Use of subwoofer with bookshelf speakers

For music, the Rythmik sealed subs look really interesting. Due to furnishings, I've been limited to small speakers for a while. Over the course of the last year or so, I've run System Audio 505s, Paradigm Studio 10s and am now running a very small pair of Silverline Minuets. The are all good sounding speakers that are fast, but need help with the lows.

I've run a little REL T3 with them and it's been easy to integrate and keeps up with them very well. I've seen them go for around $300 or so, if you can find them. Heck, for that low of a price, you could get two and have stereo subs.

I have the Sonics Anima -- very similiar to the Canalis version -- paired with a REL Strata III sub, and they sound great together. I had been using the Animas sans sub for a few months and mostly didn't miss the bass <60hz, but then I got the sub and really noticed what I was missing. The sub fills in that last bit of the picture and adds more scale. Get a sub (REL or perhaps an Audio Physic one would fit nicely) but first get a good pair of 24" stands.

However...I believe Vandersteen( and others) recommend crossing over an octave higher...so full range speakers would be x-over at 80hz...most speakers are -3db down or more at their LF cutoff point...thus the rationale for x-over higher...and anything above 80hz is usually directional in nature...hence the full range recommendation...

I think Vandersteen's approach calls for a gentle-slope crossover between mains and sub(s) - maybe even first order, I'm not sure. Nothing wrong with that, you just gotta have the right speakers for it. Well okay one possible drawback is that you have to keep the sub(s) near the main speakers, because they will still have audible (and localizable) output well into the upper bass region. Obviously not an issue if you plan to place the sub(s) near the mains anyway.

Duke
dealer/manufacturer.

There are so many variables--you simply have to experiment with different c.o. frequencies and find what works with your situation. That's the only way to know.