[John Casler]

Some time ago, I posted that I had been experimenting with subs in a "Near and Far" configuration.

This can be set up in many ways, and while I have 4 LARGER subs, I recently used just a pair of them.

1) Position = Near

This one is a Larger sitting inches from the back of my listening chair, and firing away from me.

2) Position = Far

This one is about 20-25' away and down a hallway leading to my daughters bedroom.

I run these subs off an NHT X-2 crossover, which is used as a "lowpass filter", and my RM40's are run "full range".

Crossover is also set to "MONO" to the subs, and the frequency dial is turned down to 30Hz (lowest setting) so they are only hitting the "lower registers".

If your home is set up in any way to try this type of arrangement, I think you might find the results are pretty spectacular in the "Musical Foundation".

It is hard to describe.  It is as if your walls disappear and the air in the room all shakes and moves.  Lows seem deeper and transparent, as well as somehow making the room sound "cavernous". 

On Orchestral pieces, it really sounds like Carnegie Hall, or what I assume the Met might sound like. (I need to make it to Disney Hall too, since it is right here)

Oh and for HT. . . .forgetaboutdit aa  The AIR in the room and the ROOM itself seem to shake.

Played the Faux Earthquake scene out of OCEAN's 13 the other night and my heavy (and I mean heavy like in 2" thick) wooden doors were shaking

Even though I have a separate 2channel system, to my HT system, I have the subs hooked up to both systems (NHT-2 makes this possible)

So if you have the room and a couple subs, I seriously suggest giving this config a "roll" and after a little moving things around (as in slight adjustments to the FAR sub's position)

If you already have 2 subs, you're already there.

If you only have one, I can help you aa aa (in a LARGE way)

[Early B.]

John --

Do you have pics or a drawing? I'm trying to envision the FAR sub being "down the hall." Is it actually in the hallway or in another room altogether? I can understand this type of setup for HT, but for music, I'm baffled, unless, of course, it's head banger type music. Seems like for some types of music a "cavernous" sound would be kinda weird. I dunno.

Are the volume settings the same on each sub?   

[John Casler]

John --

Do you have pics or a drawing? I'm trying to envision the FAR sub being "down the hall." Is it actually in the hallway or in another room altogether? I can understand this type of setup for HT, but for music, I'm baffled, unless, of course, it's head banger type music. Seems like for some types of music a "cavernous" sound would be kinda weird. I dunno.

Are the volume settings the same on each sub?   

Hi EarlyB,

The idea is for the second sub to be a large distance away I am estimating 20-25' away.  It is not in a separate room, but down a hallway off the main entrance which opens into my LR (listening room)

Actually it works best for 2 channel since it allows (or seems to allow) the lower bass fundamentals to form.  The term "cavernous" is not meant to suggest that it "adds" any echo or reverb, but that it more accurately has the ability to  re-create "large" space psychoacoustics.

Concerts and performances are almost always in a space larger than your listening room, so recreating them within that environment many times is a trade off.

This "seems" to give the auditory illusion, of the bass sounds in a larger space, so that it has a more real sound and feel to it.

Since this is an "exclusive" trial in "my" space, I don't have the experience to say it will work as well, or to the same degree that it does here.

But it adds a realistic spatial perspective and foundation that I like.

[DFaulds]

I currently have 2 TC Sounds 15” TC2+ drivers in 3.3 ft3 sealed cabinets close to the 2 front corners of my basement HT room, which is 15x21 and is open to a 15x21 billiard room.  I also have a 3rd TC 15 that I could place in the billiard room about 20 ft from the center of the HT seating.  I guess I’ll try this and see how it works with an “unbalanced” number of subs.

Interesting idea, and pretty easy to understand how it can create a totally different listening experience.

[John Casler]

I currently have 2 TC Sounds 15” TC2+ drivers in 3.3 ft3 sealed cabinets close to the 2 front corners of my basement HT room, which is 15x21 and is open to a 15x21 billiard room.  I also have a 3rd TC 15 that I could place in the billiard room about 20 ft from the center of the HT seating.  I guess I’ll try this and see how it works with an “unbalanced” number of subs.

Interesting idea, and pretty easy to understand how it can create a totally different listening experience.

Cool,  I'll be interested in how well your room supports it. 

I think it is "key" that the "far" sub be in the very low ranges.  I run from 30hz down, but have to admit, I haven't tried it higher.

[DFaulds]

Well this is a HT setup and I’m currently using a 60Hz low pass for the subs, but I can certainly experiment by changing the low-pass frequency, and can also use different ones for the front and rear subs.

It could be pretty interesting.  Of course this weekend I’ll have to scrounge around in the basement in order to find a cabinet for that 3rd TC driver…