 | |
| Company type | Loudspeaker Manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Industry | Professional audio |
| Founded | 1999 [1] |
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas , United States [2] |
Key people | David Lee (Designer) |
| Products | Loudspeakers, Subwoofers |
| Website | www |
BASSBOSS (formerly BASSMAXX) is an American manufacturer of loudspeakers and subwoofers. [1] While they specialize in powered speakers for live sound, their products are also used in some recording studios. [3]
BASSBOSS was founded in 1999 by Johan van Zyl and chief designer David Lee. [4] Lee began his career in the high-end home high fidelity audio and car audio industry when he was 19 years old. His exposure to home audio systems and club sound inspired him to envision the clarity and accuracy of hi-fi systems at the scale and volume of a nightclub. Lee worked towards this vision by installing and designing hundreds of club audio systems in the mid-1980s. [5]
Johan van Zyl is the designer of MAXXHORN Luminations, a hi-fi loudspeaker brand. [6] Van Zyl, also from South Africa, began designing sub horn loudspeakers in 1988. David Lee and Johan van Zyl met and formed the company Rhino Acoustics in Texas, which became BASSMAXX and later BASSBOSS. [4] Lee stated that their vision is to design smoother sound and enhanced bass for nightclubs.
BASSBOSS originally designed horn loudspeaker subwoofers to achieve high output at low frequencies. However reductions in the size, weight, and cost of audio power amplifiers, as well as demand for deeper frequencies, led Lee to explore other designs. BASSBOSS now develops vented, combination, and hybrid systems to take advantage of these technological advancements and accommodate increasing low-frequency content present in modern music. [7]
After years of designing passive loudspeakers, BASSBOSS pivoted to exclusively selling self-powered and processed loudspeakers. Lee explained BASSBOSS's shift to active loudspeakers as a way to maintain consistency and reliability. [5]
BASSBOSS speakers have been used for Ultra Music Festival since 2003. [8] In 2009, 16 BASSBOSS SP218 Models were paired with a d&b audiotechnik rig featuring 32 J8/J12s, 16 J-Subs, and 24 B2 subs for the main stage. The Bayfront Stage used 16 BASSBOSS X2C "Deuce" models were used with d&b audiotechnik J8/J12 main hangs. [9]
In 2016, BASSBOSS released their VS21 subwoofer, which was the company's first hybrid subwoofer. [10] Also in 2016, BASSBOSS provided sound for the Global Spin DJ Expo Main Stage. [11] From 2017-2023, BASSBOSS used amplifiers from the Italian manufacturer Powersoft for their top boxes; for instance the BASSBOSS AT212-3k used the Digimod 3004PFC2 amplifier. [12] In 2022 they announced their partnership with Guitar Center. [13] The Universal Hip-Hop Museum in the Bronx is planned to open in 2024, containing a "Boombox" featuring BASSBOSS speakers. [14] BASSBOSS also appears at trade shows such as NAMM and DJX as part of their "Demolition" tour. [15]
At the 2024 NAMM Show, BASSBOSS announced their Makara-MK3 Dual 21" Subwoofer and CCM-12 12" coaxial monitor. [16] This was their 25th year attending the NAMM Show. [17]
BASSBOSS products are typically used by Mobile DJs, production companies, and installations in nightclubs and bars. [18]
A subwoofer is a loudspeaker designed to reproduce low-pitched audio frequencies, known as bass and sub-bass, that are lower in frequency than those which can be (optimally) generated by a woofer. The typical frequency range that is covered by a subwoofer is about 20–200 Hz for consumer products, below 100 Hz for professional live sound, and below 80 Hz in THX-certified systems. Thus, one or more subwoofers are important for high-quality sound reproduction as they are responsible for the lowest two to three octaves of the ten octaves that are audible. This very low-frequency (VLF) range reproduces the natural fundamental tones of the bass drum, electric bass, double bass, grand piano, contrabassoon, tuba, in addition to thunder, gunshots, explosions, etc.
A loudspeaker is a combination of one or more speaker drivers, an enclosure, and electrical connections. The speaker driver is an electroacoustic transducer that converts an electrical audio signal into a corresponding sound.
An audio power amplifier amplifies low-power electronic audio signals, such as the signal from a radio receiver or an electric guitar pickup, to a level that is high enough for driving loudspeakers or headphones. Audio power amplifiers are found in all manner of sound systems including sound reinforcement, public address, home audio systems and musical instrument amplifiers like guitar amplifiers. It is the final electronic stage in a typical audio playback chain before the signal is sent to the loudspeakers.
Audio crossovers are a type of electronic filter circuitry that splits an audio signal into two or more frequency ranges, so that the signals can be sent to loudspeaker drivers that are designed to operate within different frequency ranges. The crossover filters can be either active or passive. They are often described as two-way or three-way, which indicate, respectively, that the crossover splits a given signal into two frequency ranges or three frequency ranges. Crossovers are used in loudspeaker cabinets, power amplifiers in consumer electronics and pro audio and musical instrument amplifier products. For the latter two markets, crossovers are used in bass amplifiers, keyboard amplifiers, bass and keyboard speaker enclosures and sound reinforcement system equipment.
The low-frequency effects (LFE) channel is a band-limited audio track that is used for reproducing deep and intense low-frequency sounds in the 3–120 Hz frequency range.
A public address system is an electronic system comprising microphones, amplifiers, loudspeakers, and related equipment. It increases the apparent volume (loudness) of a human voice, musical instrument, or other acoustic sound source or recorded sound or music. PA systems are used in any public venue that requires that an announcer, performer, etc. be sufficiently audible at a distance or over a large area. Typical applications include sports stadiums, public transportation vehicles and facilities, and live or recorded music venues and events. A PA system may include multiple microphones or other sound sources, a mixing console to combine and modify multiple sources, and multiple amplifiers and loudspeakers for louder volume or wider distribution.
