Tech talk

I am most comfortable in the company of engineers. It's more than just camaraderie. To non-engineering folk, our conversations might sound like a different language what with all the terminology bandied about. But more than terminology is the implied understanding of bigger concepts. Terms like -3dB, half power, slew rate, open loop, rise times, wave shapes, carry with them major implications. If our depth of understanding of terminology's implications is shallow, we can often find ourselves either lost or worse, drawing incorrect conclusions. In a recent forum post, PS engineer Chris Brunhaver was generously answering some questions about our upcoming speaker:

"We’re still preparing some marketing materials on the FR-30 but I can share that the low frequency cutoff is -6 db at 27 Hz. While a reflex/passive radiator enclosure, the roll-off below this is rather steep but you’ll see typically see extension from 20-25 Hz in-room. Still, as other mention, the benefit of multiple subs/ LF sources will help smooth the response wider listening area. Please keep in mind that, if you listen to dynamic music in the bass and want a subwoofer that “keeps up” with the speaker, you’ll need something pretty potent. A pair of FR-30, with their 8 x 8" woofers and 8 x 10" passive radiators is capable of ~120 dB (in half space) from 25 hz and up with (when driven with 600 watts x 2) at the Klippel rated Xmax of the woofers. Of course, you won’t want to listen full range at that level, but the system is certainly capable of it in the low frequencies, so that it has very low distortion at more moderate levels and a feeling of effortless bass dynamics."

I love that our engineering team reaches out to our HiFi Family. Chris speaks in very dense terms even when he's doing his best to keep it simple. Unpacking terms like "Klippel rated Xmax of the woofers" or even the innocent sounding "want a subwoofer that “keeps up” with the speaker" carry with them loads of implied understanding. The challenge for any engineering-centric company is to figure out a way to effectively communicate complex concepts to a hungry audience and to do so without boring the crap out of people. Chris does an amazing job and I love it when he talks like that. :)