Normal Practice To Use 6 1/2" Sub With 8" Speaker?


I have a PMC TLE1 subwoofer with dual 6 1/2" drivers and speakers with 8" drivers. I am thinking whether it is a norm to combine subwoofers with speakers that have bigger drivers. The PMC subwoofer with smaller drivers goes down flat to 22Hz while the speaker with bigger drivers goes down to 40Hz+/-3dB. I am just curious since my impression is it is more appropriate to use subwoofers with a driver size that is at least similar or larger than the speaker's driver apart from looking at the specifications.

In my case I reckon it is technically acceptable to hook up the sub to the speakers since it does go down lower than the speakers? I just feel a little awkward using a sub that has smaller drivers compared to the main speakers although the results can be good(I think).

Any advice would be appreciated.
ryder
Has,
Please 'do the math'.
Double the diameter of a circle and the area goes up 4X.

This means that 2x6" drivers have half the area of a single 12.
Large drivers do not dictate the quality of bass you hear in either 2 channel or home theatre

Perhaps not but they sure determine the quantity of good quality bass. Only large drivers (several of them) will get you up into the 110 db SPL at 20 Hz with low distortion.
quality VS quantity. The eternal struggle.

But of course, as the Russians (military) say, 'Quantity has a quality all its own'.
Well two 6 six inch drivers have the same surface area of one 8.46 inch driver.

Anyway in the end it is all about the sound and it should sound fine as long as you don't push the SPL.
I upgraded from a single 12" Dali sub to dual 6 1/2" PMC sub. The bass quality of the PMC is better and goes lower (22Hz) than the Dali (28Hz) on paper...something which I fail to understand why a single 12" driver fails to go lower than an equivalent 9.12"(2x6.5") driver. The PMC retails at $3,000 while the Dali at $600 though, if that tells anything.