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1 sub? 2 subs?

I'm interested in adding a sub(s) to my current system. My system is used for both music (75% of the time)and HT. In adding a subwoofer, I would like it to be as musical as possible...explosions etc for theater are less important since I think of those types of sound as more for entertainment vs. something that must sound exactly right (anyway, I have no idea what most of the explosions really sound like because I've never heard it in person). My front speakers are Sonus Faber Concertos. The room is 16x25 with 9 foot ceilings and opens up into another room that is just as big.

I've been following many of the threads here on Audiogon(which have been incredibly informative) and have noticed that some feel that 2 subwoofers are needed to obtain the best overall sound. I'd like some views on the issue of one vs two subs in this setup. If I go with two subs could I get smaller subs eg 2 Sunfire Trues instead of one large eg. 1 REL Storm. Also, any recommendations are welcome. I'd like to keep it under $2K and am willing to buy used. Thanks for all your help.
Dave
milo
gmorris
351 posts
 
Bmpnyc:
I am building a dedicated listening room (15x26x9) with poured concrete floor. I will revisit the RELs after completion.
bmpnyc
713 posts
 
Good luck Gmorris. I know that can be quite a complicated and expensive undertaking.Do you already know what amps and speakers you will be using?
sedond
1,387 posts
 
gmorris,

i must confess that i've never tried using only one sub in *my* listening room - when i decided to sub-woof, i got two from the start. my reasons were based upon what seemed reasonable & logical to me: two subs means half the distortion for any given spl. two subs mean faster bass, that much easier to match w/your monitors (similar to distortion - half the work for a given spl). two subs means i can set them up in a proper stereo configuration, for better image/soudstage. two subs means easier to awoid standing-wave problems, as the sound is eminating from two distinct sources as opposed to one. this will work especially well, imho, if your speaker system is not directly centered on the wall behind them, but shifted over one way or the other a foot or three. also, summing a stereo signal to mono for bass frequencies may possibly lead to some signal cancellation, which is not what yure trying to do here...

again, my experience w/other single-sub systems has been that only when the summed-mono sub was centered between the speakers, & in the nearfield, did i get decent non-boomy, well-integrated bas response.

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