Best Subwoofer(s) for SF Guarneri Homage

Definitely take a look at the Paradigm Servo 15. This is a very musical sub and has gotton rave reviews. Stereophile rates it class "B", but says it's borderline class "A". After owning this piece for about six months I can see why. I run this sub with Kef Reference 4's. This set-up yields excellent dynamics. With 400 watts, the srevo 15 will have no problem keeping up and low end bass extension is awesome. This sub also plays with a very high degree of accuracy. The best part is the flexibility of the three crossovers you can choose from which accommodate any speaker set-up. The price is also hard to beat at $1500.00 list.(I paid $1250.00 out the door). For under $2000.00 the servo 15 beats all comers.

Wow! I thought the thread was pretty "dead" by now. Thank you all. I did contact Muse early on about the Model 18, but they never developed a personality card for the SFG's. Since they are currently not making any subs, I just didn't want to take a chance on a 2nd hand model only to face integration issues. So...after reading the posts and all the reviews I could find and talking to the dealer who sold me the SFG's, just yesterday morning I ordered a REL Strata III (the new, sealed enclosure design). Ron - the dealer told me that anything bigger than the Strata would totally overload my small room. I even asked about two Strata, and they discouraged this (amazing, considering I was ready to buy...). So, much as I'd like to get into one of the bigger REL's, the Paradigm, the Muse, or the Genesis 900, I need to work with the room. Will post again to let you all know how it works out...

Hi Alex! Just an idea - it's a fact that subs are differicult to match - with both room and speakers. I have tried the Tact room-correction 2.0 unit from Tact audio - this is spectacular! I use the B&W N802 in a small room and the 2.0 does it's job perfectly. The perspective is accurate, dynamics overvelming, and the bass definition is perfect matched with the room. The Tact 2.0 can be set up with a sub as well, and in this way you could still keep the fameous mid-range from SF - and even improve the overall sound! Best Regards Michael, Denmark

felicidad Alex ! A clear good choice to go for the REL Strata 3, although a smaller model than the Stentor and Studio, it will deliver. If you have a small room, [which you mentioned again] than the Strata will also work fine. what i tried to express in my words was that, in a fair listening room [without major problems] the bigger REL models will outperform the smaller ones by a big margin. Now when the word BIG is written, you Americans have BIG all over the place ! I meant better bass, sub-bass, and not more or bigger bass... The downright quality of bass as done by the Stentor and Studio is plain High-End like. Your dealer says; "anything BIGGER will overload the room" [well either you have a room problem ie; a standing wave problem, which is hard to solve under say 80hz,] But with the REL bigger does not means MORE bass, it just means that the bass can and will go deeper, and still is capable of pressure at lets say 16hz, but ANY rel is adjusted very precisely to the main system. Well anyway you will enjoy your Sub-Bass system ! take your time to adjust. When you have the chance to listen to the Studio...do so. you will know what I meant. Enjoy ! RON

Wait for Sonus Faber (2002 I think) to come out with their sub replacing the stands in year or two. Have heard good things--albeit rather preliminary--concerning them. It will be an all-out assault on high end big$$$ speaker systems (Wilsons etc) which sound "dry and etched." From what I hear it is beyond R&D and isn't too expensive, for those who already own the best speaker around. Word is that it will integrate beautifully (aesthetics) and add lowest bass--though many believe (since the Guarneris can go as low as the vaunted Quads 57-63 already) that it is unnecessay. Most Guarneri owners won't bother, but given that anyone who can afford them can buy the subs...they'll probably sell. I've dumped my subs on the Totems...wrecked the sound according to my friends and I reluctantly agreed. Amazing how full range some small speakers like Guarneris and Totems really sound. My own measurements in my room showed ancillary equipment was more responsible for the loss of any lower octaves than was the perfect design of these speakers--like the Guarneris--dependent more on source material and front end than subs which screw up the great midrange/highs.