One vs. two subs?

[ssmith3046]

I use two B&W 608 subwoofers with my Nautilus 805 speakers and it make a huge difference. I run the subs out of a McIntosh C29 preamps line out outputs.

[doggiehowser]

If you could place one sub directly in between the two main speakers, it's not a bad way to get a more balanced sound. I've found that even though bass is supposed to be non directional, you can sense where it's from in music. In movies less so.

With a center speaker for my dual use (stereo and HT) setup, I ended up with 3 subs: 2 for the mains and one for HT.

[audioguy3107]

Originally Posted by chessman

I placed one each next to my mains to try to keep the phase as close as possible.

I'm definitely in the 2 subwoofer camp as well. Much easier to get smooth bass response by placement of two vs. one sub. As I spoke of in another thread, I recently had Jim Smith (get better sound) voice my speakers to my room. He didn't even want to come until I had stereo subs to move around. He was confident that my bass response would be almost perfect with two RELs that he could move around. He was correct

[jfray]

I know that this will go against the consensus but I am extremely satisfied with one REL G1!!!!!

[Pio]

I use 4 subs in my HT set up. Floyd Tool from Harman did a big study on this - he found that 2 is better than 1 - and 4 is the best overall.

For stereo - I would for sure go for 2. I experimented a lot with this and 2 always sounded smoother and more dynamic than just one.

However, to fully take advantage of having the sub(s), you need a cross over (Bryston makes or made a GREAT one) or use the one built into the subs themselves (line out to the power amps). If you don't relieve the main speakers from the lower frequencies you won't maximize the set up.


Here is the study I mentioned -
http://www.harman.com/EN-US/OurCompa...s/multsubs.pdf

[fmrnykr]

My vote is for 2 subs. I've been using 2 subs in my system since the late '90s and I get the great low end response.

I'm using 2 HGS 15s with an SMS unit on each crossed over @ 45Hz with a 24db slope. I run my Maggie 1.6QRs full range. My musician friends cannot believe how "real" it sounds.

Bob

[TMC]

I have 4 subs in my H/T system. There are 2 in the front (and each one has 2 forward facing 18" subs) and 2 single 18" in the rear, one in each corner. Its all Bag End with an ELF-1 processor and 2 Crown K2's for power. The hi-pass is 70Hz and the cutoff is 8Hz. My room is 30 feet X 25 feet.

[asindc]

2.

[Javier M.]

I vote for 2!!

[Masterlu]

Javier M... Welcome!