Odd subwoofer question.

I am not a sub woofer guy. Have played around with a few. Both high end and mid level. They never did much for my primary system (Aerial Acoustics 7B towers, AR tube pre, Levinson amp). But, I don’t really know anything about subs or how to optimize them.

Anyway, in my living room my secondary system for casual listening consists of a pair of inherited Aerial Acoustics 6T towers driven by a Sonos Amp. I know. Long story. But in truth the Sonos Amp does a really good job and ties the 6Ts into the house system.

I’d say 75% of the time I am totally happy with how this system sounds. At times I’m amazed how good it sounds. But, sometimes I do wonder if a sub would add anything.

My audio fetish is tight, precise bass.

I’m looking for advice on a sub woofer to try. Given the nature of this system I am not looking for anything high end or complicated. But also wondering if a modestly priced sub is just going to muddy the waters. All advice appreciated.

The Sonos Amp does have sub output.

Thanks.

n8010-25-2022 9:56pm

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deadhead1000 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 714 posts 10-26-2022 at 04:01am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete All good suggestions, I went with JL Audio due to their DSP built in. Really helps match the sub to your room and other speakers. The size of the room is critical. I had to go with their ten inch as my room was just too a bit too small for the 12 inch. So careful on the size you get, you need a good size room for a 12 inch woofer to sound tight and precise. Too small a room and you'll get a mushy sound.
lak Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 4,648 posts 10-26-2022 at 11:45am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Check out the line of REL subs.
lalitk Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 5,558 posts 10-26-2022 at 02:02pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Since you own SONOS amp, why not try their subwoofer. I am using three of them in different systems and the integration is seamless along with superb bass. Setup and tweaking is easy through SONOS app. If you wanna go ‘wired’ conventional subwoofer route, my money is on REL for 2-ch systems.
mijostyn Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 8,570 posts 10-26-2022 at 02:48pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete If you like tight precise bass you are better off without subwoofers unless you have a lot of money to spend. The only commercial subs I have heard that produce "tight, precise bass" are the Magico Q series subs. To do it totally right you need a digital preamp with bass management and room control. I prefer passive subs with out board amplifiers. I have a Sonos system in my house and have one of their subs in my exercise room. It is not tight and precise but it does add bass to the system and it integrates with their other equipment nicely. It is also big fun to turn the whole house on, sounds like a big venue.
jjss49 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 6,612 posts 10-26-2022 at 02:53pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete rel subs are best used with their high level input, but they do have lfe/rca inputs as well it would be safe to say any modern rel sub would be plenty fast for any application where the main amp is a sonos amp (provided the user follows instructions and properly integrates it/them) there are some people who don’t get the integration correct, while others unfortunately struggle with a sort of ’reverse placebo effect’ where they mentally can’t get their mind to get out of the way in allowing themselves to hear and accept that well done, subwoofer-supported bass is ’correct’...