Just for the sake of thinking out loud, I thought maybe this would get some discussion going. I currently have an HST18 in a 4ft^3 sealed box. Amp is Inuke6k. Room is 2525 ft^3 and I hit 114 dB at 20 Hz with the single driver off one channel of the Inuke(amp is tapped out here). For my second cab, I have the option to use either the UM-18 or the new SI DS4. I've been leaning towards the UM-18 just because it is a sure thing, DB tested, excellent real world actual test results with very low distortion, etc. Modeling show it to be slightly more sensitive in the mid and upper bass by a couple of dB than the DS4. I feel like the mid and upper bass is the weakness in my system currently due to mediocre bookshelf speakers with 6.5" woofers and $200 AVR.
I am curious as to whether perhaps something like the PA-460 driver in the 2nd sealed cab might provide superior overall results in my system. I would like to upgrade my mains to Fusion 8's in the future but this is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
Typical max listening level on movies is -15 to -10, but I like having clean reference level capability to ensure plenty of headroom for running the subs hot, house curves, etc. I've read up on a few things lately in which people have been extremely impressed by the addition of mid bass type woofers when added to the common, low efficiency deep bass HT drivers.
So I am most likely going to just pop in the UM-18 as my second sub, but I wish I had a PA-460 laying around just to try out. I don't think adding a MBM in addition to dual subs, which would be a third large box in my main living room, is feasible.
I suppose another option to consider is perhaps upgrading amps someday to one with alot more power which I think might help bass output on the top end, since it seems these high excursion drivers can not only handle a ton of power up top, but require it to get really high output up there.
Part of this dilemma probably comes from attending the recent Pittsburgh G2G at AVS member Raynist's house last weekend. Hearing his JTR speakers with no subs playing resulted in, literally, the most impressive sound on music with kickdrums of all the demos we did that day. The mid bass kick on music was drastically superior compared to the amount of bass my HST-18 was able to provide when crossed at 80 Hz with the speakers.
I suppose that is what has me wondering how things would sound with the HST-18 handling the deeper stuff, and a higher efficiency driver handling the mid bass.
I am curious as to whether perhaps something like the PA-460 driver in the 2nd sealed cab might provide superior overall results in my system. I would like to upgrade my mains to Fusion 8's in the future but this is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
Typical max listening level on movies is -15 to -10, but I like having clean reference level capability to ensure plenty of headroom for running the subs hot, house curves, etc. I've read up on a few things lately in which people have been extremely impressed by the addition of mid bass type woofers when added to the common, low efficiency deep bass HT drivers.
So I am most likely going to just pop in the UM-18 as my second sub, but I wish I had a PA-460 laying around just to try out. I don't think adding a MBM in addition to dual subs, which would be a third large box in my main living room, is feasible.
I suppose another option to consider is perhaps upgrading amps someday to one with alot more power which I think might help bass output on the top end, since it seems these high excursion drivers can not only handle a ton of power up top, but require it to get really high output up there.
Part of this dilemma probably comes from attending the recent Pittsburgh G2G at AVS member Raynist's house last weekend. Hearing his JTR speakers with no subs playing resulted in, literally, the most impressive sound on music with kickdrums of all the demos we did that day. The mid bass kick on music was drastically superior compared to the amount of bass my HST-18 was able to provide when crossed at 80 Hz with the speakers.
I suppose that is what has me wondering how things would sound with the HST-18 handling the deeper stuff, and a higher efficiency driver handling the mid bass.