Help deciding on REL 328 -- size vis a vis rooms? Match w/ speakers? Buy or wait?

Hello hilde45,

     One way is to buy two subs that can be piggy-backed together; you run your left an right B outputs to one sub and then connect the first sub to the second.   I know REL and other brands have subs that can do this.  You'd run both subs in mono and use the crawl method (google it or I can explain it to you.) to position each sub optimally.  Run your speakers full range.  Also make sure the subs you choose have controls for volume, cutoff frequency and phase and make sure the sub woofers are at least 10". 

Tim 

That’s good advice. I’ve gone ahead and purchased the Rel sub. Would I now be committed to buying another identical sub (in brand and/or size) or could I bring a less pricy model on board?

I found advice about using different subs here: https://www.avsforum.com/forum/113-subwoofers-bass-transducers/1414198-2-different-subwoofers-5-2-system.html

I think that's answered my own question!

Hello hilde45,

I was checking out the R328 sub that you just bought used and I think you made a good decision buying it, it not only looks very nice in that piano black with aluminum trim, but I think it should work out well for your bass needs, too.
I suggest you just look for a good deal on a 2nd R328 because they look so good, they’re high quality subs and it should be a good value purchase when bought at a reasonable pre-owned price. Here’s how to connect two REL subs if you’re curious:
https://relsupport.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004649048-Stereo-Subs-Connection-Method

However, you’re not committed to buying another identical sub (in brand and/or size) and you could use a less pricy sub model if you’d like. The main benefits of using two good quality subs in a room are:

1. The bass will be more powerful, dynamic and have a sense of ease since two subs are sharing the bass duties with cumulative bass impact and bass dynamics along with neither sub being run near its limits.

2. You begin to get the other typical benefits of using multiple subs in a room beginning with two subs and increasing in benefits marginally as more subs are added. These benefits include bass that is smoother, faster, more detailed and more seamlessly integrated with the main speakers.


3. The soundstage imaging will be noticeably improved, provided your main speakers are properly positioned in relation to your listening position, by being more open, wider, deeper, more detailed, realistic and natural.

The important factors to keep in mind are that the above benefits are only attainable at one’s dedicated listening position once a minimum of two subs are utilized, they’re both optimally positioned in the room in relation to the listening position and the volume, crossover frequency and phase controls on each sub are all optimally set.
Once 3-4 subs are utilized in a room, everything above still applies but an additional benefit is gained, the near state of the art bass performance exists throughout the entire room and not just at the designated listening position.


Best wishes,
    Tim

Thanks for the confirmation of my choice and for the advice. I'm saving this thread for future reference. Much appreciated!