Started with one sub. A REL Carbon Special and yes, amazing first impressions. However, it only took a day to realize I could not fully integrate it for every type of music. I was constantly up from my seat to adjust gain. It was short lived experiment because I didn't listen to people here. I had to learn the hard way. I stepped up to the REL 212sx and it was a different story. I could get by with just one. I do not know if it is because it has four drivers, but I was able to quickly set it and never had to change it. I now have two because being type-a, it bothered me that I had bass information from one of two channels. It never "felt" complete or the "best" it could be. I added a second 212 and I will never go without. Magic, not just in tight, fast bass, but especially in midrange extension. The lesson here is that two are better than one, but the right one may be all you need. Happy hunting.
Adding a sub. - can i start with one?
I’m pretty happy with my setup I’ve assembled over the past year. However I feel I am missing some oomph and I find I am turning up the volume a lot. My space is big (converted barn) with 18 ft vaulted ceilings and about 700 sq ft of space with hardwood floors and minimal soft furniture.
So I am thinking adding a sub woofer will help increase the bass and maybe give me more of the kick in the sound I’m used to in my old room and prior older speakers and amp.
I’ve read that most people add 2 subs to a system instead of one. I’d prefer to spend the 2500 per side over time and just get one for now. What’s the thinking on one channel sub vs two and can I consider going from 1 to 2 later on as another upgrade?
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@izjjzi I tried the 212SE in my room and it is very good. I had it set to about the lowest crossover frequency, and I could tell the soundstage was wider and cleaner on one side vs the other. I could have lived with it, but I would definitely benefit from two. I hear the 212SX is even better, and if I wanted to go through and spend the time integrating it, that would also be a contender. |
@blisshifi The 212sx sounded amazing out of the box. The pair are actually difficult to adjust so not to be integrated. Took me a few tracks to integrate the first and a few tiny adjustments to get the pair in order. Placement was also far less a factor with only small changes needed to gain alone to satisfy. Highly recommended as for me, these are practically fire and forget subs. |
@ozzy62 You may not be able to hear it with your sub in your room, but it’s not absolute BS. It depends a lot on the sub itself, a little on room positioning, and also I think how trained/gifted the ear is, but I’m not being condescending on that last point. When you only have one sub and that driver in action has overhang/over-excursion, then the desirable hidden room position is revealed. Then, if you position that particular sub in a way that gives it a FR peak due to room modal activity, you will accentuate the audible localization of the sub’s output. Edit: perhaps enclosure build quality adds to it as well |
- 54 posts total