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Post by puffin on Jul 1, 2018 12:19:10 GMT
Does anyone else messaround with subs? I generally use just one which integrates nicely with the main speakers, but on occasion (when I am bored stiff - like today when I should be out enjoying the sunshine, but find it is too hot and unbearable) that I fire up a second and mess around with placement and phase. It is interesing the changes in presentation and soundstage that can be achieved. Often the track plying sounds very different, sometimes better, somtimes not. The changes cover the whole of the audio spectrum.
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Post by Slinger on Jul 1, 2018 12:35:37 GMT
I've got a little 8" sub and a pair of DL4 S2 speakers hooked up to the SMSL Q5 on my PC, and a 10" sub as a part of my 5.1 AV system, but not as a part of my pure "music" systems.
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Post by steveeb on Jul 1, 2018 17:24:19 GMT
I have a single REL to play with but haven't felt the urge in a while. My rear firing horns load the room in a similar way so it's effortless to integrate a sub but since using ribbon tweeters I need to change to something like a 10" peerless to avoid slowing the music pace. I'd also like one with a pass through to cut the lowest frequencies from the wideband drivers in the main speakers.
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Post by ChrisB on Jul 2, 2018 4:28:20 GMT
I have never plumbed one in to my system. For some reason I have never considered one necessary.
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Post by John on Jul 2, 2018 4:52:37 GMT
I use a F.A.S.T. configuration (Full Range Assisted Subwoofer Technology) there is no crossover to sap efficiency and resolution The 15" Bass drivers are in true Isobarek configuration I am crossing over around 290 and use a 18db slope. No boxes to add colouration. I get very clean articulate bass with plenty of slam. It will give you kick drums you can feel in your chest. It is a pretty seamless integration with the PRV drivers so those scale with ease. A very cost effective way to achieve good sounds on a tight budget, but sacrifices looks.
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Post by petea on Mar 12, 2020 18:50:03 GMT
A long dormant thread I know, but I thought it better to use this one than start a new sub-bass thread. I have long had an occasional, but persistent, niggle about what a sub-bass would add to my system. However, as Martin and Steve will attest, the geometry of my room is somewhat challenging and it has never been obvious how one would introduce a sub-bass unit. The other week I succumbed though, having found a virtually unused Rel R-305 for sale on eBay in a wood finish rather than gloss black. I have just received a cable to allow me to try it in the system (thanks, David) and am in the process of working out best position and settings. I shall persist for the next few days with this to decide if I like it in the system. At the moment the jury is out although I am getting closer to getting what seems to be a fairly seamless integration today. It will be interesting to see if it still seems that way tomorrow though! From the diagram below you will see the problem. Usually I sit on the left side of the sofa when listening and the orientation of the main speakers throw the soundstage behind them and directly in front of the listening position (yes, I know the toe-in seems extreme, but trust me I have experimented a lot!). The R-305 is way off to the left (the armchair is slightly nearer the nearside wall these days) and coloured gold in the diagram and is slightly angled towards the centre of the soundstage. It is sitting on a Townshend Podium (one of a pair which were bought for some Shahinian Arcs that don't work in this room). With the current levels and crossover (about 30 Hz I think) and phase setting it does not appear to create any adverse interactions and one cannot detect its position, but I think it is additive where I think it needs to be. However, I there is probably more tweaking to be done.  |
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Post by Slinger on Mar 12, 2020 19:57:15 GMT
Since my reply to the OP I've added a 10" sub to my second system, and as far as I'm concerned it's a huge success.
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Post by MartinT on Mar 12, 2020 20:07:20 GMT
That should work well for you, Pete. Having seen your room, I cannot imagine where else it could go. Integration and not over-cooking the level are key.
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Post by petea on Mar 12, 2020 20:14:27 GMT
The R-305 is also a 10", closed, forward-firing unit and reviewed well. Sounds pretty tight to me and has good finesse to the adjustments (micro-clicks). As you say Martin, there is little choice here and I am aiming for subtle: heritage glass is way too expensive! Mind it might have to double up as a side table a well.
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Post by puffin on Mar 12, 2020 21:04:37 GMT
Spooky...I have only this week been messing around (again) with sub placement. Having rearranged my room and cleared out a lot of stuff I had room on a 3 shelf Target stand to site a sub on the top and in the middle of the main speakers. Unusual and some might say "bonkers".....however the results are very good. In time you educate your brain to forget that it is only low bass that it is coming out of the speaker looking right at you and at just over ear height. The whole of the frequency range has IMO more coherence and both HF and MF are more defined (my main speakers are 3 ways)
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 13, 2020 17:22:04 GMT
My MBLs are sufficiently full range for me not to want a sub, but I do have a Jamo SUB200 for the very rare occasions when I give the MBLs a rest and lift down the Podium Point-5 panel speakers.
I have another Jamo SUB200 (they are very good!) for my 2nd system (different location, a 2 hour drive away) and that is essential for use with my Infinity Cascade 9 speakers which only go down to about 80Hz.
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Post by Slinger on Mar 13, 2020 17:30:20 GMT
My MBLs are sufficiently full range for me not to want a sub, but I do have a Jamo SUB200 for the very rare occasions when I give the MBLs a rest and lift down the Podium Point-5 panel speakers. I have another Jamo SUB200 (they are very good!) for my 2nd system (different location, a 2 hour drive away) and that is essential for use with my Infinity Cascade 9 speakers which only go down to about 80Hz. Just idle curiosity, Jerry, but have you ever thought about going "bigger" than an 8" sub? |
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 13, 2020 17:55:18 GMT
Well, it's tempting but I'm not sure my wife could cope with more than 8".  |
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 13, 2020 17:59:32 GMT
Way back I had a REL Stadium, quite a big box with a 10 inch driver, I think.
It could certainly shift serious amounts of air and was impressive mostly with films. Not so convinced with classical music that I need that much bass shove - the 8 inch is just fine for me (and the mrs).
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Post by MartinT on Mar 13, 2020 20:14:34 GMT
Many years ago I had a REL Studio II with two 10" high throw woofers. Goodness me, that could move air and go deep but it wasn't a fast sound. What I get from the Ushers is plenty deep but it's much more dynamically fast.
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 15, 2020 15:50:03 GMT
Still surprises me how deep these TAD E-1s go. They really don't look as if they can do that sort of bass response link |
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Post by puffin on Mar 17, 2020 19:47:45 GMT
Still surprises me how deep these TAD E-1s go. They really don't look as if they can do that sort of bass response linkThey look a bit cheap for my tastes Mike.....  |
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Post by petea on Mar 17, 2020 22:38:01 GMT
After some fiddling (and the use of a spectrum analyser and a measurement microphone) the sub has integrated into the system perfectly. However, I will have to make some more adjustments to its positioning as at the moment I cannot open one of the doors to the bookcase! I will now add one to the system in Germany and have ordered an ex-demonstration Rel S/5 SHO. This uses a 12" driver (and a 12" passive), but the studio here is significantly larger (16 m x 5 m) than the living room in the UK and the acoustics are well damped and nicely balanced. Hopefully it will be relatively straight forward to set up.
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Post by petea on Apr 21, 2020 11:41:49 GMT
I have just installed a pair of Townshend Seismic Speaker Bars on the Rel S/5 here on the German system. Immediately the small amount of lowest-end bloom has been eliminated (it is a suspended floor) and there is even more texture in the lowest notes. Definitely worth doing and it has achieved the same as in the UK.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 21, 2020 12:25:12 GMT
The Townshend Podiums I use are superb for tightening the bass and giving it texture. Similarly the squidgy SDS feet on the Gale sub in our AV system.
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