Subwoofer advice sought

@three_easy_payments We're in total agreement that there's more than one way to get good bass and that different people will enjoy different things.  I've enjoyed good bass in my system with no subwoofers.  I have three other systems that all have one subwoofer.  One of the best systems I've heard had two subwoofers.

Using four subwoofers, I don't feel like the bass is enveloping in a surround sound way.  The soundstage is still very well defined, perhaps even better defined.  The performers are there in front of me, including the bass player.  If I'm listening to Yes for example, I can tell exactly where Chris Squire's bass is coming from.  It's not in surround sound, it's coming from a specific spot on the stage in front of me.  The sound fills my room though in a way that is the closest thing I've felt to live music in my system.  And yes, I enjoy it very much.

I'm not sure my words are adequate to describe the distinction between the surround type "3-D" listening experience you seem to think is created and what I experience.  Have you experienced a system with multiple subwoofers? 

@big_greg  I have not heard a DBA system and I was really commenting on the first response to the post stating:

Low bass improves the sense of envelopement, feeling like you are in the soundstage instead of it being just in front of you.

I think DBA is probably a good way to combat room nodes and help distribute bass evenly.  Good to hear it doesn't envelope you and place you inside the sound stage which would be an unnatural presentation in my view. I would like to check it out sometime, although it would been completely impractical to integrate into my mainly listening space which isn't dedicated to listening - it's my living room.  Life's a balancing act of priorities ;-)

@three_easy_payments If you're ever in the area and we don't have to worry about killing each other by sitting in the same room I'd be happy to let you listen. My system is in my living room. It's not ideal, but it works. 

@big_greg I have not heard a DBA system and I was really commenting on the first response to the post stating:

Low bass improves the sense of envelopement, feeling like you are in the soundstage instead of it being just in front of you.

I think DBA is probably a good way to combat room nodes and help distribute bass evenly. Good to hear it doesn't envelope you and place you inside the sound stage which would be an unnatural presentation in my view. I would like to check it out sometime, although it would been completely impractical to integrate into my mainly listening space which isn't dedicated to listening - it's my living room. Life's a balancing act of priorities ;-)

That first response was of course me. There's people here for whom no amount of explanation or clarification will ever be enough but since you've muddied it up misinterpreting me yet again I might as well try. 

"Low bass improves the sense of envelopment, feeling like you are in the soundstage instead of it being just in front of you." In hindsight for those short on imagination it might have been better to have said recording venue instead of soundstage. 

Because it seems you've misconstrued me to having said DBA makes it feel like the instruments and singers are way off to your left and right and behind you like some quadrophenia acid trip. When all I really said was it increases your sense of envelopment. 

Which you will know when you hear one, and I would be happy to demonstrate, if we don't have to worry about killing each other being in the same room. Relax you will be perfectly safe. I'm BLS certified which will come in handy when you pass out from the shock of realizing I actually know what I'm talking about.

As an owner of a REL S5 SHO I think REL's are amazing subs for 2 channel. Just make sure you match the right REL to your Totems. If your Totems go down to 28 hz as another member posted here, then you probably need to go up the REL ladder a bit. At least to a 510SE or maybe the 812SE. The REL website has a tool that helps you match the right REL to your speakers.

Good luck and be sure to post your thoughts once you make the purchase! :)