Subwoofer for music, how low?


I am looking for a pair of subs for music. I plan on having four if the two can blend with my speakers.

I have the Tekton Double Impact and tomorrow I will get a set of Buchardt S400Mk2.

I have been looking at the REL T/9x but the only go down to 27Hz at -3db. Should a sub not go down to 20Hz?

I live in Denmark so I have fewer options. I really like the swarm sub array but to costly to get it to Denmark.

I am looking for recommendations. It could be DIY or a specific sub.

I am open for suggestions

 

Merry Christmas

 

martin-andersen

A subwoofer that meets all your criteria has a new home in Germany. Audio Reference purchased California based Velodyne Acoustics. Now marketing some new models and assembling a world wide sales and service network.

While it may be more than you’ve considered for your budget The Velodyne Digital Drive Plus can serve as an incomparable master control for less expensive slave subs in an array. The Plus has the ability to control a daisy chained system of units regardless of their inputs. The Plus offers one of, if not the most uniquely easy to use and remotely controlled, subwoofer dedicated Room Optimization / Equalization programs.

After Auto EQ has completed, on pages 10 and 11 of the DD Plus Interface Manual describes how to use the Frequency Response and Parameters Screen. This is a simple drag and drop control of multiple parameters that are visually and audibly made at the listening position to closely match or augment your main speakers basic presentation from 200Hz on down. https://www.velodyneacoustics.com/pdf/digitaldriveplus/DD+UserInterfaceManual.pd

Compare the flexibility the rear panel offers to other subwoofer panels in the User’s Manual below

http://velodyneacoustics.com/pdf/digitaldriveplus/DD+Manual.pdf

I assembled a four sub asymmetrical array in my largest 26’x 35’ room and they did eliminate ALL the rooms modes. I later settled on two asymmetrically located slaved Plus’ which allowed a noticeable mode in an unused corner of the room. The room loading and intensity has been easily maintained with just two subs ever since. Point being you may not require as many subs as you may think you do. What ever you decide on take it slow but keep it low.

FWIW, ["Virtually no music is down in the 20-40 Hz range"]?

Whether my Bass playing skills would be deemed musical is certainly subjective. Depending on my tuning and without the OctaBass on my Lakland’s stainless low B rings significantly at 31Hz which most 10" subs can easily output. Those B and E strings are bread and butter for a Bassist.

Contrary to what has been said to the OP on the topic of implementing a distributed bass array (Swarm), the positioning of four subs should not be symmetrical, but asymmetrical.

Symmetrical positioning of subs only increases the chance that room modes will be accentuated instead of reduced. Asymmetrical positioning increases the number of first reflection points, which should result in a smoother overall low frequency dispersion.

+1 distributed bass system. Tried everything else for 20 years and adding one 10" sub towards the rear of the room solved the problem of weak sounding bass. I have 3 now and want a 4th for more power and headroom, smoother response, and trying stereo with 2+2.

+1 remote control to make tuning easier. My 10" is paradigm and the iphone app really makes it easy to dial in.