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Can anyone hear the difference when you add REL subwoofers when playing two channel

I wonder if anyone else has had problems hearing a difference when adding REL subwoofers to their two channel systems?  I have gone back to a reputable dealer in town to listen to a pair of Vienna Acoustic Mozart's paired with a REL S3 and I couldn't detect a difference when they added and subtracted the REL.  I wonder if this was because the Vienna Acoustic Mozart's are already can extend down to 30 Hz.  I have also read reviews on the Mozart's and they said one of their criticisms was they felt the Mozart's to be too boomy in the bass.  

The dealer keeps telling me I am expecting to hear a more punchy pounding bass sound and that is not what I should be listening to.  He keeps saying I should be listening for greater depth and space to create a larger sound stage.  He went on to say if I had a subwoofer that delivered too much bass, they would eventually drive me out of the room and spoil my enjoyment of listening to music.  I thought I had sensitive ears to sound, but in this case I wonder if I am tone deaf.  My fear is getting a pair of T/9i's in my home and my wife telling me I wasted our money because she could not hear a difference. 

There must be a reason why so many dealers have told me their first pick would be a REL because they are so musical.

I also question why REL manufactures their subs with such low wattage?  For example, their S3 delivers only 400 watts and their T/9i's deliver just 300 watts.  When comparing them to  subwoofers like JL, which deliver 750 watts to $1500 watts, maybe REL subwoofers are just too wimpy.
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Showing 1 response by millercarbon

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millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
A lot of the guys who have only tried one or two subs in a system will tell you the REL is really good.

All of the guys who have tried a Swarm type distributed bass array with 4 subs will tell you this is definitely the way to go.

Because: it is definitely the way to go.

Sub or no sub makes no difference at all unless the recording has low enough bass to matter in the first place.

When you do get a Swarm type distributed bass array that will allow you to experience for the first time really low, articulate and dynamic bass, one thing you will notice is its hardly ever there, and then will surprise you when it is. Like a lot of times a bass player as he slides off a note it trails off and down, way down, way further than you ever heard, in fact you don't hear it you just sort of feel it. "Sort of" because it feels so much different than anything you're used to unless and until you've heard proper DBA bass. Because this just never happens with only one or two subs. Not unless maybe equalized, and then only in the one spot it was equalized for.

The best demo track I know, with powerful extreme low bass that is also musical and with a bass line progression making it easy to follow is Bela Fleck Flight of the Cosmic Hippo.

You're welcome.
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