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 .
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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@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 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? |
Yes you are correct not just booming bass.But lower range and yes 3 D effect. But I feel one sub will give me what I'm looking for.I'm retired and at 72 ,there's no need for another sub woofer. I like moving stereo equipment around around ,especially all the different speaker systems I have aviable to me.,I own so much equipment now ,changing from solid state amps to tube amps ,pre amps etc..I have plenty of equipment. I really don't intend to upgrade.I like looking for cheap cds finding ones that sold for or are still spending for alot of bucks for.When I find them for a buck ,Bingo. I love the albums I have 1400 of them and the 40 to 50 for new ones doesn't cut it for me. Even though I have bought Mofi 45 rpm albums. |
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