Cardioid Subs Explained For Normal Audio People 

Wow I am really impressed with your video explaining cardioid subwoofer setups. First time I have seen a video from you. Good speed & it felt like you got to the point without all the “fluff” which only waists time. I never knew what a cardioid subwoofer setup was all about but I feel comfortable now if someone were to ask me what it is. Though I doubt that question will ever be asked of me…..haha.

Michael strikes again with another great video! Hats off to you Sir!

I make private parties with friends and over the years I collected a bunch of 12" subwoofers. Inspired by your video I tested CAS for the first time in my life and I was blown away ...but only when I was at the correct side of the subwoofers. 😁 We managed to get a full 12dB difference on our cheapo level meter and also the personal experience was like night and day. Big Thanks from me and also from all our neighbours! I didn't calculate much btw but just tested out the best settings. Interestingly in the end I didn't change the level of the rear-facing sub neither to it being louder or more quiet because this gave me worse results.

Excellent Video, explains a lot and i'm glad you address the "samll setups - 2 subs, etc". Quick question if it can be answered, I have a Soundcraft Ui24r and 2 FBT Subline 15SA and want to deploy in the stated setup. Can i do 2 AUX feed to the subs and then setup the delay and polarity on the AUX feeds of the Ui24r to the speakers to get the desired output. I'll be trying it out anyways as soon as I get a chance at a venue, don't have the space at home. Much thanks again for the continued great videos on Sound 🙂

Today I checked this QSC cardioid sub with Genelecs 8020 monitors indoors. The positioning takes a lot of place. The speaker front opening was 1,25 from the front wall and pushed my listening position almost into the center of the room. I will give it another try on an outdoor setup with KS-Digital D-80. This could be nice for electronic jam sessions.

The d&b Y series subwoofers feature cardioid characteristics. As far as I know they are 15" subs with a 12" membrane in the back for the rear cancellation. These need the d&b dsp power amps… altogether not exactly inexpensive and not affordable for many of us, but they are very good.

how far would an inverted gradient subwoofer array need to be from a "rear" boundary in order for the pattern to properly develop without boundary interference?

Well it was a greatly informative and enjoyable video. Thanks a lot ! Subscribed

Hi Micheal! Just to let you know I'm going to be citing this video as a practical example of a Olson-style 'gradient loudspeaker', I'm writing my acoustics dissertation on directional loudspeaker designs and this vid is a perfect explaination of its topic. Keep it up, Thanks!

Just bought a pair of bassboss vs21's and I'm wondering what the best way of setting them up is... I specifically care about 50 Hz and below, especially 30-40. I want the crowd to feel as much low bass as possible and reject behind to some degree. They have built in cardioid in a stacked orientation, but I dont know if I can put a 4 ft stack in fron of the DJ booth... Curious how these patterns work with low low bass Thanks in advance. great videos.

is it possible to do an horizontal inverted gradient array with double 18 subs, with 2 types of cabinets and drivers? thanx a lot for you content

Excellent video! Subscribed. Was wondering, when you use the button on the back of the sub, to let it know it's facing toward the stage, do you still have to set any parameters or are they fixed? If they're fixed, do you know what the delay times are? I'm already assuming the phase gets reversed yes? This is excellent stuff to be making vids for! Thanks🤘

Thanks for useful knowledge.

I really enjoyed this presentation. i learnt a lot and also refreshing things I knew. I finally realised "cardioid" means "heart"... im assuming like "cardiac". glad I clicked this!

Hi, can we achieve cardioid pattern WITHOUT having cardioid subs? Like with "cheap" subs (MSR800w for example), playing only with subs placement? Or I would have to buy cardioid subs? Thank you for your help!

I have two QSC KS118's. For stacking, does is matter if they're stacked upright or stacked sideways? I've seen it both ways but I'd prefer sideways so the stack will be shorter. The look is important for me as I'm a wedding DJ. I'm going to try side by side under my booth but the trick on that is I usually have a gear rack under there and some storage.

Hi Michael, I can see 2 subs config for cardioid setups in your video but the manuals for my subs says I need at least 3 boxes to have a proper configuration. My subs are RCF 8006 and I can't use end firing as there ain't enough spaces between stage and audience.

i have 8 QSC KW181, so what is the proper set up to use them all in the center of the stage on the floor? Reduce the bass on the back?

