Are REL the most Musical Subs?
Forgive me if I have created a redundant thread. I don’t usually post in the Speakers area.
I have a Paradigm sub in my basement HT that has apparently given up the ghost after about 20 years. I’m not a huge bass listener. We used to use the area for movies but lately a different room of the home has taken that over. I listen to classical music and the system gets used primarily for SACD and Blu Ray. No desire for multiple subs. The front speakers are full range, setup is 5.1
I added a REL sub to my 2 channel system a few years ago, an REL, and have been delighted with the results. It doesn’t boom at me. What it does do is add the low level percussion effects that composers such as Mahler, Shostakovich , and modernist composers add to reinforce bass lines. I never realized, for example, how many gentle tympani and gong effects are in Shostakovich Babi Yar symphony.
The REL integrates all of this naturally without calling attention to itself. The Paradigm in the basement never did this but it was an older design and more budget friendly.
So I am inclined to replace the Paradigm with another REL in the basement but was wondering what the current thinking is with subs. I haven’t paid much attention lately and the stuff that I have pulled discusses multiple subs, Atmos, etc, and doesn’t seem to address my needs.
Placement will be different as well. The current sub is placed between the front speakers, and the gear rack is on the other side of the room. 20 years ago I had the energy to bury the cables next to a baseboard heat along the all, after schlepping the sub over the basement testing placement spots,but with advances in DSP I’m now hoping to place the sub next to the rack
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i would watch some of these comparison videos on YT at various price points to get the BEST one for your needs you can send them messages and ask questions too ! -i do ! they answer too! nice to have a free qualified , objective unbiased audio engineer accessible Allison made a A COUPLE SMALL 8" AND 10" BASIC sub wooferS BACK IN THE DAY & the electronic booster "electronic subwoofer" LOL ) I got this 15" sub fr parts express for less than $191 W/ PROMO CODE New! also got two klipsch 12" wireless subs fr COSTCO for $211 each ! and a Rockville 12" sub for $194 ! ALL these w/ free shipping ! I will also try the DSP dongle ! $62.00 ? does it make sense to upgrade the 15" & 12 " speakers w/ some better drivers ? $100-200 that have better specs ( go down to 20Hz or less )? I tried some cheap $200 each ! black Friday deal Klipsch wireless subs ( 2 ) yes you need 2 subs they say i got fr Costco prob waaay too lo fi just wanted to see what cheap would sound like ( = NOT good! ) |
@limomangus i disagree that you only need one sub. Two makes a dramatic difference in the soundstage depth and width. I have a small listening room, maybe coat room of Radio City Music Hall size 😀, and adding a second sub had substantial positive effects (most notably the two mentioned above) over my previous set up with just one sub. It’s not about shaking walls and floorboards, at least not for my tastes. Two subs are better than one. |
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