I own PSB Stratus golds and added 2 sunfire hrs12's with them . I was astounded by the sound improvement.
Thinking of adding a sub---maybe not?
Looking for some advice. I'm thinking of adding a sub to my system and the one I'm considering is the REL T7. I've had subs (Canton) in the past with my older systems but it's been many years since then. My system today consists of a Luxman 505UXii integrated amp, a Marantz ND 8006 CDP/streamer, Dynaudio S40s and a pair of Tekton Lore Reference--I alternate the S40s and Lores through speaker A/B on the Luxman. My room is about 16 x 25. I love my system but after having subs in the past and getting the bass 'punch' from the subs, I'm debating whether I should go that route again. I've tried the loudness button on the Luxman but it just doesn't give the same results as a sub would IMO. Thanks in advance.
22 responses Add your response
@mwinkc Thanks for the input--I've tried adjusting the tone controls but just I wasn't too happy with it. Hence, thinking of the sub. I realize my room acoustics is playing a part with this too. So a tweak here and a tweak there has affected the sound---some good and some not so good. I'd like to at least try a sub from a dealer with a return policy just in case. Great suggestions on here btw---thanks again! |
I use 2 RELs and agree with REL's philosophy of letting the main speakers work to their natural limits and simply dial in the subs where the main speakers drop off due to their design. And use 'em in mono to keep standing waves at bay...works for me for years and they simply disappear when adjusted properly. |
I have just added a pair of REL Carbon Limited to my system. Even though my Focal Sopra 3s go down to 30Hz the subs have helped my system drastically. I use an Anthem STR integrated amplifier with their ARC room correction so the integration with the mains is excellent. The ambiance and flatness of bass is greatly improved. The ARC has crossed over the Subs at 70Hz with the mains. And room correction is only enabled up to 200hz. Maybe I will also play around with the crossover and see if I can bring it down to 40-50hz and leave the subs playing below that. But right now the improvement with the Subs is very good. If anyone has any suggestions on the crossover point for my setup please do share. |
There’s a difference between bass punch and sub bass. Your Lore reference should be able to provide bass, but room acoustics and placement can effect the amount of bass they provide. The sub creates the lowest frequencies, greatly contributing to realism and environment, but full range speakers are delivering the bass guitars, drums for the most part. My parasound allows me to adjust sub gain and to toggle the sub off or on from my listening position. This has allowed me to truly discover and appreciate how much bass punch my standmount speakers (Kef q350’s) are actually delivering. My Rel sub is great, and it’s on all of the time...but not necessarily for bass punch. If your speakers or placement are deficient in that area and you can’t get it worked out, consider different speakers or one of Schitt’s tone controls. The 4 band loki mini or the new 6 band LOKIUS may be what you’re looking for. I just looked at your model of Luxman online and see that it has treble & bass controls. Does the 8 dB of increase at 100 Hz still not help, or is it degrading your sound? |
Properly set up good subs actually improve the performance of the main speakers but only if there is a high pass which takes a huge load off the woofer of the main speaker(which is why its performance is significantly improved) Some sub such as the RELs do not use a high pass filter so I'm not a fan. And I'm not a fan of reflex or passive radiator subs. They sound like more bass but it's boomier than a good closed box. |
Soix rcommended what I would have, two SVS SB-1000 Pros. I own two different REL subs and both are great but more subs is better if they are good quality. Read up on distributed bass array and I'll say, it works. I now have two SB-2000s and one SB-3000 (all sealed SVS) at 50Hz and 40Hz, and those three are much better than my single, very good REL sub was. I want a fourth... Good luck! |
I am using a "full range" speaker with Very Good low range specs. After adding two cheap powered subwoofers, (to see if the results would be enhancing), I was astounded at how the upper bass, midrange, and highs opened up and distortion was reduced. I am looking forward to high quality subs in the future, but for now, the sound is great. |
soix, " My experience, once you have a pair of subs properly dialed in you’ll not only have better bass but also a significantly expanded soundstage such that when you turn the subs off the whole presentation collapses and you won’t wanna listen without them anymore." I agree with your statement. In my experience subwoofers have improved my soundstage and just made everything across the audio spectrum sound better. I don't hear my subwoofers at all; until I turn them off. |
Absolutely add subs!!! Rather than the T7, for a little less you can have two SVS SB1000 Pro subs, and two subs are significantly better than one especially for music IMHO. And SVS offers a very generous truly risk-free trial period and great customer service, so if for some reason they don’t work out just return them and you’re out nothing. My experience, once you have a pair of subs properly dialed in you’ll not only have better bass but also a significantly expanded soundstage such that when you turn the subs off the whole presentation collapses and you won’t wanna listen without them anymore. Anyway, just my $0.02 FWIW, and best of luck. |
Using Loudness ’Backwards’ I’ve always said it was Mis-named, you are not alone in misunderstanding ’Loudness’. It should be called ’Low Volume Boost’, or something. The ’Loudness’ is specifically for LOW Volume Listening. ON at normal listening level will produce exaggerated muddy sounding bass, and boost highs you may or may not be aware of. Loudness is to correct output to correspond with our hearing system’s variations as volume reduces. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-loudness_contour .................................... IF you are turning loudness on, then it indicates you want more bass at normal listening levels, thus yes, get thee some subs. Then, even with subs, at low volume listening (assuming the subs are properly matched for normal volume), you would use the loudness feature. I have 15" woofers, consider them a pair of directional subs. Bass may start mono in your space, i.e. 40hz fundamental, but it becomes directional by way of the overtones of ANY fundamental note, thus you get reducing volume, but increasing directionality from the overtones, i.e. 40/80/160/320 ... therefore, I recommend a pair of self-powered subs, front firing, located adjacent to main L & R for cohesive directionality. Once you know where the bass player is, from upper bass notes, even if full mono, your brain will ’keep’ the directionality, imaging will be improved by reality and rememberance. No ports, or front facing ports if you must. |