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Need advice on adding subs

I’m looking for advice on adding subs to my system.

I listen primarily to small combo jazz and classical but I’m disappointed by the classical symphonic reproduction. I can only enjoy symphonic music on my headphones. Perhaps, I could improve symphonic on my main system by adding subs.

I don’t listen at high volume nor am I a bass fanatic. I just want the better sound. This is strictly 2 channel system. I have no interest in HT. I live in an apartment.

My system:

Balanced Power Technology BP-1 Conditioner
Toshiba lap top with JRiver feeding via crossover Ethernet to
Sonore Rendu
Wyred4Sound Dac-2
Warpspeed Optical Attenuator
First Watt J2 Output power 8 ohms30 watts 4 ohms15 watts

Reference DeCapo MM 2-way Monitors

The speakers are a simple 1st order high pass passive 3kHz x-over to the tweeter. I believe the woofer is designed to rolloff naturally at both ends of its band width.

I’m open to any ideas. Lets say up to $2000 budget.


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marktomaras
544 posts
 
I just sold a wisdom SCS sub for $1800, which was about 60% less than retail. I actually traded it to a dealer at that value and I expect he would want no more than $2k tops for it.  (Eric Lang, Wired Audio, winter park FL, great guy, excellent service).

i used the wisdom sub with my Rockport Mira Monitors in a 2 channel only system.  I ran the monitors full range and dialed in the sub with its built in amp and crossover controls.  

The setup certainly added to the monitors. I liked to keep it dialed in to the point where it was hard to imagine if it was even on or off, until you actually flipped off the power on the sub.  That subtlety worked very well for me and added those very necessary lower octaves.

The wisdom was excellent.  I do not have a ton of comparison experience with subs, but I'd like to think I have pretty good ears, and I was very critical/skeptical/cautious when adding the sub.  Keeping the monitors sounding beautiful was an ultimate priority.

I ran a Bryston electronic crossover for a while, but in the end, preferred the sound when the Rockports ran full range.

Lastly, the SCS Sub has some convenient placement flexibility, and has a very different form factor than most subs, which added to its appeal.

good luck!

yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,739 posts
 
You don't need to spend that much. Take a look at these!
http://www.svsound.com/collections/sealed-subwoofers
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
If you are going used, a pair of Vandy 2WQs would be a bit under your budget.  They are fast, tight and would match well with your speakers since they have a first order crossover as well.  When I had a pair, I set them up just like marktomars.  Dial them back so that you really can't tell that they are on, except when you turn them off.  
whart's avatar
whart
3,057 posts
 
There is a good thread currently running elsewhere on the site, under the simple title "Subwoofers" (I think). Duke of AudioKinesis and BDP24, among others, have made some valuable contributions, and it is worth reading. Here’s the link: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/subwoofer?highlight=subwoofers

It's a long thread, but worth the time to read through- some thoughtful stuff that I benefitted from. 
martykl
3,578 posts
 
I'm not in love with the combo of deCapo and subwoofers.  

The deCapo is beautifully balanced as a stand-alone.  The presence thru treble is gently rolled off to balance the modest bass energy.  As a stand-alone monitor, it's really, really good and IMO one of the best values out there (which is why I bought mine).  When I added a subwoofer (for pretty much the same reasons stated in the OP), I loved the extra weight on the bottom end, but the sound as a whole went dull.  I tweaked it for a long time, but eventually moved on.

I think I'm one of the bigger subwoofer fans on this board and I'm surely one of the bigger deCapo fans, but the combo didn't work for me.  YMMV.
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