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Subwoofer Recommendations for Audiophile Monitors

Do any of my fellow Audiogon members have any subwoofer recommendations that might play well with Harbeth 7ES-2 speakers? I love these speakers. With my ARC VSi55, these speakers make beautiful music… unless I chose something like the Bach Cello Concertos or Beethoven’s 3rd. In these cases, it seems like a different piece of music. The fact is, with most of the sub-60 Hz missing, it simply does not sound “good enough”. Yes, I am spoiled. Most of the time I am enjoying my Coincident Total Victory speakers. There is nothing lacking here that I particularly miss. It just seems that these nice speakers need some help. To that end, I have tried several solutions. I tried my home-theater system’s Klipsch RW-8 with the Harbeth. That sound was simply NASTY! This sub does fantastic auto crashes and star cruiser impulse power, but terrible Bach. My dealer was kind enough to lone me a REL Studio III (the only sub he carries, aside from the Klipsch). I must admit, it did sound quite nice. The problem here is that it is large enough to be mistaken for a steamer trunk. Just out of proportion with the rest of this office-size system.

The other subs that have been recommended to me are the Spendor SUB-3, Epos ELS-SUB, and the Monitor Radius 360. The problem is that none of these are available for audition to someone living in the center of the Pennsylvania forests. Has anyone had any first-hand experience with any of these subs?

Thanks in Advance,
Lance
128x128lanceo
crest
22 posts
 
I own a REL Q108 sub bass system, small, with unbelievable sound, very happy with it.
lissnr
365 posts
 
I have had a Rel Stadium 2 for several years and it is an excellent integrater with many speakers but if size really matters what about those little Carver subs, they are only about 1 foot square? Good luck.
sundance45
63 posts
 
Lanceo, I think your dealer's recommendation is right on the mark, However; if your room is normal size I think a Rel Strata 111 is more than enough. If you think your Harbeth speakers sound good now, adding the Rel will not only supply integrated seamless base, your speakers themselves will sound better. I have a Rel Strata 3 in my system now with Eggleston speakers and it is nearly impossible to perceive there is a sub in the system. Over the years, I've owned Klipch, several Velodynes, Entecs and a Janis and without a doubt the Rel integrated seamlessly with more pairs of speakers. IMHO one of the best.
jalanc42069
131 posts
 
Gotta agree with everyone else, seemless integration. I own a REL strata3 and storm3 , and with the speakers i've used[spendor,proac.decapo,fostex,sounddynamics], it's hard to hear the sub when it'd adjusted right.
lanceo's avatar
lanceo OP
9 posts
 
Gentlemen,

I am very appreciative of your recommendations; however, there is one overwhelming problem… REL “ST” series subs are no longer available to my dealer. Fact is, he has ordered every single sub listed on the Sumiko Audio web site, and he can get NONE. Furthermore, the most widely suggested STRATA has been discontinued (the only ST series currently listed on the web site are the STENTOR and the STUDIO). It is his belief that the B series will eventually replace all of the ST series subs, but these are not currently available either. My dealer also informed me that REL’s senior designer has left to start his own company. And last of all, I will not pay $9,000 (the current retail price for the Studio III) for an auditorium-size subwoofer, which my dealer can provide only in walnut finish.

My point is: I need a reasonably sized subwoofer, which is intended for in-home use. I agree that the REL STRATA is a wonderful sub… but if it is no longer available, isn’t this simply beating a dead horse? And for those unfamiliar with the REL STUDIO, it is a 65 liter, 300 pound behemoth, over twice the size of the STRATA. I realize that used STRATA do become available, but I would rather not purchase a used subwoofer because it seems that these speakers are the most prone to abuse. This is precisely why I have been asking about the Spendor, Monitor, and Epos subwoofers. All three are widely available on-line, seem to have garnered some fine reviews in 2-channel applications, and are of appropriate size for the Harbeth speakers. The prices also seem to be quite reasonable, with the Spendor being the most expensive, at $1,199. Problem is; I have no dealers available to me locally, so audition samples are not available. I have been fortunate to have received some very good advice from this forum in the past, and it would make me feel much more confident to hear the first hand observations of this learned body. And, if anyone is aware of any other “2-channel friendly” subwoofers, that are currently available, I would be delighted to hear about them also.

Many Thanks,
Lance
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