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2 subs in a small room?

I recently added a REL T/5i sub to my system and have been very happy with the results.  Integration was a breeze and I am now more engaged in my music than ever.  So of course being a typical audiophile, I got to thinking if 1 sub sounds this good will 2 sound even better?  The challenge is my room.  Its very small at 9' w x 10' l x 9' h.  The back wall is about 3' high, above which it opens up to the rest of my house.  I have bass traps in this room.  Right now, using just 1 sub, my freq response from 20-1000hz is +- 2db with a -4db dip at 200hz and a +4db hump at 40hz.  Not perfect but my system still sounds amazing.

I know the general consensus is a second sub will sound better but I am concerned with the size of my room.  Will adding a second sub in such a small space over power it or will it actually help to smooth out nodes?


128x128tboooe
tboooe's avatar
tboooe OP
1,009 posts
 
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?
martykl
3,578 posts
 
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.
meerzistar
232 posts
 
I agree and also an EQ will be more helpful the more problematic room acoustics are, room can make achieving a flat or close to response that much more of a challenge but not impossible and sometimes impossible without addressing problematic areas. 
tboooe's avatar
tboooe OP
1,009 posts
 
Thanks guys.  I am just trying to understand the phenomena people describe that subs can help with other areas of the freq response.  To me, this can only happen if the sub is outputting something unless you are using an EQ or room correction.  Anyway, I am going to buy a usb mic and use REW to measure my room.  I am curious to see how the freq response looks.  Regardless, I am very happy with the way my room sounds now after re-positioning my speakers and adding 1 sub.  I will definitely plan on adding a second one later this year once funds become available.  Merry xmas kids!
perfectpathtech's avatar
perfectpathtech
236 posts
 
tbooe, sorry wife has that crappy flu been busy the last few days. 
In response to your first question, I am running mine 5' behind
my mains offset in the center.

As for the second question, my speakers are full range, I run the subs off a second set of outputs on my source, my amps and speakers are not connected in any way to the subs, except for ground at the source.  The improvement in the upper end is a
constant regardless of whats played.  


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