Better Subwoofer for 2 channel Music: Focal Utopia Sub or JL Fathom f113

Hello jmarshak,

      The truth is that a single sub, no matter the quality, size or price, is not going to perform as well as two good quality subs in any given system and room.  You'll achieve better in-room bass response using two good quality smaller subs.  The bass will sound smoother, more detailed and more dynamic because there are two subs sharing the bass duties and not just a single sub being required to produce it all and possibly being overdriven and stressed.   I'd suggest you consider using two of these will provide better bass response and integrate more smoothly with your main speakers:
www.svsound.com/products/sb-1000?variant=9532234051&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgLLoBRDyARIsACRAZe7Yb0D_Yzqu6P...
 

     For even smoother, more detailed and more dynamic bass response, arranging three of these in a distributed bass array (DBA) system would provide outstanding bass response.  The DBA concept is a proven method developed by acoustical experts, Dr. Earl Geddes and Floyd Toole, to achieve near state of the art bass response in virtually any room and integrate seamlessly with virtually any pair of main speakers, even fast planar-dynamic and electrostatic speakers.
     I use a 4-sub DBA system in my room with outstanding results. I use the Audio Kinesis Swarm system that consists of 4 relatively small passive subs (unamplified 1'widex1'deepx24"tall subs with a 10" aluminum long-throw driver in each) powered by an included 1,000 watt class AB amp/control unit that sells for $2,800.  Here's an Absolute Sound review of the Swarm system for more details:

www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/audiokinesis-swarm-subwoofer-system/


Tim

Hi jamarshak,

I've had subs for years and can share my experiences and 'growth' as it may be;  For many years I have had several M&K subs,  They were the sh## in their day, dual 12" push pull, very articulate but not the absolute 'deepest'.  But what I quickly learned, was that two stereo subs, each being fed by distinct left and right inputs if possible, was way better than one sub, no matter how great it is.  +1 to noble100 on that.  (and I am sure that 4 in an array is the best but that is not going to happen for me).  Anyone that says you can not localize where a sub is is just wrong or can't hear.  I can sit right in the center with one sub blindfolded with mittens and tell you where the sub is, even when adjusted well.  So two is the bomb.  About two years ago I got a paradigm studio 15 new on a  great clearance.  Wow.  Deep and low.  but just one...(the M&K's are now gone).  So I got another and had stereo 15' paradigm's, pretty nice.  
But the lady thought they were hideous, and I was able to use them downstairs, so I started researching Rel.  Now I feel I have grown up about bass and subwoofers.  I now have stereo REL Carbon Limited's.
It is not about just hearing and feeling the deep stuff, but it about how they pressurize the room and support the stereo imaging and sound of my Revel Studio 2's.   I have a large room, all open from family through eat in area to kitchen.  So  a lot of air.  The sub's you ask about are also awesome, but it is about how the REL's feed their input off of the amplifier to receive the 'exact same timing etc' to keep everything sweet.
I also use the Longbow wireless and it works easily and perfectly.
And get this, the lady thinks these REL subs look good!  Read everything on the REL site before you purchase anything.  The Rel SHO 5's would have worked but what the hell...and you can find discounts on new REL subs.

Hello fastfreight,

    We all are unable to localize deep bass frequency soundwaves, that is determine where the sound is coming from, that are below about 100 Hz but we're very good at localizing higher frequency soundwaves in the remainder of the audible spectrum, from about 100 to 20,000 Hz.
    This is the reason there's no such thing as 'true stereo' deep bass and why the bass is summed to mono on frequencies below 100 Hz on all vinyl and cd recordings. If you doubt this, try to find a single vinyl or cd recording that is not summed to mono. This means it's pointless to configure subs in a stereo configuration with one located by the left main speaker and one by the right.
    However, thanks to psychoacoustics and our remarkable brains, it is possible to create the perception of stereo bass in our systems. Here's how it works:
    Whether you use  2, 3 or 4 subs, run them in mono and optimize the bass at your listening seat.  The bass below 100 Hz won't be able to be localized but there are bass harmonics or overtones of the deep bass fundamental frequency that extend into higher frequencies that are reproduced by the main stereo speakers and can be localized.  Our brains are able to associate the fundamental deep bass frequency reproduced by the subs, that are not able to be localized, with the deep bass's higher harmonic frequencies, that extend well beyond 100 Hz, which are reproduced by the main speakers that are able to be localized.  This psychoacoustic association allows us to localize the deep bass in the soundstage, for example the kick drum is located in the rear center and the upright bass is located in the front to the left, which would not be otherwise possible without this psychoacoustic association our brain's are capable of.  
     Other factors I think are important to integrating subs seamlessly with the main speakers are the subs volume levels and the crossover frequency setting.  I'll try to discuss my opinions on these factors in a future post.


Tim

All good info in posts with which I generally agree. To the OP who asks about specific subs, Focal, JL, I’ll say this:
I know nothing about the Focal but enough about JL to be dangerous. Using a JL in my system F112 v2 has really upped my game, one of the most valuable upgrades I’ve made. That said JL has had their share of issues that were addressed in their v2 versions. I’d stay away from earlier versions. The JL IMO is the current leader in subwoofers. Very well defined, articulate, tight, fast, accurate and reproduces the lows down to below your hearing, below hearing you can feel it though.It has all the functions available to integrate it with your system regardless of name brand and will integrate seamlessly with some effort. Once I properly integrated my sub it gave a truly magical representation of the material. It’s a powerful piece of audio equipment. It also has its own room correction software to tame the modes. I do not use the correction as my listening space is such that it’s not necessary. Depending on material localization can be easily determined at frequencies mentioned in other posts depending on your crossover settings. Would I like a dual setup? Absolutely but at the price I easily can live with just one.

Add in to address hook up question, 
I have my sub connected to the Preamp via its available variable RCA output. This allows for the Preamps volume control to adjust sub volume simultaneously with the left and right channels. 

My space dimensions are 15 x 23 x8
Hope this helps,