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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?

daveinpa
gladmo's avatar
gladmo
364 posts
 

Absolute BS. As long as you are using a subwoofer as a subwoofer and not a woofer, there will be no localization of bass instruments. None.

@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

jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 

Two subwoofers is recommended for a normal size listening room.  The room the OP described appears to be an entire building.  I wonder if he should be thinking of eventually having 3 or 4 subs for this space?

yes this was my reaction to op's info as well

larry5729's avatar
larry5729
1,009 posts
 

If you can swing it, two would be better.  I would only consider buying REL's.  Their high-level connection is incredible.  My friend had a single SVS and the sound quality was not as good as my REL's.

bjp9738's avatar
bjp9738
67 posts
 

Yes, but two is almost always better.  And IME not just for larger rooms.  My room is on the small side and I have no single space that is best.  100Hz null here, 60 Hz null there.  Two (or more) subs in different locations helps smooth out the overall response.

If you do start with one, choose wisely in the sense that the make/model you choose now should be new enough in the lineup that it will still be available if/when you go to add the second one.  Not that you can't integrate non-matching subs, but it's much easier to integrate two of the same.

ryder
1,690 posts
 

In my limited experience, the best placement for a single sub is right in the middle between the speakers, not in one of the corners. I am aware that REL recommends the single sub to be placed in the corner of the room but I don’t follow. (I have the S/510)

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