prefer a speaker with full fre-
quency response from the del-
icate high-frequency shimmer
of a triangle to the lowest
notes of a church organ. All
speakers should ideally pro-
vide superior high frequency
performance, but speakers
with full output at low fre-
quencies require large drivers
and consequently large cabi-
nets with huge internal vol-
ume. Low frequencies also
require movement of large
amounts of air in the room.
There is little to be done
about these physical facts, as
long as we look at the loud-
speakers in isolation.
Another often overlooked fact
is that, although a speaker
may be capable of extended
deep bass performance, its
performance can be easily
compromised by adverse
room conditions.
This is a fact that cannot be
changed, and when a large
speaker is used in a room that
is too small, room overload
occurs and the compressed air
expands like waves in water.
This is caused/supported by
an acoustic phenomenon
called “room gain”, the room’s
automatic amplification of
lower frequencies by 12 dB
per octave.
The result is what is generally
termed “standing waves”.
This acoustic amplification of
bass is heard as an over-
whelming emphasis on the
lower frequencies. In audio
lingo it is referred to as a
“boomy” bass.
This type of bass may impress
some friends and annoy
neighbors but it can hardly be
described as high end sound
and is certainly not acceptable
to the educated listener.
Smaller Speakers
Many people prefer compact
speakers because they usually
do not suffer from these prob-
lems, but only because their
small enclosure and drivers
cannot generate enough ener-
gy to provide deep bass and
consequently excite the room.
The smaller speaker often has
superior midrange and high
frequency response simply
because the smaller enclosure
provides ideal working condi-
tions. Smaller speakers also
often offer a superior sound-
stage, allowing the speaker to
disappear as the soundstage
extends well beyond the phys-
ical positions of the speakers.
The generally smaller drivers
are faster and reproduce tran-
sients and details without the
delay and “overhang” often
found in larger drivers.
Again, there are no free
lunches and the trade-offs
with the small speaker are
reduced bass and lower maxi-
mum output than larger
speakers.
Critical listeners with vast
experience in listening to dif-
ferent speakers often com-
ment that they wish that they
could combine the sound-
stage, disappearing act and
speed of the small speaker
with the bass response of the
larger speaker.
At Gryphon we have over the
years made similar observa-
tions and faced the challenge
of small rooms at shows and
elsewhere. We are often
asked what speakers we use
