2 subs in a small room?

ptrck8874 posts04-22-2016 7:15pmI have 2 Rel G2's integrated with a pair of Sonus Faber stand mounts driven by a pair of McIntosh 601 mono blocks.  Tons of power for a treated 11'x 16' listening room.  The REL's are crossed over 55 and volume quite low at 8 to 10 on the REL volume setting. 

Do you mind if I ask which Sonus Faber monitors you have?  I have the Evolutions and cross mine over at around 35hz.  At least in my room the Evolutions have a flat response down to about 40hz.  BTW, the G2s are crazy! 

Tbooe,

I find that there is usually a major improvement in the upper bass and much of the mid-range (say the two octaves below middle A and a fair bit of the octave above) when you get the subs integrated properly.  "Properly", in this case, includes smoothing frequency response thru the x-over point.  That smoothing can be done with more subs, EQ, or room correction (or any combo of the above).

I can't specify exactly why, but I'd speculate that it's probably a matter of cleaning up hash and overhang around/above the crossover point.  If not addressed, I believe it may have the impact of muddying response in the area described above.  Whatever the reason, the effect is usually very noticeable.  If you run Dirac, just a-b (single sub or a pair) with correction engaged and then off-line.  My guess is that you'll immediately understand what I'm talking about.

I had 5 subs in operation inside a sealed 10x14 room, I even went so far as to install a solid core door and duct tape any suspected leak points around floor and over the heating duct to keep room as air tight as possible. Not only did it sound great its really nice feeling the pressure waves through your whole body. Base treatments are highly recommended otherwise you will have an impossible time sounding good while getting up to desired SPL.   

martykl3,308 posts04-23-2016 8:37amTbooe,

I find that there is usually a major improvement in the upper bass and much of the mid-range (say the two octaves below middle A and a fair bit of the octave above) when you get the subs integrated properly.  "Properly", in this case, includes smoothing frequency response thru the x-over point.  That smoothing can be done with more subs, EQ, or room correction (or any combo of the above).

I can't specify exactly why, but I'd speculate that it's probably a matter of cleaning up hash and overhang around/above the crossover point. 

 Based on your explanation does that mean these improvements to the mid and upper base is only present where the subs are actually outputting sound, assuming I am not using EQ, room correction, or digital Xover?  If so, when the subs are not smoothing out the sound with their output, that the improvements to the mid and upper base is not present?  Since there is not sub information throughout a song, does that then mean the mid and upper base will have inconsistent sound depending on whether or not the subs are outputting anything?

Tbooe,

I'm not sure I'd want to slice my comment that fine.  A single subwoofer system that is smoothed with the addition of a second sub, EQ and/or room correction will IME usually produce a sense of cleaner mids than it did prior to such smoothing.  As to the conditions required at any specific moment to hear that, I honestly can't say that I've paid enough attention to specify.  I can say that the effect has always been pretty evident (and pretty quickly evident) in the systems I've adjusted in this fashion.