Classical organ can cycle very low. To reproduce frequencies below 40 Hz. takes insane amounts of power and when you factor in that our ears are not as sensitive to lower frequencies the task can become particularly difficult. I’m not sure that even the T9x has the range or the power to deliver what you are looking for but even if it does I’m guessing that you will run into the same issue with that as you did with the JL sub. My opinion is the problem you experienced with the JL sub was not due to the sub but due to your room. The JL sub had enough power and range to reproduce the notes but in the process probably also excited room nodes at certain frequencies making the bass somewhat boomy and out of control. To deal with that issue you need either multiple subs, room treatments, some type of e.q. or some combination of the three.
Little help with REL subwoofers, please?
I'm not especially knowledgeable about subwoofers and I'd appreciate some advice. I've got a pair of Magnepan 1.7i placed in a small (long, rectangular) room. I had a hefty JL sub that shook the house but that I could never fully integrate. On a whim, I switched it out for a pair of the diminutive REL Tzero subs and the sound is vastly better. On some music, though, such as classical organ, I miss the growl and thunder. I don't feel like I need to boost the "upper bass" and I definitely don't want to muddy things up; it's really the deep rumble that I occasionally want.
If it helps, I'm thinking of a piece of music like Max Richter's "On the Nature of Daylight," which about halfway through delivers a broad, deep sweep of musical sound that I want to *feel.*
I'm mostly pleased with the setup and I don't want to reinvent my room's wheel or break the bank. And I'd like to stay with at least two subs and likely stay with REL. So I'm thinking I might: 1) add a T/9X or maybe a T/7X and perhaps keep the crossover low; or 2) swap out the Tzeros and replace them with a pair of T/7Xs. For now, a pair of T/9Xs is a budgetary stretch that I'd like to avoid (and it is a small room).
Would it be weird having two Tzeros combined with the much bigger T/9X? Would the T/7X produce that deep, enveloping bass? I'm not particularly good at reading specs but -6dB at 30Hz doesn't sound especially deep to me. (The JL was -3dB at 23Hz.) Or am I misunderstanding how bass works and would a T/7X go plenty deep in a small room?
Thanks and Happy New Year!
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Thanks, @audiorusty. I'm sure you're right about the room; I could never tame that JL, even with an external crossover, some room treatments, and all kinds of fussing. Boomy, as you say, and sluggish sounding. I've read that multiple subwoofers don't need to match each other, but would those small REL Tzeros help "balance" something bigger like the T/9? I like my current sound ... I just want deeper bass, not "more" bass. I may just buy a T/9 or T/7 and add it to the mix. We'll see! |
I've tried a number of subs over the years, even with dsp could never get coherent sound with main speakers. With dsp the problem wasn't so much with boom, but rather timing with main speakers, always a step behind or slow, once heard could never be unheard. So, buying into Rel philosophy I recently purchased two T9X, last night first listening session with them. So, first impressions, first time I've heard coherence from subs with main speaker! Improvement in sense of sound stage ambience most noticeable change. bass extension more subtle with my Klipschorns. Perhaps it was recordings I played last night, but there was no earth shaking, wall rattling bass, just a bit of extension and fullness on bottom end, really integrated well with my initial settings on crossover and level. This bass performance quite different from my Wyred 4 Sound Genesis clone sub, which has the more spectacular, impactful bass sound. |
You can try a T9x or a T7x to see what happens. Hopefully you can get them on a trial basis. As long as neither sub can reproduce the offending frequency of the room with enough power you should be good to go, but if either of the subs can reproduce the offending frequency (standing wave) you will still have the same issue with boomy bass. In a multi sub system, the subs do not need to be exactly the same but it is best if they all have a similar range. For example; lets say that one of your rooms standing waves is 29 Hz. if you have three or more subs placed around your room reproducing that 29 Hz. frequency, those wave forms will interfere with each other in such a way that the spots in the room where that 29 Hz. was loud will now be softer and where it was too quiet should now be louder, thus smoothing out the 29 Hz. peak throughout the room, making the room less boomy. IOW if one or more of the subs in your system cannot reproduce the offending frequency they cannot contribute to the solution. Here is an article about room acoustics and boomy bass you may find helpful. https://www.audioholics.com/room-acoustics/listening-room-acoustics-1#_ftn2 |
Forget about specs. They are severely misleading. As you note deep bass is not about hearing, it is about feeling. In this regard there is no substitute for surface area. The minimum in most rooms is two 12" subs to get solidly down to 20 Hz. I want some usable output at 15 Hz Consequently, I use 8 12" drivers. Large venues breath at very low frequencies. There is also signal down that low in movies. So, live music recordings and movies require the same capabilities. One sub alone is never a good solution. Two 12" drivers, Four 12" or two 15", eight 12" or Four 15". The last group is the largest required in the usual residential situation. 2 way crossovers are mandatory, digital bass management with delay capability and room control will give the best performance. |
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