crazy TRW-17 Rotary Woofer

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645_3-20014842-47.html?tag=mncol;title

"The TRW-17's fluttering blades generate bass frequencies down to 1 hertz (standard $1,000 subs poop out in the 30Hz range, and ultra high-end subs rarely make it below 18Hz.)."

"The TRW-17 subwoofer is powerful enough to make an entire room throb with bass energy. TRW-17 installations are complex and can easily run to $25,000. For home audio, the TRW-17 is typically mounted in an attic, basement, or side room so the spinning blades are always out of reach of small children and pets."

Re: crazy TRW-17 Rotary Woofer

Just what the world needs - more drum 'n' bass...

Re: crazy TRW-17 Rotary Woofer

Have these people never heard of the brown note?

Re: crazy TRW-17 Rotary Woofer

Interesting. The basis of the idea is not new however. A Brit named Don Lesley devised a rotating woofer in 1941 which he tested with his electric organ. The resulting 'Lesley' speaker system having being taken up by Hammond, became the basis and signature sound of The Pink Floyd, Van der Graaf Generator and many other key influences on the progression of new music.

Sometimes people forget that the moniker 'Progressive rock' also stood for some incredible inventions in sound creation techniques - the Lesley being only one of hundreds. The fickle winds of mere fashion have reduced this pioneering spirit to what they would have us believe are the vain and kitsch rantings of old farts. But where is the invention and creativity of the new farts? what are the original inventions in music creation now? - and before you mention the digital revolution - remember that it was fought, won, and the resulting technologies developed by a load of hippies.

Re: crazy TRW-17 Rotary Woofer



Apparently, you hear that note daily.

Re: crazy TRW-17 Rotary Woofer



Sorry, but this fan speaker is completely different compared to the Leslie speaker.

The Leslie speaker use conventional drivers to produce sound. What makes the Leslie speaker special is that the speakers are rotating. (well, the woofer doesn't rotate, but the channel for bass sound is rotating instead).

The new, "fan" subwoofer is a driver by itself, using a novel way to create sound (I am not sure it can still called be sound because frequencies under 20 Hz are more felt than heard).

A conventional driver can't move enough air at very low frequencies to make infra-sound. Compare this to moving your hand back and forth as fast as you can: Does it make a sound? This fan speaker can move enough air to make "visceral bass". The power from the amplifier is used to change the pitch of the fan blades, while the power from the motor that spin the blades is used to move the air.

It's all explained here, very interesting concept.

http://www.rotarywoofer.com/howitworks.htm

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I think it was by putting his voice through a Lesley speaker that John Lennon got that vocal effect on 'Tomorrow Never Knows'.

Re: crazy TRW-17 Rotary Woofer

This made me think of when we were kids and singing through a house fan. It sounded so cool. I wonder if the TRW-17 will keep you thermally cooled while you are having a cool auditory experience.

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This is what it looks like when you listen to one of these:


"Is it real, or is it Memorex (coming out of a TRW-17)?"

Re: crazy TRW-17 Rotary Woofer

What's the pitch on those blades? the degree why so many? Explain!! I'm calling foul. I need a scientifically plausible explanation. Yeah something might stink.