The Bass - Gryphon Cantata Owner's Manual

Gryphon Audio Designs in the
outskirts of the small town of Ry
systems are basically computers
that digitally manipulate the
sound for the same reasons.
These systems are more sophis-
ticated and can address the task
with great precision. However,
many critical listeners agree that
the digital conversions and
extensive signal manipulation
involved have a high price, and
not just the one on the price tag.
C.
The most popular solution is to
experiment and mix products
with different flavors and espe-
cially to seek out a speaker that
has a complementary sonic sig-
nature to that of the listening
room. At best, "neutral" perform-
ance is obtained by forces react-
ing in different directions, hoping
for tonal equilibrium. This is an
art approaching alchemy and the
proud owner's fragile house of
cards collapses if any of the
components, especially the lis-
tening room, is changed. For
many audiophiles, this ongoing
quest to find the sonic Holy Grail
through constant experimenta-
tion is what it is all about.
Most music lovers simply want
to listen to great music with great
sound without needless hassle.

The Bass

The most severe problems usu-
ally occur in the bass region, typ-
ically due to designers' over-
imaginative attempts to circum-
vent the laws of physics. Most
people prefer a speaker with full
frequency response from the
delicate high-frequency shimmer
of a triangle to the lowest notes
of a church organ. All speakers
should ideally provide superior
high frequency performance, but
speakers with full output at low
frequencies require large drivers
and consequently large cabinets
with huge internal volume. Low
frequencies also require move-
ment 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
acoustic phenomenon called
"room gain", the room's automat-
ic amplification of lower frequen-
7
by an