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Subwoofers for Martin Logan CLX's

A good friend has Martin Logan CLX’s He is looking for new Subwoofers currently runs top model REL’s but they are getting older (10 years+) now and he has the desire to upgrade. Current REL prices have gone up quite a bit for what he wants. I think he said they went from $9k to $14k each for the model they recommend for the speakers/room size. He needs two but is having issue buying due to the current pricing/tariff’s etc increases (about 35% here in Canada). He’s also considering the new, yet to be released, Logan Subs. But they have not given details on when they maybe available.

I told him I’d ask you fine folks what top model sub’s are now out there that would be a good match to the CLX’s. Noting he’s not interested in lower end models. His system is in the $300k range so matching gear is top quality.  He is not looking at the largest Rel’s I think he’s considering the ones just below for size reasons, he’s in a smaller room, 16’ x 18’ I believe but it’s a dedicated and treated room.

Any suggestions for subs, lets say in the $8k-$20k price range?

glennewdick
soix
11,250 posts
 

If I was him and since he’s got a dedicated room I’d hands down do The Swarm from Audiokinesis. 

https://www.audiokinesis.com/the-swarm-subwoofer-system-1.html

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,493 posts
 

 

Dipole planar loudspeakers have long been known to be very difficult to successfully mate with subwoofers. One reason for that is that almost all subs are monoploes,  not dipoles. Wendell Diller of Magnepan has long maintained that monopole subs "Do not work with dipole loudspeakers." Magnepan has been working on a dipole sub for a number of years now.

No need to wait; GR Research and Rythmik Audio have been offering an OB/Dipole woofer system for over ten years, and it has enthusiastically found favour amongst owners of dipole speakers. Two such owners are AudiogoN members jaytor (4 woofers per side, a pair of Duals stacked) and bigwave1 (two woofers, one Dual). You can see the sub in their virtual systems. Take a look at bigwave1’s frequency response graph for proof of bass response flat to below 20Hz! The sub is offered in a 2-woofer version (the Dual) and a 3-woofer version (the Triple).

The GR Research/Rythmik Audio OB/Dipole Servo-Feedback Woofer System sounds very different from sealed and ported subs. It sounds "leaner", like the bass produced by large planar/magnetic dipole loudspeakers. The sound character of the sub is the closest thing I’ve found to the bass produced by the dual bass panels of my Magneplanar Tympani T-IVa loudspeakers.

 

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