So I have three pairs of Labhorn subwoofers which are directional by design. From the cones to the mouth of the enclosure, is 11.5 feet. With three pairs, I’ve considered taking two of them and setting them into a cardioid patter but my situation is unique. Any guidance?

Thank you for this! Cleared a lot of questions up. My employer is having me install three subs as a cluster in a new venue sound system. Thinking of trying an inverted gradient. Since looks are a consideration here, as the system is installed, do you think merely flipping the phase of the center sub would be sufficient? It seems to me like it would work, maybe with some adjustment in spacing left and right?

Can you setup two separate subs as a dipole, and if so, what’s the best way? Combining with dipole planar speakers.

Hey, so I want to put under my stage… our stage is open underneath… meaning there is air and room to breath do you think it will work?

Hi Michael, So i do a lot of underground raves outside in the woods. Usually we tun two tops, like 12's and for subs two 18's usually mid-tier gear like electro-voice.. Anyway I would love to always use cardioid on the subs because its very hard for me as a dj to hear me cued up tracks since the bass is so intense right next to me. I have a party indoors in a couple of weeks. The room is nicely treated acoustically but I would love to run cardioide. Look I don't have the tools or knowledge to run processing and look at chart results. I would be basically just use my ears when I set up and soundcheck. What would you recommend. The room is a big square, perhaps 20x15 meters. Expected amount of people like 80. Do I run two subs coupled with cardioid mode and two speakers on Stands?

Great info! Thank you so much! We currently have 4 subs under a stage. What set up would you recommend to reduce the low end on the stage and max projection towards the audience with the 4 subs under the stage?

Great! What setup would you recomend for 4 single 18" horn loaded subs? Thank you!

I have 2 RCF 9006 dual 18”’s and I was wondering If you lose any of the 6db overall spl boost you get by stacking the two when you do a cardioid or end fire setup

Thanks for all the great videos! Are those AHM units a good option for system processors? I've been considering using one bc of all the I/O it has at the cost. Maybe the downsides would be no option for FIR filters and the AD/DA conversion time?

Hey howzit going. I've noticed that the Yamaha subwoofer DXS15mkII has a key to change it into cardioid function. Am I able to use only one sub box in a cardioid setup or need at least 2? Tks

In my small personal rig I have (6) RCF HDL 6-a and (2) RCF 8004-AS. How familiar are you with the "Cardioid" button on the subs? Does this automatically process the phase and then all we would have to do is just set the delay and placement? Just curious if you ever worked with these subs. I know you worked with the HDL 6-a before from your other videos. Thanks in advance and I love your videos! Great information and your full of knowledge and a great teacher as well!

Does the berringer x32 rack mixer have the capability to set up cardio’s subs? We use 4 dual 18” subs.

I have the EV ETX 15sp, and EV recommends stacked configuration. Will it work just as well if the speakers were side-by-side with one speaker facing backwards? Thanks for the great info!

Michael.. could you kindly go over key words for people who are new including..Offset, Cancellation, Wavelengths, etc

For a cardioid sub, which is better, sealed sub or ported?

My stage is placed on a concrete pedesta and I only can place two subs in front of the concrete wall. What settings should I use? Should I use cardiod inline, inverted or just place them normally together in the center? Is there a distance from the concrete wall that could make it work ?

17:46 Once I saw a sound engineer connecting a raw sub speaker to the underneath of the stage while using a cardioid setup... fking genious. I can only guess that he was using some crappy cheap-ass sub speaker and amplifier just to provide the rumble the musicians wanted.

You said cardioid won’t work under a stage, but then you quickly referred to the front stage wall and the rear stage wall. We’re on a portable stage which means no walls front or rear (well the wall of the building is about 8 feet behind the stage). Are you sure they won’t work under any stages, even portable like ours? (In the end, I didn’t position our 4 subs (KS118’s) in a cardioid, but rather spaced about 2 feet apart under mid front of stage.)

