adding "slam" to 2-way speakers?

I've found that augmenting the output with a subwoofer in my larger basement room does indeed help with bass extension/weight/slam. However, if you find that the room is so large that it is bass frequencies ABOVE 80 Hz that ALSO need help, I would consider using a larger speaker with more/larger drivers. I set my sub's crossover at 35Hz, and yet it still does slightly augment the room response up to around 80Hz, and this works well for my floorstanding "MTM" speakers (each have two 5 inch woofers, and are tune-ported). In this large room, the speakers roll off very steeply below 40 Hz....but then, they're also nearly 7 feet out into a carpeted concrete room that is treated with several ASC traps. The room's volume is 4200 cubic feet............................To sum up: I highly recommend that you try a subwoofer, especially if it has many adjustable parameters, like crossover and phase. My opinion is that it is always possible to use a subwoofer to augment a speaker system, assuming the subwoofer is of adequate quality, and you are willing to spend the time it takes to adjust those parameters, and also expereiment with room placement and the direction the sub is "firing". And yes, two subs are better than one in large rooms, but two cost twice as much as one, and the end result is hardly ever "twice" as good, IMO.

If you are going to get a subwoofer, you should start by reading Widescreen Review's recent publication titled "The Essential Subwoofer Buyer's Guide". It is the best publication I have seen on subs. It reprints a series of articles on subs that are very informative, and also has in-depth reviews of 50+ subs. You will note that two of the highest rated and most musical subs are made by Vandersteen.

I was struck by your general satisfaction with your present system.It may not be an option for the obvious cost reasons but unless you really need that last half-octave and are concerned over maintaining the coherency of your Merlins,you might consider biamping as an alternative to a subwoofer>You gain not only slam,drive and authority but fine resolution is usually dramatically improved as well. What biamping won't do is enlarge the sense of scale of the presentation.It still takes lots of moving air for that one. Best, Ken

Rhyno before you lay down the long green, try this simple tweak. Insert the appropriate size vibrapods between your 2 way monitor and stands. This will give a noticeable increase in bass extension among other benefits. I have a second system with PSB 2 way monitors also with 6.5 woofer, although this may seem counter to your instincts, try it you will like the results, Sam