Hi Everyone. Belated Season’s Greetings to all. As I might have mentioned earlier in this thread, I’ve been using two subs very, very sucessfully with my 3.5s for a couple of years now.
Much of the following may therefore be repeated comment, but I think is worth regurgitating here to add grist to the mill in terms of the current discussion on the validity of the two sub approach.
This move was actually enforced in that I changed to a VPI 299D tube integrated amp, usually using four KT150s, and thus had no way of being able to incorporate the bass EQ unit in the system, as it doesn’t offer a tape loop.
My strong opinion is that, in the context of my listening room, this has subjectively been a major sonic improvement.
As has been suggested here earlier, I feel that the drivers are under much less stress with two subs and, as such, the 3.5s have room to breath.
It probably took a day or so to properly dial in the subs and I’ve never felt the slightest urge to change anything since then.
Even though the 3.5s were already easily the best conventional speaker I have owned with the EQ unit - I alternate them with my Quad 57s - they impress even more with the subs, which I have positioned about a foot behind each 3.5 and firing at each other into the soundstage with the woofers at 90 degrees to the 3.5 drivers. Again in the context of my listening room, this is where they work best without a hint of directionality.
All that being said, I’m eagerly awaiting Tom’s upgrades and watch this space, as it were, every week to check on progress.
I’ve owned a lot of great conventional speakers, including Celestion Kingston’s, Kef 107/2’s, and Rogers LS3/5A’s and none of them holds a candle, overall, to properly setup and well cared for 3.5s, which I truly believe to be one of the best, most well thought through and underrated designs ever.
I acquired them a few years ago simply because a cherished and essentially mint pair became available quite local to me and I’d always enjoyed listening to Thiels at hifi shows etc. It wasn’t therefore a planned purchase but has proven to be one of, if not the, best moves I ever made in this wonderful hobby.
I will never sell them and after well over 30 years of being only ever partially happy with other reasonably conventional designs, I have my forever speakers, so anything that can be done to ensure they outlast me is going to be welcomed with open arms.
As I mentioned earlier, I also run near mint 1978 Quad 57s in the system from time to time and I’m always astounded by how well the Thiels compare in the areas for which the Quads are so renowned in their midrange, timbre and transparency.
Hoping that 2020 sees the first fruits of Tom and Rob’s labors. Wishing everyone on here a great year ahead.