I'm new to it ,,,do 2 subs with no processing(cardiod) have more SPL than 2subs doing cardiod But the cardiod subs only have the advantage of coverage ,,,by getting low spl than without processed

What type of subwoofer is best for this setup?thanks❤🙏

How can I get a diy soulutiin of cardiod bass for my home stereo channel music

Good info. I wouldn't underestimate the value and efficiency of using purpose built Cardioid subs if this is important to you. Much simpler, quick setup/tear down, requires less space/power and very consistent results plus it may even cost less as you don't need extra boxes and amp channels. I use D&B Audiotechnik B4 Cardioid subs and am extremely satisfied with their plug and play performance and ease of setup compared to building an array. Not going to compete with McCarthy array in a huge venue but great for many venues where we mortals live 🙂

This is super interesting. I'm a drummer and from the camp that loves the low end on stage BUT, if it will cause problems I'd rather just run a Buttkicker on my drum throne with in ears.

Hello Michael, great channel ! I am a mixing engineer and amateur room acoustic designer, although I would say I had a few successful projects... I'm interested, do you or anyone tried to apply cardiod subs setup in the studio environment ? I know some manufacturers like Kii, Dutch & Dutch claims their bass is cardiod... Is it possible at all to setup with couple subwoofers ? It could make some SBIR reflections easier to battle with. Thanks

We run four qsc e 118 subs on a single crown xti 6002 amp. Is there anyway that we can do this with our setup within our amp?

Hey Michael , Can I Do Cardioid Mode With A (QSC KW 181 ) And ( QSC KS 118 ) ?

By the way, this stage have a wood front or I guess if you can call it solid front

One caveat omitted here that I think warrants discussion is lobes. Cardioid arrays do not null all frequencies equally or uniformly. Similarly they do not sum them uniformly either. Any prediction software will show you the lobing as you look at individual sine frequencies instead of broad spectrum pink noise. You REALLY need to be aware of this when designing sub arrays, especially for permanent installations, and the results are not very intuitive.

great

I only wish someone would try to relate this to HiFi, and more towards frequencies above the sub region. I suspect in home audio, you'll get by nicely with corner subs, but it would be great to have main speakers free of front wall SBIR, say above just under a 100 Hz or so and all the way up to a waveguided tweeter. I tend to find PA people sensible where the HiFi industry is more, ehh, greedy.

A MUCH better solution will be having "Real" 1/4 wave horn loaded subs. they are 10 times more efficient that the box subs with a hole in them (reflex boxes) with better transient response.....

holy cardioid. you are not from Mars, you are from Pluto. happy sun conjunction 1/18/23 thanks for the revelation 🙏🔈🔉🔊(pluto symbol)

Does it put out face humping bass? Does it NOT sound like shit? mission accomplished... Almost every PA speaker you buy is going to be "Cardioid", or "shoots out the front", as anything else would be inefficient, and not make sense.

I watch your videos and I understand 90% of what you do OK maybe only 80% and I understand that you are a sound guru but I will tell you this. If you think this video is for a beginner soundman or somebody that is new in the business and that they will be able to understand it, that just means you’ve been doing the professional stuff so long you can’t remember what it was to be a beginner. First you’re showing graphs and software which 100% of them won’t have a second you’re still talking terminologies they have no idea what you are talking about. Until you can actually eliminate your professionalism enough so you can think like a beginner , this video has done no justice for a new sound person as you have the title saying it is. You actually have no clue so just stick to your other videos. The examples you gave we’re closer to what a beginner would need but if you go back and listen to what you’re saying as you show the examples a normal sound person would have no clue. It’s like you’re speaking a different language with pictures. Now with that being said I’m sure you’re worse than a show is probably better than my best sounding show of course I do not have quite the equipment that you have access too Or your vast knowledge. I do watch a lot of your videos as you have helpful information but I don’t line arrays and the bigger shows I do are only about 3000 people. So nobody get your panties in a wad I’m just saying This guy has so much snow is now dumd him up and up for a beginner lol.

It's tough listening to this since so much isn't content but the repetition of what is promised... like, please tell us, instead of just repeating the concept. Once is enough, omg

Question please can you use the cardoid settings with just one subwoofer or you need 2

Tu me saoules à parler sans arrêt !