Subwoofer

These claims are scientifically disputed and unresolved as of yet. In philosophy, theoreticism refers to the overuse of theory. They further claim that Kicker's square design puts too much stress on the corners of the cones. In the humanities, theory is often used as an abbreviation for critical theory or literary theory, referring to continental philosophy's aesthetics or its attempts to understand the structure of society and to conceptualize alternatives. Sony claims that its pentagon shape reduces standing waves on the surface of the cone as well as improves the overall strength of the cone structure, reducing "cone flex". Theories exist not only in the so-called hard sciences; but in all fields of academic study, from philosophy to music to literature. The intent of the triangular design does not seem to be motivated by sound quality or intensity, but rather to encourage creativity in installation and provide flexibility for otherwise awkward positions. This sets a fundamental limit to the applicability of any mathematical system.

However, a triangular design decreases the surface area of the woofer cone relative to a circular or square design in an enclosure of the same size. However, Gödel's incompleteness theorem shows that no consistent theory capable of defining the concept of natural numbers can derive all true statements about those numbers. The increased surface area translates into moving more air and higher sound pressure levels. Obvious examples include arithmetic (abstracting the concept of number), geometry (the concept of space), and probability (the concept of randomness). In enclosures of the same size, it is possible to achieve more subwoofer cone surface area with a square design than a circular design. The resulting theorems often provide solutions to real-world problems which correspond to the original abstraction. The intent of a square subwoofer is to increase the surface area of the woofer's cone. A typical theory will present certain axioms and rules, corresponding to a useful or interesting abstraction, and then derive non-obvious theorems from those axioms.

However, they can be useful in creating unique 'looks' in a car audio system that is meant to be seen as much as heard, and to create brand distinction and recognition. A theory in this sense is a set of statements closed under certain rules of inference. There is no known auditory advantage to these shapes. The term "theory" also has a formal usage in mathematics, particularly in mathematical logic and model theory. Other companies, such as Sony, have jumped on the bandwagon, producing non-round subwoofers of their own. Examples include group theory, set theory, Lebesgue integration theory and field theory. Xtant has introduced a hexagonal subwoofer. This knowledge consists of axioms, definitions, theorems and computational techniques, all related in some way by tradition or practice.

Bazooka has introduced a triangular subwoofer. In mathematics, the word theory is used informally to refer to certain distinct bodies of knowledge about mathematics. Stillwater Designs, nicknamed Kicker, released a square subwoofer several years ago, the Solo-Baric series, and recently, the Solo X. One can sum up all this by saying that the criterion of the scientific status of a theory is its falsifiability, or refutability, or testability."--end quote. Within the last few years, the car audio field has seen a variety of subwoofers utilizing non-round shapes. (I later described such a rescuing operation as a "conventionalist twist" or a "conventionalist stratagem."). Some waterproof models work underwater, or placed on the underside of a deck, to create sound. Such a procedure is always possible, but it rescues the theory from refutation only at the price of destroying, or at least lowering, its scientific status.

They can be placed on a large flat surface create a large, though poor, loudspeaker. Some genuinely testable theories, when found to be false, are still upheld by their admirers — for example by introducing ad hoc some auxiliary assumption, or by reinterpreting the theory ad hoc in such a way that it escapes refutation. These devices typically don't provide as much vibration per dollar as simply placing a reasonably priced subwoofer against the back of the furniture, so at their current prices are most useful for not disturbing anyone than vibrating to audio. 7. However, some feel that the vibrations are a little disembodied from the rest of the auditory experience. (I now speak in such cases of "corroborating evidence."). These have recently emerged as a device, called a tactile transducer by at least one brand, that attaches to furniture, such as one's seat, via which vibrations are transmitted to the body; they can be connected to an amplifier as per a normal loudspeaker. Confirming evidence should not count except when it is the result of a genuine test of the theory; and this means that it can be presented as a serious but unsuccessful attempt to falsify the theory.

Since much bass is felt, sub-bass can be augmented using tactile transducers. 6. Indeed, hearing loss is one concern, alongside space considerations and neighbour relations. Testability is falsifiability; but there are degrees of testability: some theories are more testable, more exposed to refutation, than others; they take, as it were, greater risks. Such "SPL wars" have drawn much attention to subwoofers in general, but subjective competitions of sound quality ("SQ") has not gained similar popularity. Every genuine test of a theory is an attempt to falsify it, or to refute it. Naturally, these sound levels are not safe for humans. 5.

