@gdnrbob
I am not considering Vandy subs but rather I considered the Vandy M7-HP passive crossover, which costs about $2,500. I probably would have already tried it except my main speakers do great bass (twin 9-inch woofers in a sealed, i.e., acoustic suspension, enclosure) down to about 40 Hz, so I really need to cross over lower than the fixed 100 Hz design of the Vandersteen passive crossover. Currently, I am using twin Aerial SW-12 subs which sound great and utilize a remote control that can be used to easily adjust the output level for different recordings.
I am considering adding a third SW-12 sub to the existing two, which are operated as single stereo channels and are placed in the front corners outside of my main speakers. I will place the third sub along the rear wall or in one of the rear corners outputting a summed bass signal. I cross them over between 40-45 Hz and keep my baseline output level (0 position) at a low'ish level to just fill in the lowest frequencies rather than to "shake the building." IMO, if subs sound bad, this is where most sub users have made the mistake - the level is too high. I sold bass reflex (i.e., ported) speakers that went lower but excited room vibrations on about half of the recordings I listen to. Adding one sub did not correct that situation but switching to speakers only going down to about 40 Hz and adding two subs absolutely corrected it. Bass is now solid and controlled and rarely interacts with the room.
If I were starting over, and didn't already own the Aerial subs, I would look very hard at Duke's Audiokinesis Swarm Subwoofer System (four subs) as a reasonably priced alternative to obtain great bass.
I am glad you are considering the Vandy subs.Hi Bob, you responded to a second post that wasn't clear on its own.
I am not considering Vandy subs but rather I considered the Vandy M7-HP passive crossover, which costs about $2,500. I probably would have already tried it except my main speakers do great bass (twin 9-inch woofers in a sealed, i.e., acoustic suspension, enclosure) down to about 40 Hz, so I really need to cross over lower than the fixed 100 Hz design of the Vandersteen passive crossover. Currently, I am using twin Aerial SW-12 subs which sound great and utilize a remote control that can be used to easily adjust the output level for different recordings.
I am considering adding a third SW-12 sub to the existing two, which are operated as single stereo channels and are placed in the front corners outside of my main speakers. I will place the third sub along the rear wall or in one of the rear corners outputting a summed bass signal. I cross them over between 40-45 Hz and keep my baseline output level (0 position) at a low'ish level to just fill in the lowest frequencies rather than to "shake the building." IMO, if subs sound bad, this is where most sub users have made the mistake - the level is too high. I sold bass reflex (i.e., ported) speakers that went lower but excited room vibrations on about half of the recordings I listen to. Adding one sub did not correct that situation but switching to speakers only going down to about 40 Hz and adding two subs absolutely corrected it. Bass is now solid and controlled and rarely interacts with the room.
If I were starting over, and didn't already own the Aerial subs, I would look very hard at Duke's Audiokinesis Swarm Subwoofer System (four subs) as a reasonably priced alternative to obtain great bass.