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You were right about adding a sub.

I've had subs around the house, but used them mostly for home theater.

From time to time, some of you have encouraged me to use a sub in my 2 channel setup. Curiosity got the best of me over the Holidays and I hooked up a sub using speaker level connections and used the sub's crossover.

My speakers are Usher 6311 and my Integrated is an Anthem 225.

What a difference it made to not only the bass line, but cutting the lows increased the soundstage, improved detail, etc. I feel like I have new speakers, And the bug to try other speakers is gone.

Thanks for the tip- wish I would have tried it before now! For those of you that are tempted, it may be worth a try, it certainly was is my case. I'm using a Svs Sound Cylinder, fwiw. 

Regards,
gary

uncledemp
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,272 posts
 

I’ve had a few pretty good subs, including an early HSU (in a cylinder enclosure, similar to your SVS), a KEF B-139 driver (the one Dave Wilson used in his original WAMM) in a transmission-line, and the bass columns of the Infinity RS-1b loudspeaker (six 8" servo-feedback controlled woofers per side) I used to own. I now have a pair of Rythmik F15HP subs (each containing a 15" servo-feedback controlled woofer and 600w amp), as well as the very unique Rythmik Audio/GR Research OB/Dipole sub, which is not for everyone. Rythmik is becoming popular with Maggie owners, they’re that good. I also have a pair of Magneplanar Tympani T-IV’s, which have two 16" x 6’ panels per side just for bass! They produce a very different kind of bass than boxed subs do (leaner, very "percussive". They do drums better than anything else I have ever heard), and were a favorite of Harry Pearson.

If you want to stick with SVS, their SB13 Ultra (13" driver in a sealed enclosure) is a great sub, priced at $1600. SVS has just introduced the SB16 Ultra, so used SB13’s are popping up.

srosenberg's avatar
srosenberg
209 posts
 
it's been my experience that high passing the mains has a tremendous effect on the entire frequency range and is absolutely my preferred method of integrating a sub (rather than playing the mains full range and bringing the sub in at the roll off point of the mains).  getting the timing / phase relationship right via careful placement of the sub or time delaying the mains will make the integration absolutely seamless.  when it's right, everything just snaps into focus and the sub completely disappears.
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
5,087 posts
 
If you want to play with delay/timing between your mains and a sub, I'd suggest a digital crossover.  I mess about with a Behringer DCX2496...variable timing, slopes, types, points, whatever boats your floats....
Inexpensive, too.  Yes, I know...it may not have any 'pedigree' by the cognoscenti, but It Works.  "OMG, it's 'digital'!  It Must screw up analogue!"

Oh, get real, y'all....unless you've been living under a rock and Everything you listen to is ancient vinyl, digital is pretty much the gorilla in the room.  But, I'm not addicted to dead white Euro composers, either.  Nor do I believe that my 'system' needs to rival the price of the average condo to please me....

MHO...and everything I know is 'wrong'.  Doomed to 'audio hell'.  Oh, well...I know the bouncer, he lets everyone in anyway....*L*
bondmanp
1,836 posts
 
I could not be more thrilled with my pair of Vandersteen 2Wq subs with battery-biased crossovers.  They have the same effects listed by the o.p., and are totally transparent and they blend seemlessly with my mains.  When you get that ---- eating grin on your face while listening, you tend not to want to change a thing!
uncledemp OP
806 posts
 
I appreciate everyone's comments. The Sound Cylinder sounds pretty good in the blend- but I'm still dialing it in.

My aging Mirage dual 8" sub sounds great in my bedroom system. I've been reading up on subs designed primarily for music and I'm likely to go for something to replace the Svs, and return it to my home theater setup.

Vandersteen and Rythmik are interesting to me. Of course Rel and Jl Audio are popular.

I like the option to cut the low end frequencies to my mains. I think I may be limited to speaker level connections to accomplish this, since my Integrated does not have an amp in option- but it does have pre-out jacks. 

Avsjerry- I like the opportunity of the Behringer - but it is way beyond my level of expertise.

There is probably a way to cut frequencies to my mains without using speaker level inputs. Once I get close to deciding on a model, I'll call and try to educate myself.

Such a great hobby! My girlfriend is getting more and more interested in audio and seems to increasingly enjoy music. 

Thanks again!
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