The Effect of the MaxxBass 1 Psychoacoustic Bass Enhancement System on Loudspeaker Design

The MaxxBass signal processing algorithm is introduced as a new factor in low frequency loudspeaker design. Exploiting the phenomenon of the ‘missing fundamental’, MaxxBass stimulates a low frequency auditory sensation without the need to produce the whole low frequency range. A brief review is made of the performance limitations in the bass reproduction of small speakers with emphasis upon the difficulty of efficiently lowering the resonant frequency. The breakdown in the ear’s logarithmic sensitivity at low frequencies is identified as a factor for satisfactory bass performance. With MaxxBass correctly implemented, gains in apparent low frequency extension of up to one and a half octaves are reported. Example applications of MaxxBass are explored.