A sound reinforcement system is the combination of microphones, signal processors, amplifiers, and loudspeakers in enclosures all controlled by a mixing console that makes live or pre-recorded sounds louder and may also distribute those sounds to a larger or more distant audience. In many situations, a sound reinforcement system is also used to enhance or alter the sound of the sources on the stage, typically by using electronic effects, such as reverb, as opposed to simply amplifying the sources unaltered.
A bass reflex system is a type of loudspeaker enclosure that uses a port (hole) or vent cut into the cabinet and a section of tubing or pipe affixed to the port. This port enables the sound from the rear side of the diaphragm to increase the efficiency of the system at low frequencies as compared to a typical sealed- or closed-box loudspeaker or an infinite baffle mounting.
Bowers & Wilkins, commonly known as B&W, is a British company that produces consumer and professional loudspeakers and headphones. The company was founded in 1966 in Worthing, West Sussex, England. In October 2020, it was acquired by Sound United, a holding company who owns several other audio brands.
A loudspeaker enclosure or loudspeaker cabinet is an enclosure in which speaker drivers and associated electronic hardware, such as crossover circuits and, in some cases, power amplifiers, are mounted. Enclosures may range in design from simple, homemade DIY rectangular particleboard boxes to very complex, expensive computer-designed hi-fi cabinets that incorporate composite materials, internal baffles, horns, bass reflex ports and acoustic insulation. Loudspeaker enclosures range in size from small "bookshelf" speaker cabinets with 4-inch (10 cm) woofers and small tweeters designed for listening to music with a hi-fi system in a private home to huge, heavy subwoofer enclosures with multiple 18-inch (46 cm) or even 21-inch (53 cm) speakers in huge enclosures which are designed for use in stadium concert sound reinforcement systems for rock music concerts.
Ruby Skye was a former popular nightclub located at 420 Mason Street in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco, California, in operation from 1990 to 2017.
A bass amplifier is a musical instrument electronic device that uses electrical power to make lower-pitched instruments such as the bass guitar or double bass loud enough to be heard by the performers and audience. Bass amps typically consist of a preamplifier, tone controls, a power amplifier and one or more loudspeakers ("drivers") in a cabinet.
QSC is an American manufacturer of audio, video and control products such as amplifiers, loudspeakers, cameras, video endpoints, and digital signal processors including the Q-SYS networked audio, video and control platform. QSC and Q-SYS products are used by audio and video professionals for commercial applications, including corporate, higher education, sports venues, themed entertainment, and cinema customers worldwide.
Yorkville Sound is a Canadian manufacturer of audio amplifiers, loudspeakers and related professional sound reinforcement equipment. Based in Pickering, Ontario, Canada, the firm has a global presence as an importer and exporter of audio electronic products.
A stage monitor system is a set of performer-facing loudspeakers called monitor speakers, stage monitors, floor monitors, wedges, or foldbacks on stage during live music performances in which a sound reinforcement system is used to amplify a performance for the audience. The monitor system allows musicians to hear themselves and fellow band members clearly.
L-Acoustics is a French manufacturer of loudspeakers, amplifiers, marketing materials, and signal processing devices. Headquartered in Marcoussis, south of Paris, the company has offices in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany.
David W. Gunness is an American audio engineer, electrical engineer and inventor. He is known for his work on loudspeaker design, especially high-output professional horn loudspeakers for public address, studio, theater, nightclub, concert and touring uses.
A keyboard amplifier is a powered electronic amplifier and loudspeaker in a speaker cabinet used for the amplification of electronic keyboard instruments. Keyboard amplifiers are distinct from other types of amplification systems such as guitar amplifiers due to the particular challenges associated with making keyboards sound louder on stage; namely, to provide solid low-frequency sound reproduction for the deep basslines that keyboards can play and crisp high-frequency sound for the high-register notes. Another difference between keyboard amplifiers and guitar/bass amplifiers is that keyboard amps are usually designed with a relatively flat frequency response and low distortion. In contrast, many guitar and bass amp designers purposely make their amplifiers modify the frequency response, typically to "roll-off" very high frequencies, and most rock and blues guitar amps, and since the 1980s and 1990s, even many bass amps are designed to add distortion or overdrive to the instrument tone.
A professional audio store is a retail business that sells, and in many cases rents, sound reinforcement system equipment and PA system components used in music concerts, live shows, dance parties and speaking events. This equipment typically includes microphones, power amplifiers, electronic effects units, speaker enclosures, monitor speakers, subwoofers and audio consoles (mixers). Some professional audio stores also sell sound recording equipment, DJ equipment, lighting equipment used in nightclubs and concerts and video equipment used in events, such as video projectors and screens. Some professional audio stores rent "backline" equipment used in rock and pop shows, such as stage pianos and bass amplifiers. While professional audio stores typically focus on selling new merchandise, some stores also sell used equipment, which is often the equipment that the company has previously rented out for shows and events.
Thomas J. Danley is an American audio engineer, electrical engineer and inventor, the holder of multiple patents for audio transducers, especially high-linearity, high-output professional horn loudspeaker systems. Danley first gained notice in the 1980s with his novel servomotor-driven subwoofer systems used to reproduce very low frequencies in concert tours and theme parks. In 2000 he advanced the implementation of multiple-entry horns in 2000 with several designs led by the SPL-td1, a seven-driver loudspeaker. In 2005, he started a new company, Danley Sound Labs, through which he patented further technologies and produced a wide variety of loudspeaker models based on these technologies.