In international car stereo competitions, over 100 subwoofers driven by some 100,000 watts have been used to generate over 180 decibels. Irrefutability is not a virtue of a theory (as people often think) but a vice. Curiously, some car stereo enthusiasts seem intent on producing ultra-high sound pressure levels in the confines of their vehicle's cabin. A theory which is not refutable by any conceivable event is non-scientific. Typically, subwoofers are installed in the trunk. 4. The automobile is ideal for the "hidden" subwoofer approach due to space limitations of locations such as doors (ignoring the acoustic problems of a car interior). The more a theory forbids, the better it is.

All of these subwoofers tend to have in-built amplification. Every "good" scientific theory is a prohibition: it forbids certain things to happen. These can be purchased separately, to be added to an existent system or when considering a set of speakers; or as part of a high-end speaker package. 3. On the other hand, high-end domestic subwoofers are manufactured by companies such as M&K, HSU, Velodyne, SVS, and REL. Confirmations should count only if they are the result of risky predictions; that is to say, if, unenlightened by the theory in question, we should have expected an event which was incompatible with the theory — an event which would have refuted the theory. Further, small satellites systems typically cross over the bass above 90 Hz, introducing the subwoofer "localization effect". 2.

They are too weak to play any real deep bass. It is easy to obtain confirmations, or verifications, for nearly every theory — if we look for confirmations. Most multimedia "subwoofers" should probably have been called "woofers". 1. Particularly among low cost systems, however, it may be little more than a marketing device: it's not likely that a small woofer in a compact cabinet will have better bass performance than good speakers; as mentioned, the term "subwoofer" is no guarantee of particular bass performance. Karl Popper described the characteristics of a scientific theory as:. The physically separate subwoofer/satellite arrangement has been popularised by lifestyle systems, such as those manufactured by Bose, and multimedia speakers, examples of which include the Klipsch ProMedia. The fewer which are matched, the less scientific it is; those that meet only several or none at all, cannot be said to be scientific in any meaningful sense of the word.

("Bass management" or "Small" mode for the satellite speakers is common among equipment such as Dolby Digital surround processors/receivers.). Theories considered scientific meet at least most, but ideally all, of the above criteria. All low frequency information is sent to the subwoofer. This is true of such established theories as special and general relativity, quantum mechanics, plate tectonics, evolution, etc. Note that only one subwoofer need be used, even when using 5 or more satellite speakers—e.g., for surround sound. In science, a body of descriptions of knowledge is usually only called a theory once it has a firm empirical basis, i.e., it. Harmonics at higher frequencies (from the satellites) can then be used, by the auditory system, to calculate the directional information. This falsification, though, did not necessarily mean that only one alternative theory was necessarily the "correct" replacement — both the Copernican system and the Tychonic system predicted the phases of Venus.

(e.g., it has been suggested subwoofer(s) be placed in the corner of the room, far from large room openings, and closer to the listener.) This is possible since low bass frequencies have a long wavelength; hence there is little difference between the information reaching our left and right ears, and we are unable to easily locate their direction below 90 Hz. Evidence, in the form of Galileo's observation of the phases of Venus in 1610, was produced which was completely incompatible with the predictions set forth by the theory. Physical separation of subwoofer and "satellite" speakers not only enables placement in an inconspicuous location, but since sub-bass frequencies are particularly sensitive to location (e.g., due to room resonance and 'modes'), the best position of the subwoofer may not be where the "satellite" speakers are located. A canonical example of a disproved theory is the geocentric model of the universe proposed by Ptolemy. (e.g., some speakers include a subwoofer in the lower portion of the cabinet.). A law is a general statement based on observations. Thus, subwoofers may be part of a package that includes satellite speakers, purchased separately, or built into the cabinet of a conventional loudspeaker. Theories and laws are not rungs in a ladder of truth, but different sets of data.

Rather, the intention may be to use small main ("satellite") speakers (of which there are 2 for stereo, and 5 or more for surround sound) and locate ("hide") the subwoofer elsewhere; to augment an existent speaker to relieve it of reproducing bass and gain output level and/or quality; or because high levels of low bass are required and using a dedicated amplifier and speaker provides the output level and quality required. This, however, rests on a mistaken assumption of what theories and laws are. A conventional woofer may reproduce frequencies up to 200, 300, or in a two-way speaker a mid-woofer (paired with a tweeter) also handles midrange, up to 3,000 hertz or more. Some scientific theories (such as the theory of gravity) are so widely accepted that they are often seen as laws. It should be noted that a subwoofer does not necessarily provide superior bass performance to large conventional loudspeakers; they are merely subwoofers because they ought to reproduce only the lowest frequencies. In scientific theories, this then leads to research, in combination with auxiliary and other hypotheses (see scientific method), which may then eventually lead to a theory. Considering they operate outdoors and the average listener is hundreds or even thousands of feet away from the devices, they are impressive. Theories start out with empirical observations such as "sometimes water turns into ice." At some point, there is a need or curiosity to find out why this is, which leads to a theoretical/scientific phase.

