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My experience adding subwoofers to 2 channel

My Kappa 9 speakers are rated to 29hz and they sound pretty good in my 18x24 room...powered by McIntosh mc1.25 amps...l was looking for another layer of bass to enhance the sound..my first experiment l took my SVS pb16 ultras from my theater room and tried them first...it sounded terrible,didn't blend well..couldn't hear a difference until you turned in up then it rattled the room apart........my final experiment worked..l used 4 Velodyne minivee subwoofers(1000 watt rms class D sealed 8 in.) and after hours of calibration l hit it......lve got the bass response that exeeded my expectations. ....l should have done this along time ago....can anybody tell me of another subwoofer that may work even better?
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Showing 6 responses by vinnydabully

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vinnydabully OP
86 posts
 
It is like crossover building makes total sense. If l ran a test tone sweep through the mains with subs off the bass started falling off pretty steady below 50hz. Now it stays flat down to 25hz. It's the closest sound to a real drumset that ive had so far..l wasn't going for the deepest bass possible. ..l like alot of energy around the 50 to 30hz. range for my favorite music....The system didn't need a whole lot, but when the subs are perfectly blended with the mains it becomes a whole different beast.l should have done this years ago...l bought all four subwoofers used for 1000.00....l may consider some new Audiophile grade subwoofers down the road..such as Rel.or possibly some sealed SVS models....
vinnydabully's avatar
vinnydabully OP
86 posts
 
Im no expert by any means. ...but i discovered my subs were canceling each other out....a simple db meter worked well for me....changing the phase on them cured that problem. .......the rest of it was hours of listening and placement. .....level adjustment. ..crossover adjustments. ....but thats the fun stuff. ....when you hear the subs over the mains it sounds like crap.....when it sounds like everything coming from the mains you hit it.....if thats any help? Some source material doesn't need a whole lot and some needs more........
vinnydabully's avatar
vinnydabully OP
86 posts
 
Ive found if you get up real early in the morning and can get a few hours to yourself  (good luck) put on a good pot of darkroast coffee and calibrate your system. ...you can  do your best thinking alone.... let your own ears be the judge. ..they will never steer your wrong...
vinnydabully's avatar
vinnydabully OP
86 posts
 
My subs are located behind my main speakers in the front corners...behind some silk plants....you cant see them ...makes it very "steathy"and cool......l will try all four corners soon....my McIntosh C52 pre amp has switchable outputs for tri-amping so l can turn the subs on in groups of two or turn them off from the preamp front panel...very convenient. ....the "swarm configuration " will be the next phase ......the receptacles and audio cables are going to take some planning. ...thanks guys for the cool advise! 
vinnydabully's avatar
vinnydabully OP
86 posts
 
I totally understand the trick adding subs is you shouldn't be able to differentiate between the mains and subs....they sould seamlessly blend and disappear. ......when l activate mine ...the best way to describe it is like a loudness button on steroids. ......one fellow Audiogoner said he went to a high end shop and was demoed a Rel sub to add to his system. ..he said he couldn't hear much of a difference and thought it was a waste of money. ...l belive source material is key...but everything sounds better with properly done subs......
vinnydabully's avatar
vinnydabully OP
86 posts
 
Im no expert by any means. ...but i discovered my subs were canceling each other out....a simple db meter worked well for me....changing the phase on them cured that problem. .......the rest of it was hours of listening and placement. .....level adjustment. ..crossover adjustments. ....but thats the fun stuff. ....when you hear the subs over the mains it sounds like crap.....when it sounds like everything coming from the mains you hit it.....if thats any help? Some source material doesn't need a whole lot and some needs more........
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