3Hz Bass Experience with Multiple Ascendo Subwoofers

Posted by Tan

Yes, you read that right—3Hz bass, not 30Hz or 300Hz. While 3Hz is inaudible to the human ear, its presence can be powerfully felt. Unfortunately, words alone can’t capture the sensation of 3Hz bass, so the next best thing is to let you see it in motion.

In the video clip below, a 24-inch Ascendo subwoofer took center stage, playing a track that plunged into sub-bass frequencies as low as 3Hz. Although the phone microphone may not have captured the deepest bass notes (recording instead their higher harmonic frequencies), the camera revealed the subwoofer driver working hard to deliver these astonishingly low frequencies. At certain moments, I could see the driver’s movement more clearly rather than just a blur, visually indicating how low the bass notes being played was.

Track title - "Critical Havocs - Infrasonic Death (under 3Hz)"

This was also the first time I literally felt “pants-flapping bass” from a home theater or HiFi system. Squatting down in front of the massive sub to film the driver, I was surprised to find my pant legs flapping in sync with the bass. What I had thought was just a figure of speech turned out to be entirely real!

AV Designs has pushed boundaries by installing five Ascendo subwoofers in their main home theater room. This setup featured two 21-inch subwoofers at the front, alongside two 18-inch subs and a massive 24-inch sub at the back. But why so many subs you ask? Wouldn't such overwhelming bass energy drown the space and render soundtracks or music unbearable and unlistenable?

The answer is "No". The goal of employing multiple subwoofers isn’t to add more and excessive bass, but to ensure a smooth and linear bass response. In typical listening rooms, bass peaks and troughs occur due to the physics of bass propagation. Strategically placing multiple subwoofers allows the system better ability and flexibility to cancel those peaks and fill in the troughs. Of course, I am putting this lightly, James Tan of AV Designs explains that achieving this linearity requires both expertise and significant effort to properly calibrate the system. 

This was an amazing experience for me. The system delivered outstanding performance not just for movie soundtracks but also for music.  The bass rumbled and was also impactful and fast, yet it exuded nuances and details that added immense depth to the listening experience when the recording called for. It’s evident that systems struggling with bass issues—such as boomy, muddy, or bloated bass—compromise not just the low-end but also the midrange and treble. In fact, it affects the entire listening enjoyment.

This demo highlighted how a clean, well-balanced bass foundation can transform audio quality. A precise bottom end opens up the sound, enhances dynamic expression, improves the music’s flow, and anchors the soundtrack and music, allowing it to truly flourish.

AV Designs was not stopping here in their quest for even greater bass. After this, the 24-inch subwoofer will be replaced by an even larger 32-inch Ascendo subwoofer. An even more amazing bass experience awaits.

The 32-inch Ascendo sub that will take up residence in AV Designs' main HT demo system next

Contact AV Designs 03-62411237 for enquiries and audition.