People who are accustomed to bass in home audio systems and car audio many times think that the subs in a concert PA system aren't putting out that much. Instead, theories remain standing until they are disproved, at which point they are thrown out altogether or modified to fit the additional data. On average, music applications generally require less capability than movie soundtracks in the very lowest octave, but modern popular music is changing this preconception and this is reflected in the design attention given to the subwoofer section of the PA system nowadays compared to a couple of decades ago. In science, a theory is not considered fact or infallible, because we can never assume we know all there is to know. Pro Audio subs have to be capable of very high output levels – after all, concert venues may seat 10,000s of individuals outdoors. A theory is an established paradigm that explains all or much of the data we have and offers valid predictions that can be tested. A large horn-loaded version called the BassTech-7 can be found in venues such as theme park rides. But in science and generally in academic usage, a theory is much more than that.

Another extreme pro audio device is the ServoDrive ContraBass, where the driver's cone is moved using a belt-drive coupled servo motor. As noted above, in common usage a theory is defined as little more than a guess or a hypothesis. Intended for applications such as night club installations and concert sound reinforcement this cabinet is still popular with PA system equipment rental companies. The process of accepting theories, or of extending existing theory, is part of the scientific method. A now-discontinued but popular Electro-Voice subwoofer employs a "Manifold Technology" configuration to fit four 18-inch drivers into a relatively compact enclosure. Theories are more likely to be accepted if they connect a wide range of phenomena. One of the most powerful subs manufactured can play as low as 25 Hz and can cover thousands of feet and uses two 12-inch woofers on a 13-foot (4 m) long folded horn (the EAW bh822e or KF940). Theories which are simpler, and more mathematically elegant, tend to be accepted over theories which are complex.

12-inch drivers in very large folded horns are also becoming popular now. Theories can become accepted if they are able to make correct predictions and avoid incorrect ones. For electronic music events with at least a thousand audience members there are often more than 20 double-18-inch cabinets on either side of the stage. A theory is also different from a physical law in that the latter is a model of reality, whereas the former is an explanatory statement of what has been observed, explaining the why and how of the observed physical law. They are usually direct radiating in a ported enclosure built of 13-ply birch. The latter is a statement of mathematical fact which logically follows from a set of axioms. The 18-inch woofer driver is the primary majority device for pro audio applications. The former is a model of physical events and cannot be proved from basic axioms.

Similar popular PA systems are made by JBL, Electro-Voice, EAW and Meyer Sound. A theory is different from a theorem. Popular sub systems in use currently are made by companies such as EAW but usually the subs will be made by the manufacturer of the rest of the PA system such as L-Acoustics and their V-Dosc Line Array with its matching dual 18-inch sub cabinets. Most theory evolves from hypotheses, but the reverse is not true: many hypotheses turn out to be false and so do not evolve into theory. Many times the subs are not part of the entire sound mix but are specifically fed just kick drum, bass guitar and other low-frequency content from a separate output on the main mixing console. There are two uses of the word theory; a supposition which is not backed by observation is known as a conjecture, and if backed by observation it is a hypothesis. Similar systems are used in theme park rides, such as "Days of Thunder," which uses sound to simulate a physical impact. In engineering practise, to avoid confusion with a physical model (e.g., the winged rockets built by Convair to test the Whitcomb area rule for the F-106 supersonic aircraft), the above are called "mathematical models".

This was simply a set of large sub-woofers designed to create infra-bass (felt but not heard). So one can see how a theory is a model of reality that explains certain scientific facts yet may not be a true picture of reality and another more accurate theory can later replace the previous model. An unusual example of the use of sub-woofers came with the release of Earthquake in 1974 where they used a system called Sensurround to create a feeling of an earthquake. Mathematical calculations could be made for the prediction of where the planets would be to a great degree of accuracy, so that this model of the planetary system survived over 1500 years until the time of Copernicus. The bulk of the sound system is usually "flown" (suspended from the ceiling by chain hoists) and the subs are usually stacked on the stage or the ground in front of the stage to the left and right of the performance space. This could actually be built into a literal model and illustrated as a model. Large concert sound systems always use subwoofers (referred to as "subs" by the engineers and crew). Retrograde motion of the planets was explained by smaller circular orbits of individual planets.

