Subwoofers: add a JL Audio or switch to 2 Rythmic subs?

The E112 is located near one of the main speakers - outside it closer to the side wall.

As stated the low pass crossover is set to 40 herz range; in effect, we’re talking 40 foot long sound waves.  Mid and upper bass from the A5’s is ample.  Low bass from the sub is good but not quite at same level.  If I crank up the output of the sub more, it becomes audible which obviously is a no no.

Basically, I’m seeking the best path for improvement.  I was under the impression that mixing different subs (such as a JL F series) is also undesirable.  Maybe not?

Thanks again.

Add another E112 and get a real two way crossover. JL makes one. 1/2 the benefit of using subs is being able to remove the low bass from the main speakers which lowers distortion dramatically. With two subs up against the wall between the main speakers you can run them up higher without affecting the image, 80 Hz or even higher in some instances. The ultimate set up would be to use digital bass management but as an AR buff you probably will not want a digital conversion at the output of your system. Do not mix subs! Now, in a room your size you will not get the ultimate slam factor out of two 12 inch subs. In a room about your size I use eight 12" drivers in 4 enclosures. You could probably do it with 4 subs. 

The job of speaker positioning is to prioritizes sound stage. The job of a -3dB subwoofer position is to evenly load the room with low frequency. Don’t be confused by the sight of -6dB sub-bass speakers stacked next to main speakers. Sub-bass speakers roll of much earlier than subwoofers and barely begin to excite the rooms modes compared to subwoofers. The only relation subwoofer/s have to the speakers is within the subwoofers crossover region which gets accomplished from an unnoticeable distance.

A single sub without any signal processing located in the rooms loudest mode will most likely provide an increasingly unnoticeable integration at the listening position and require the least amount of the subwoofers volume. Two and three subwoofers in the rooms other modes can compound the size of the listening position, further reduce the rooms modes as well as the individual subwoofer volume. Four subwoofers become a distributed bass array requiring far less, if any, room mode attention.

Do the test before you spend a dime.

Have you tried the highpass in your E112? You just loop it in/out between the pre and amp. It will add some hiss for sure as JL’s electronics are very questionable but it should be night and day better. I would highpass at 60hz. If you like the sound of that the CR-1 would clean up the hiss as it is made much better than the junk in the E112 (I own two, no hate just calling it how it is). The E112 is a great driver backed by garbage electronics.