Dual subs and or speaker uograde

@musicaddict - I've never heard a system, crossed at 40 Hz which didn't sound better crossed at 80 Hz when properly done.

Appreciate the responses. I have tried different crossover settings for Monitor Audio Gold 300s and find 60hz to be best with my current Paradigm Sub 12. 80hz may work better though with 2 or more subs.


I could get 2 additional subs and put the Paradigm at the rear of the room. I'll check out the subs you mentioned and see about 4. I've been told and have read, more is better. My concern is to get a good balance with speed and accuracy for music and decent rumble for movies. 4 smaller subs may work better .


Thanks for the input.

Nice speakers, however, I am not a fan of ports. If any, front facing for direct radiation of bass fundamentals and their overtones supporting definition/imaging. Not indirect diffuse multi-reflected sound waves as you have now.

You want to test/listen in 2 channel mode, not surround sound, no center, no sub, no surrounds, do that last.

As Eric suggested, I would start by temporarily closing the rear ports. It will not effect the mid and tweeter. It will effect the two 8" drivers.

Play something with distinct moments of highs, mids, and bass first, then temporarily cover the ports, what differences?

Now, are you wanting extended directional bass, or simply extended bass?

My home theater, I use 1 self powered sub, in a non-directional way, to simply add the dinosaur stomp in Jurassic Park, that kind of thing.

For music, bass is/can be stereo/directional, that requires a pair of front firing subs located adjacent to the mains. Self powered. Now you will know where the bass player is standing.

Balance the subs with the mains only, i.e. 2 channel with bass extension. Then, add the center and surrounds. Avoid too much surround volume. Generally (i.e. not specific helicopters from the rear left) you should not be aware of them until you turn them off and the sound collapses to the front. Many people have them too loud.

Keep in mind, much content has been altered along the way, If something is not sounding great, I switch to 2 channel mode, often find it better.

Those are nice comments about dialing in the speakers, Elliott... I really like the idea of blending the sub properly with the larger mains first, then adding the other three, etc. Even better if the system does double duty for two channel music.

I would not be surprised if you are correct about the 80Hz crossover, Erik. It seems everything I run for mains is relatively full-range and my sub is probably too muddy so I shelf it down low. I should try fiddling a bit in the home theater with sub & main crossover points, and shop new sub(s).

I am going to start actively reading about setting up several smaller subs in our theater, small at 12 x 22.5 x 8. I can 'hear' two or three 12" powered subs making that room come alive.

In the music room the D2s drop into high 30s; I run them full-range, not yet finding a good way to blend a high pass to them. Best with an REL B1 is 23Hz and 9/40 on volume. Smooth down to almost 25Hz, no concert volumes though, thank you.

there's a good thread from earlier this year,  where Duke talks about subs with tower speakers, sometime two subs sounding great,  and they don't need to be identical...