Note that movie theatre speakers (situated behind a perforated screen) typically use 15" drivers (woofers), so the use here is only to reproduce the lowest frequencies at high sound pressure levels. In Ptolemy's planetary model, the earth was at the center, the planets and the sun made circular orbits around the earth, and the stars were on a sphere outside of the orbits of the planet and the earth. Some of these applications require subwoofers designed for very high sound levels, such as the JBL 4645 – certified for THX movie theatres – which uses an 18" driver (woofer). The Greeks formulated theories that were recorded by the astronomer Ptolemy. Subwoofers are found in professional applications such as live concerts, movie theatres, various other sound reinforcement applications (ranging from nightclubs to theme restaurants) and studios. An example of how theories are models can be seen from theories on the planetary system. This track is often used aggressively by mixing artists. Therefore, the model created in his theory is based on the assumption that light maintains a constant velocity (or more precisely the speed of light is a constant).

The .1 channel is usually dedicated to extended bass frequencies, for example, the low frequencies of a gunshot, string bass, or thunder. He assumed that both of these were correct and formulated his theory based on these assumptions by simply altering the Galilean transformation to accommodate the lack of addition of velocities with regard to the speed of light. The need to reproduce these frequencies has increased since older formats, such as vinyl records, have been displaced by digital formats, such as CD, and particularly 5.1 formats such as Dolby Digital, in which the ".1" channel is dedicated solely to the subwoofer. that the "addition of velocities" is valid (Galilean transformation) and that light did not appear to have an "addition of velocities" (Michelson-Morley experiment). Subwoofers are usually powered by a high power amplifier, and often an electronic crossover ensures that higher frequencies will not be directed to the subwoofer. He took two phenomena that had been observed i.e. Diameter tends to be advantageous because low frequencies involve shifting a great deal of air; a recent trend has been for high excursion, i.e., how far the cone can linearly travel from its resting position; for example, some can move as much as 2.5" in or out, yielding an overall displacement of 5" (this is controlled movement range). An example of using assumptions to formulate a theory is when Albert Einstein put forth his Special Theory of Relativity.

Subwoofers use drivers (woofer) with cones typically coming in 10" or 12" sizes, but can be as large as 34", and as small as 4". Since we must start somewhere, we must have assumptions, but at least let us have as few assumptions as possible." (See Ockham's razor). . On the other hand, it seems obvious that assumptions are the weak points in any argument, as they have to be accepted on faith in a philosophy of science that prides itself on its rationalism. It is difficult for small loudspeakers to reproduce frequencies below 40 Hz, especially above 100 dB, and so it is often advantageous to use a loudspeaker dedicated to this task. (If there were, it would no longer be an assumption.) It is better to consider assumptions as either useful or useless, depending on whether deductions made from them corresponded to reality. So-called subwoofers which reproduce frequencies from about 35 Hz to about 150 Hz are more properly described as bass modules than true subwoofers. An assumption according to Asimov is "something accepted without proof, and it is incorrect to speak of an assumption as either true or false, since there is no way of proving it to be either.

Frequencies 16 Hz or lower are more felt than heard. Arguments or theories always begin with some premises - "arbitrary elements" as Hawking calls them (see above), which are here described as "assumptions". A subwoofer is a loudspeaker which reproduces bass frequencies from about 5 Hz to about 90 Hz. In Understanding Physics, Asimov spoke of theories as "arguments" where one deduces a "scheme" or model. This is a view shared by Isaac Asimov. On the other hand, you can disprove a theory by finding even a single repeatable observation that disagrees with the predictions of the theory.".

No matter how many times the results of experiments agree with some theory, you can never be sure that the next time the result will not contradict the theory. According to Stephen Hawking in A Brief History of Time, "a theory is a good theory if it satisfies two requirements: It must accurately describe a large class of observations on the basis of a model that contains only a few arbitrary elements, and it must make definite predictions about the results of future observations." He goes on to state, "any physical theory is always provisional, in the sense that it is only a hypothesis; you can never prove it. A theory makes generalizations about observations and consists of an interrelated, coherent set of ideas and models. In many instances, this is seen to be the construction of models of reality.

inanimate things, events, or the behaviour of animals). Humans construct theories in order to explain, predict and master phenomena (e.g. Yet a California Academy of Sciences exhibit on fossils included this line: "Scientists have a number of theories about why ammonites develop spines on their shells" (emphasis added; from Morrison, 2005). Even scientists tend to use the now common definition in everyday speech and writing, being more careful in published material.

