

[Lefty]

So, don't be impressed with the F10 cutoff point. Only look at the F3 cutoff point.

I won't consider speakers that don't include testing results for response of +- 3db, and power rating in RMS, not peak power.  As well as other results such as self noise, and THD.

I generally look for independent testing of speakers on sites like this one, where they test my studio monitors: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/kali-lp-6-review-studio-monitor.17978/

Lee is very correct in saying that the room the speakers are playing in has a tremendous effect on how they sound.  That's why I'm amazed that folks ask others for their EQ curves.  They are completely room dependent.

I use a subwoofer to extend the bass response of my main speakers.  Properly adjusted, you don't notice the sub much, if at all.  You mainly notice if the subwoofer is not on.  It's as much how the music feels as how it sounds.

Best Regards,
   Craig

[Lee Batchelor]

Thanks Craig...good advice.

Another key is to not run the sub too loud. I try to think of my bass settings as to how a well balanced band sounds on a decent stage.

[rphillipchuk]

This is my setup

Yamaha MSP10 & SW10








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[BogdanH]

...
Properly adjusted, you don't notice the sub much, if at all.  You mainly notice if the subwoofer is not on.
...

-very well said 

However there's another problem that in most cases can't be avoided: crossover frequency.
While we can set low-pass on subwoofer, we can't set high-pass on studio monitors. And because of that, it's impossible to have whole frequency range in balance (flat).
Example:
Monitor starts at 50Hz (-3dB), but the lowest low-pass setting on subwoofer is 70Hz. In this case 50-70Hz range will be much louder than the rest of the spectrum, which results with unpleasant "boomy" bass in that range.
Only few affordable subwoofers manage crossover frequency properly: at changing low-pass frequency, the setting is also applied on outputs as high-pass frequency. Btw. KRK subwoofers are among those that do that correctly.

Bogdan

[Lefty]

However there's another problem that in most cases can't be avoided: crossover frequency.

Hi Bogdan, most of the powered studio systems are set up where the stereo output is routed to the subwoofer, then another set of cables route from the sub to the mains.  The subwoofer has a low pass filter, so it only gets the low frequencies, and then a high pass filter outputs to the mains.  This method works very well.  My system doesn't show a bump at all at 80 hz. (the crossover frequency on my system). I haven't run across any systems that will overlap where the same frequencies are being sent to the subs and the mains.

I measured the actual output from my system using REW, and a calibrated microphone.  The output is pretty flat from32 hz to 16,00 hz, with a +5 db hump at 43 hz.  I'm EQ'ing to the B&K curve, as I prefer it to the Harmon.

Best Regards,
   Craig

[BogdanH]

hi Craig,
I wasn't talking about your subwoofer (I have no idea which one you have). I was speaking in general, because many budget subwoofers don't have high-pass filter at outputs (where L+R mains are connected) -that is, outputs are simply parallel from input.
If subwoofer has high-pass filter on outputs, then I would expect that this would be mentioned in subwoofer description or in manual -because it's a quite important feature.

Greetings,
Bogdan

[Lefty]

hi Craig,
I wasn't talking about your subwoofer (I have no idea which one you have). I was speaking in general

Hey Bogdan.  Thanks for clarifying.  No, I wasn't talking about my subwoofer and mains so much as saying that my powered speakers are considered to be "entry level" for studio monitors, and they don't have issues with double amplification of bass frequencies.  Re-reading my post, I see how I created some confusion.  Note to self:  Never post in a hurry.

Thanks!
   Craig

P.S.

I am using Kali Audio 6.2 subwoofer (about $500 retail in US) and for mains Kali Audio LP6 V2. (about $300 a pair retail in US)

Most experienced folks consider this to be an entry level set of quality studio monitors.

[BogdanH]

hi Craig,
"Entry level" is many times understood as "better than nothing", which for sure isn't true for your Kali combo. If we forget some exotic/expensive speakers, then I would say it's above average (for home use).
Btw, I checked WS-6.2 manual, p.11: XLR Outputs) which confirms what you say: there's no bass bump -it can't be, because subwoofer has high-pass filter (80Hz) built-in for main speakers.

Greetings,
Bogdan