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

mahler12308-31-2024 12:52pm

...
109 posts total
View entire discussion

quickjack1234 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 78 posts 09-11-2024 at 01:24pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete 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 heaps of opinions here ! Allison made a A COUPLE SMALL 8" AND 10" BASIC sub wooferS BACK IN THE DAY & the electronic booster "electronic subwoofer" LOL ) so , last X mass time ,( lol> i BET no one HERE WOULD EVER BUY SUCH CHEAP SUBS ? ) Jack Dale Vintage Speakers 12/ 2023 I took advantage of black friday and bought three cheap ones they offer 60-90 day returns and free return shipping ( well parts express you need to say it broke ! -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! ) the add on DSP i could not get to work! the wireless seems great way to go easy to move around and find the best spot fidelity is said to be excellent save bother and $ do not need fancy man cables ! solves that argument ! You know what you want to spend ! sounds like you do not need big $ ? sub(s) for a secondary system ? https://youtu.be/1Q3QQPO7y04?si=AnRA4M3Nk-sRPTnW for best i would get GR research open baffle servo sub (s) ( if avail ) a kit or already built but if you want to ck out these videos comparisons and tell me what you think ? https://youtu.be/5K2yVnOXah8?si=lhGzI83DoDfpolKj https://www.youtube.com/live/XxTBojUQhOw?si=CtRrIGY4g9fQJoRy https://www.youtube.com/live/AopYGZVMuOI?si=qsGRMlnX2IFQSDdx https://www.youtube.com/live/nP57-RfSOPc?si=z3vJY-dWZBoz5e5n https://www.youtube.com/live/J13HaxU9zuw?si=ZTpJdwgXUNSjQqVm https://youtu.be/O5Gu06tQGzc?si=onKQE2NlLr7JIGTh https://www.youtube.com/live/Dn5HXDuJ6bA?si=-MO3NAJtkSgUUnV5 https://youtu.be/zLZA10x_oUs?si=nuwP4b3uWtAL3ZWz https://www.youtube.com/live/SokSo7c2Jmw?si=2RphXIPJCiuIX1fq https://youtu.be/2JA9HkEQMyY?si=tB5Fp8wO68xrf1Zi https://www.youtube.com/live/E_L-vk0gYUc?si=bRsHwlvKLTGCkHD7 https://youtu.be/J0tSsw9evcY?si=Oy4sdfxDZl6w6A1y https://youtu.be/3LP4NomTjaM?si=sj0MsYC_NK02HBZc https://youtu.be/uD_xe4GN0CA?si=FlVhdP23fB2lf55K https://youtu.be/xNGpaXt-aTs?si=GAi8mWjYYsAB_O3R https://youtu.be/JrvyZIa--Do?si=W8j2Dner_McF6tqW https://youtu.be/sfmKmp9eKao?si=EtYYmdGxMMV3__WN https://youtu.be/1Q3QQPO7y04?si=AnRA4M3Nk-sRPTnW
limomangus Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,428 posts 09-11-2024 at 01:52pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete One sub ,2 main speakers .2.1 stereo system is all you need ,unless your living room is the size of Radio City Music Hall...come on .
jastralfu Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 420 posts 09-11-2024 at 04:19pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @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.
limomangus Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,428 posts 09-11-2024 at 05:04pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Everyone is entitled to there opinion. My living room is 20x 40 with cathedral ceiling and balcony at one end and one sub works fine...if your into Heavy Metal and what killer Bass....then get as many as you want..have a good day...
soix Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 9,591 posts 09-11-2024 at 05:55pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Everyone is entitled to their opinion. My living room is 20x 40 with cathedral ceiling and balcony at one end and one sub works fine...if your into Heavy Metal and what killer Bass....then get as many as you want..have a good day... @limomangus It’s really not opinion, and it’s not at all about “Heavy Metal and want killer Bass.” Two subs do a much better job integrating with the room, dealing with room modes/nodes. allowing subs to work less hard with less distortion, etc. If you read the research from noted experts like Todd Welti and others the extensive benefits of adding more subs is very well proven and documented and is born out by the experience of many here as well where adding a second sub yielded huge improvements over just one. In addition, subs are not just about low, slamming bass, and good subs integrated properly have a huge impact on greatly improving things like better/more solid imaging and an expanded 3D soundstage. The good news is with companies like SVS, etc. you have the opportunity to try adding a second sub totally risk free and experience those benefits yourself and if not worthwhile just return it, so why not?