Subwoofers - Final Thoughts with Martin Logan ESL 13A

Dear  @audphile1   : Overall agree with you however there is one issue where almost does not matters the room/system you own and this is the IMD developed by speaker woofers if the speaker passive internal crossover is high as in the ML or your Sabrina. Wilson is no exception to that IMD.

Now:  " Turn up the bass level knob in the back of the ML woofer cabinets. "

If @navyachts  makes that then the IMD will goes higher and higher, IMHO it's not the " solution ". There is no way to lower that ML woofers IMD.

R.

Dear @ricred1 : In this link and in any REL information you can’t find out which is the 31/32 THD that is essentially a meaning of the true quality subwoofer performance levels. If you have information about then please share with us:

No.32-One-Sheet-August-17-Vfinal.pdf

In the REL manual we can read the main target of REL subwoofers:

" A REL is designed to augment the performance of " full range " speaker systems in order to provide linear response below 15 hz. "

There is no information which kind of " linear " response below 15 hz ¡ ¡ ¡ ? ? ? when it says in the specs that is down 15 hz with a -6db deviation. That has no sense.

That " augment " means that the " full range " speakers " continue to play " full range " with high MD and now you have two bass sources playing together from 90hz and belows it ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Terrible for say the least and then you pay over 10K for one Rel unit.

I respect all your opinions but as mine is only an opinion that IMHO is full of misunderstood in this particular subject and REL specifically.

Btw @tablejockey " swarm ( 4 or more subs in the room ) function as the Harman link posted in this thread shows only to even the low bass response all over the room ( if you have only one seat position and cares only about your seat position you don’t need more than 2 subs as confirmed the Harman link. ) and it does not look for bass quality response and/or the quality response of the main speakers and its woofers developed IMD: swarm just does not helps about. Get it? and yes I can be wrong but this is my whole take rigth now .

Thismis the link:

Microsoft Word - whitepaper10.doc

R.

"@ricred1  I prefer the 32s to every previously owned subwoofer...dual JL Audio F110, dual JL Audio F112 v2, HSU, Martin Logan Depth i, and SVS 16 Ultras."

ricred1, you are the only staunch sub user I can recall who prefers a -6dB sub-bass speaker to the -3dB subwoofers you've owned. 

Could you describe where you positioned those subwoofers in your room?

@rauliruegas I get it. But…I’m enjoying the music with my system and I do not hear IMD. Neither do I need to obsess over it because…
According to Wilson Audio…

The tweeter is isolated internally from the midrange and woofer drivers with the latter two transducers sharing the same internal volume. Wilson Audio notes that in this configuration any potential for intermodulation distortion is minimized by prudent driver selection and precise porting of the enclosure. 

This sounds like truth as I cannot detect any distortion. The drivers cross over seamlessly. 
 

I’m very thorough when it comes to my system but I think we’re attempting to shoot down a fly with a bazooka here…

By the way I looked at your system page and I’m very impressed! Gorgeous system and some collection of cartridges you got there…enjoy!