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2 subs in a small room?

I recently added a REL T/5i sub to my system and have been very happy with the results.  Integration was a breeze and I am now more engaged in my music than ever.  So of course being a typical audiophile, I got to thinking if 1 sub sounds this good will 2 sound even better?  The challenge is my room.  Its very small at 9' w x 10' l x 9' h.  The back wall is about 3' high, above which it opens up to the rest of my house.  I have bass traps in this room.  Right now, using just 1 sub, my freq response from 20-1000hz is +- 2db with a -4db dip at 200hz and a +4db hump at 40hz.  Not perfect but my system still sounds amazing.

I know the general consensus is a second sub will sound better but I am concerned with the size of my room.  Will adding a second sub in such a small space over power it or will it actually help to smooth out nodes?


128x128tboooe
tboooe's avatar
tboooe OP
1,009 posts
 
Thank you for the great response martykl.  So how hard is it to integrate a second sub?  I have read from others that setting up a second sub is difficult and an EQ is a must.  
coli
291 posts
 
In my room, 2 subs actually produced worse frequency response than 1. Getting rid of the extra sub proved costly...
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Tbooe,

Doing it by ear will usually take time.  It's a bit of a PITA, but I've done it successfully several times.  Unlike Coli, I've never failed to achieve smoother FR with a second sub.  If you use an SPL meter or a RTA, it's much easier.  

These days, I use Audyssey.  It's certainly not an audiophile approved method, but IME it's a 100% foolproof, no-sweat method of smoothly integrating one or two subs into a system.
jafant
18,798 posts
 
Tbooe,
I like your avatar.
tboooe's avatar
tboooe OP
1,009 posts
 
martykl, I do have an SPL meter but I have been thinking about using room correction with something like DIRAC.  At the very minimum I am going to get a USB mic and measure properly measure my room using Room EQ Wizard.

jafant, I appreciate the compliment.  Long Duc Dong is my personal hero.
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