subwoofer for music?


Hi all

My Speakers are the neat ultimatum mf5 which claims to have specs of

MF5 response @ +/-3dB is 28Hz - 40kHz. The typical - 6dB point in the bass is 22Hz. (from BOB of neat)

Can a 6.5" driver get that low?? Proacs and PMC also have specs that go that low! While speakers with drivers of 12" only gets to 30+hz usually...not sure why

I dont feel a lack of bass from the speakers, but having a sub that can fulfil both role of music/movies and help my system to get down to 20hz will be awesome! (will set the crossover at 35hz or less)

However i will have a subwoofer regardless because i will use it for theater, and the pv1d just does not cut it for movies. So therefore im looking for a sub to be used for music and movies with budget as low as possible.

Will 2 subs help stereo imaging? I would much prefer a single sub for convenience .
Room is 8m(6m usable) x4m. So after reading some info, here are some choices that is within my budget (but i would prefer to spend as little as possible)

-jl audio f113

-twin velodyne spl 1000 ultra

-jl audio f112

-bower wilkin db1

-velodyne dd15 (not plus version)

-twin jl audio f110

-mk 350 mk2

-rel r528

I heard about SVS and KK and paradigm subs, but they are a pain to get in my country

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks all :)
nieveulv

Showing 4 responses by mapman

Main benefits of two subs is smoother response across the room plus of course twice the drive for the lowest octaves, which benefit the most from additional power and drive.

Crossing over to subs for lowest octaves also helps take load off main amp and speakers and generally results in better performance there than otherwise as well.

Stereo imaging gradually becomes less of a phenomena at lower frequencies, but I would expect some benefit there as well, especially if subs are crossed over in a manner that offloads more rather than less of the bass. So its less of a benefit at lower frequencies, but not completely a non issue, yet one that alone probably would not carry as much weight but can only be better and not worse with two subs rather than one.

So you can see that using one big sub rather than two smaller ones is a decent option still that works perfectly well for many even though there may be tangible benefit still in many cases with multiple subs.

In the case with seemingly fairly full range speakers already like the OPs appear to be, probably only larger and more powerful subs capable of substantial output 30 hz and below will be off benefit.

Many smaller subs are designed to supplement smaller monitor type speakers with limited bass extension already. These will add little if any value if used with good quality more full range speakers already. So larger good quality subs that use larger drivers (12 inch or larger most likely) are probably needed for true benefit and good ones will also tend to cost more accordingly. Check out frequency response specifications or even better any published measurements if available to help confirm that a particular sub has the low end extension and response needed to add value to an already mostly full range system.
Agree with Kr4.

You can make general statements about the capabilities of larger drivers over smaller. Of course not all speakers/subs that use a particular size driver are created equal, but in general larger drivers have more ability to deliver extended low frequency response than smaller ones. Multiple drivers also help. Its basic physics that is well documented and fairly easily understood compared to many things in "high end audio".
"REL are very cheaply made"

JK, can you expound on that?

Which others are made well and how?

Thanks.
BEing cheaply made and sounding good/being highly functional are not mutually exclusive.

For example, though not inexpensive in the minds of many, it could be argued that the OHM speakers I prefer are cheaply made compared to many others, especially those that cost a lot more. Still, despite searching and listening hard, I have not heard anything yet that makes me want to part with the OHMs. Its the value proposition for the sound I want and get with them that keeps me there.

I do not know which subs are or are not made better than others. Have not done the research. If others have, please share.

Thanks.