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Do I need two subs?

1513 Views 15 Replies 9 Participants Last post by T100, Dec 31, 2008

FHT123

Discussion Starter · Dec 28, 2008

I have a 14 x 12 dedicated room with 4 seats in it. I am debating on using my existing Definitive Technology Super Cube I with my towers. polk rtia9....or buying 2 subs......will i notice a difference or a waste of money?

Also, if the answer is 2 subs....I am thinking of a couple of klipsch subs or energy subs....any suggestions?

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

warlord260

· #2 · Dec 28, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by FHT123 /forum/post/15394243

I have a 14 x 12 dedicated room with 4 seats in it. I am debating on using my existing Definitive Technology Super Cube I with my towers. polk rtia9....or buying 2 subs......will i notice a difference or a waste of money?

Also, if the answer is 2 subs....I am thinking of a couple of klipsch subs or energy subs....any suggestions?

maybe could get i.d. subs cheaper. way more sub for the dollar.

dont know what your looking to spend, but there is better out there.

mayhem13

· #3 · Dec 28, 2008

Keep the cube, and add 1 or 2 more sealed subs with LF extension into the sub 20hz realm. This will give the smoothest in room freq response and deep LF extension with placement experimenting. I agree with the ID subs but watch those shipping charges. Subs are heavy, especially the good ones.

T-Bone

· #4 · Dec 28, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by FHT123 /forum/post/15394243

I have a 14 x 12 dedicated room with 4 seats in it. I am debating on using my existing Definitive Technology Super Cube I with my towers. polk rtia9....or buying 2 subs......will i notice a difference or a waste of money?

Also, if the answer is 2 subs....I am thinking of a couple of klipsch subs or energy subs....any suggestions?

You need at least one sub if you want to get down to 20 Hz. Do you need two subs? I doubt it! You do have a small room, so the room modes may be more pronounced than in a large room... if I were you, I would do the following:

- Buy one sub whose FR is flat to 20 Hz (I recommend ID), then calibrate it for the room (not just pink noise... with test tones with the sub in multiple locations)

- After calibration, I will have the documented the best possible sub location that provides the best overall bass response across the 4 seating positions.

- Finally, I would then determine if room treatment is needed, or additional EQ hardware

Of course, you could just buy two subs right off the bat that will probably provide a smoother response than one sub, but you might be spending money that does not need to be spent.

-T

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FHT123

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 29, 2008

how about one sub canceling out the other....i will be putting both in the front of the room... to the left and right of the screen...

T100

· #6 · Dec 29, 2008

I already have 2 subs (Paradigm 2200 v1 & vps1000) and was also interested in two matching sub. The ones i am looking at are the SB12-plus. My system would allow me to install them next to my montier 11's so what are some thoughts.

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Ivan Beaver

· #7 · Dec 29, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by FHT123 /forum/post/15399612

how about one sub canceling out the other....i will be putting both in the front of the room... to the left and right of the screen...

Unless your screen is larger than your room, you will have coupling-instead of cancellation, due to the long wavelengths involved

FHT123

Discussion Starter · #8 · Dec 29, 2008

what do you mean by "coupling"?

Jonomega

· #9 · Dec 29, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by FHT123 /forum/post/15399935

what do you mean by "coupling"?

As long as their waves are in-phase, you will get up to +6 dB extra headroom.

I wouldn't count on your predescribed locations being the best locations for subwoofers. Rather, find the best using a variation of the "Crawl" method. Typically for multiple seats, the best locations for the subwoofer would be mid-wall one on each opposing wall. That is, one sub in front center, one in rear center. Alternatively, one sub in left wall center, one in right wall center. This is according to the Harmon white paper where they studied bass uniformity over multiple listening positions.

T100

· #10 · Dec 29, 2008

That is how I have it set up now with the 2200 front left and vps1000 right rear, just behind the seats. I'm also using buttkickers in two chairs. Sounds good and I have 805 onkyo and used Audyssey to set it up. I just didn't know if it would be better to go with 2 subs or a SVS ultra 13. My original setup was one sub but two diffidently have a fuller effect. My room does have sound treatments.

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FHT123

Discussion Starter · #11 · Dec 29, 2008

I dont know if i will have space to the sides or rear of the room, i think i be forced into putting both in front of the room, probably about 8 feet. apart.....in this situation would any of you recommend getting a second sub? Or will i not notice a difference? Thanks.

merv43

· #12 · Dec 29, 2008

I have a 22' x 14' room and have lived with just one infinity sub (csw-10) in the front of the room for some time, I found another sub same as the one I got for realy cheap and instlalled it in the rear of the room. Wow, what a difference. The room is much more balanced. I am a fan of sealed box sub's, they are fast and you don't hear chuffing or breathing that you can sometimes hear with vented designs. But a sealed sub will require work in finding the right place for the sub to sound its best. I would recommend trying two subs and seeing if it is worth the extra bucks. Good luck.

JOHNnDENVER

· #13 · Dec 29, 2008

I try to get most people to go for dual subs these days in dedicated rooms.

More often than not, it solves way more issues than it creates.

mayhem13

· #14 · Dec 30, 2008

The newest thinking actually shows three subs produces the best in room response. Placement guideline is somewhat random, with 1 sub grouped with the front soundstage. I currently run 4 and it's the smoothest bass in this room yet.

merv43

· #15 · Dec 30, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by mayhem13 /forum/post/15409813

The newest thinking actually shows three subs produces the best in room response. Placement guideline is somewhat random, with 1 sub grouped with the front soundstage. I currently run 4 and it's the smoothest bass in this room yet.

are the 4 subs the same make and model?

T100

· #16 · Dec 31, 2008

Thanks, I did contact SVS about 2 subs the SB12-plus he suggested the new PB12 PLus and I have been also looking at the HSU uls15. This is a room over the garage at is rather small and open to my living room and kitchen. I did make custom panels to fill those spaces that are removable, but it did give the room a port effect so down stairs sound great. That is why I went with 2 subs it does have a more filling sound. This room is pretty sound dead extra padding on floor, thick carpet, behind walls are insulated, auralex wall treatment sound diffusers rear top corners, by the those did defuse the sound of the ADP 350's real well. This is why I added the buttkickers to chairs for movement. Sound is tight but not chest kicking. Your advise would be honoring and greatly welcomed.

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