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My experience adding subwoofers to 2 channel

My Kappa 9 speakers are rated to 29hz and they sound pretty good in my 18x24 room...powered by McIntosh mc1.25 amps...l was looking for another layer of bass to enhance the sound..my first experiment l took my SVS pb16 ultras from my theater room and tried them first...it sounded terrible,didn't blend well..couldn't hear a difference until you turned in up then it rattled the room apart........my final experiment worked..l used 4 Velodyne minivee subwoofers(1000 watt rms class D sealed 8 in.) and after hours of calibration l hit it......lve got the bass response that exeeded my expectations. ....l should have done this along time ago....can anybody tell me of another subwoofer that may work even better?
128x128vinnydabully
plga
184 posts
 
I've just bought a couple of medium quality subs and after following Jim Smith's guide for proper subs set up, with an RTA on some steps, the 3D sound and bass energy Im getting from my system is incredible!
And I still have to keep on tunning them for better sound and then run Dirac Room Correction to get full perfomance.
Its incredible how the mids and the highs have improved with the subs. 
plga
184 posts
 
One suggestion, read Jim Smith's articles about adding subs:
https://www.psaudio.com/article/subwoofery-trick-or-treat/
firstnot's avatar
firstnot
248 posts
 
Swarm + Room Correction and you are set. Cost about $7k new.
$3.5k used. $1.0 for the very patient smart shopper. 
plga
184 posts
 
In fact, you dont need a pro RTA, I did it with an Android app called Sound Analyzer App wich is enough for the job. 
You have to find the flatest bass response possible and doing it by ear is not an easy job. 
The app helped me A LOT to find the best location for the subs (among the ones I've had due to decor), the best direction, the correct phase and a good crossover-volume level adjustment. 
noble100's avatar
noble100
2,419 posts
 
m-db,

     I'm sure you'll be thrilled to know that setting up a 4-sub distributed bass array system requires absolutely no bass room treatments, mics, DSP and room correction software or hardware.  Room correction is completely optional. 
      It's also scalable since you can use any 4 subs to achieve accurate, smooth and detailed bass with your choice of available bass power, dynamics and impact, from 4 small DIY subs to 4 JL Audio Fathom V2s and any bass quality and capacity levels in between.
     Since there's currently no recorded vinyl or disc source material with bass content below 20 Hz,  I'm using (4) two foot tall ported subs with one sq. ft.  footprints and 10" long-throw aluminum drivers that are flat down to 20 Hz at 113 dbs.  
     My DBA system provides accurate, detailed, smooth and natural bass that integrates seamlessly with my 6x2 ft. fast Magnepan panel speakers which are only capable of bass extension down to 35 Hz.  It works like a charm for music and ht.

Tim
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