39):. In everyday English, a theory is (Morrison, 2005, p. This change can be seen in modern dictionaries which now list theory as a "guess or hunch" in preference to the former scientific definition that used to be the dominant one. Most troublesome for the scientific community is the fact that, in common speech, theory has almost the opposite meaning from its use in the sciences.

A hypothesis, however, is still vastly more reliable than a conjecture, which is at best an untested guess consistent with selected data and often simply a belief based on non-repeatable experiments, anecdotes, popular opinion, "wisdom of the ancients," commercial motivation, or mysticism. Unfortunately, usage of the term theory is muddled by scientists in such examples as string theory and various theories of everything, which are more correctly characterized at present as a bundle of competing hypotheses or a protoscience. For a given body of theory to be considered part of established scientific knowledge, it is usually necessary for it to characterize a critical experiment, namely an experimental result not predicted by any existing established theory. Conversely, at any time in the study of physics there can also be confirmed experimental results that are not yet explained by theory.

It is not uncommon in the history of physics for theory to produce predictions that are later confirmed by experiment; failed predictions, however, also occur, and sometimes work to falsify a theory. For example, until recently, black holes were considered theoretical. The term theoretical is used in science to describe a result that is predicted by theory but has not yet been observed. This theory is usually taken to be synonymous with classical electromagnetism.

A good example is electromagnetic theory, which encompasses the results that can be derived from Maxwell's equations. In physics, the term theory is generally used for a mathematical framework derived from a small set of basic principles, capable of producing experimental predictions for a given category of physical systems. In this sense, a theory is a systematic and formalized expression of all previous observations made that is predictive, logical, testable, and has never been falsified. In various sciences, a theory is a logically self-consistent model or framework for describing the behavior of a certain natural or social phenomenon, thus either originating from or supported by experimental evidence (see scientific method).

The "theory of global warming" refers instead to scientific work that attempts to explain how and why this could be happening. For example, "global warming" refers to the observation that worldwide temperatures seem to be increasing. Theories are typically ways of explaining why things happen, often, but not always after their occurrence is no longer in scientific dispute. A theory is in this context a set of hypotheses that are logically bound together (See also hypothetico-deductive method).

All scientific understanding takes the form of hypotheses, or conjectures. Scientific theories are never proven to be true, but can be disproven. In scientific usage, a theory does not mean an unsubstantiated guess or hunch, as it often does in other contexts. The term ‘theoria’ (a noun) was already used by the scholars of ancient Greeks.

According to some sources, it was used frequently in terms of ‘looking at’ a theatre stage, which may explain why sometimes the word ‘theory’ is used as something provisional or not completely resembling real. The word ‘theory’ derives from the Greek ‘theorein’, which means ‘to look at’. . Theory has a number of distinct meanings in different fields of knowledge, depending on the context and their methodologies.

Other: Obsolete scientific theories - Phlogiston theory. Statistics : Extreme value theory. Sociology: Social theory - Critical social theory - Value theory. Planetary science: Giant impact theory.

Physics: Theory of relativity - Special relativity - General relativity - Quantum field theory - Acoustic theory - Antenna theory. Philosophy: Speculative reason. Music: Music theory. Mathematics: Axiomatic set theory - Catastrophe theory - Chaos theory - Graph theory - Number theory - Probability theory.

Literature: Literary theory. Humanities: Critical theory. Geology: Continental drift - Plate tectonics. Games: Rational choice theory - Game theory.

Engineering: Circuit theory - Control theory - Signal theory - Systems theory. Computer science: Algorithmic information theory - Computation theory. Climatology: Global warming. Chemistry: Atomic theory - Kinetic theory of gases.

Biology: Evolution by natural selection - Cell theory. is the most parsimonious explanation, sparing in proposed entities or explanations, commonly referred to as passing Ockham's razor. is tentative, correctable and dynamic, in allowing for changes to be made as new data is discovered, rather than asserting certainty, and. makes predictions that might someday be used to disprove the theory,.

is supported by many strands of evidence rather than a single foundation, ensuring that it probably is a good approximation if not totally correct,. is consistent with pre-existing theory to the extent that the pre-existing theory was experimentally verified, though it will often show pre-existing theory to be wrong in an exact sense,.