doug s, I've heard strong arguments/theory for both single source bass and stereo in corners or even several in the room. C'mon man, we all have, it's an ongoing subject. Had a conversation with a guy that uses 2 subs, but stacked so there's less cancellation. Another uses 6 subs around the room. Whatever gives you what you want. It's about the room in such a large part also, don't you agree? All the different ideas is what I hope this thread is about in fact. I'm interested and expect to learn something.
I just go with what gives me what I like, for me I get more clarity to the bass textures with a single driver mono sub. Just what I like for music. Tone and texture first for me. The timing is off with more than one sub for what I like to hear, just not as clear. I go for a drier bass, but bring in just enough juiciness/fatness to feel the resonances. I like depth but not excessive visceral room shaking thing (just a wee touch tho), blocks out the music for me.
I watch dvd's with my music system and just turn up the bass, have thought about hooking up a second bass cab when I do that so I can get more pounding bass, but not for music for me. (Not interested in seperate ht system now, maybe later).
What are you into your bass system providing?
BTW, believe me, I have absolutely no judgement about more powerful bass systems, I enjoy them at times. I'm a different strokes for different folks person, don't really argue opinions much (no need to fight for my opinion because I already have it). My head can't take big bass for long, get headaches, probably related to not being able to go more that 6' or so under water before my head feels like it's going to explode. Who knows, if I got a head transplant I might get a bigger bass system! Maybe just sinuse replacement would do.
Also, down the road (after i buy all this other stuff) I'm thinking of an 18" driver for more headroom, looking at Ascendent Avalanche.
don, don't get me wrong. i am always up for a learning experience.
but, i have *never* heard *anyone* ever say mono bass is better. i have heard arguments made that that mono bass can be as good as stereo, if done right, but that's it. in my experience, the only time i have ever heard mono bass that only compromises soundstaging a *little*, is when the sub is in the nearfield, directly centered between the speakers.
as far as what i want w/bass, i want natural musical presentation, that's all. i don't like watching movies, so the h-t thing is not at all what i am looking for. if you are into timing, texture and feel - not more pounding bass - adding a second sub will certainly give you this. if the spl is the same, you will have the drivers working 50% less, which means less distortion. if a pair of subs is set up w/2-channel audio in mind - each sub inside or outside of the monitors, depending on your room - then you will get a better soundstage than w/no subs at all. and, as i said, my experience w/one sub has been, at best, a small diminution of soundstage. if the sub isn't directly centered, then the soundstage is degraded even more. even when crossed over as low as 40-50hz, you can localize the sub.
a buddy of mine w/stereo subs set up properly, actively crossed over w/a marchand 24db/octave x-over at 80hz, was amazed at the improved soundstaging he got. one day, he couldn't figure out what happened to it - the soundstaging was reduced, he dint know why. he checked the x-over, only to find he had inadvertently turned on the mono-sum switch the unit had, when he was dusting the prewious day...
so, while i think a mono sub can be *almost* as good as stereo subs, the set-up has to be yust right. and then, you will be sacrificing a bit of soundstaging, for better bass, compared to no subs at all. w/stereo subs, you get better bass *and* better soundstaging. but, to do this, you have to set up the subs for soundstaging, yust like the monitors. you may in fact be getting less bass than the subs would be capable of, if not set up in this fashion, but it's still better than no subs. if yure into h-t, this may not work - you may wanna stick the subs in the corners for max bass gain. as i am not into this, it's never been an issue. if ya have good subs, they will work fine for music, when out into the room like yer monitors.
check out the pic below. sure, the subs could be placed for more bass, but for *music*, it's really nice.
tho hard to tell in the pic, the subs are 6' out from the back wall. unfortunately, present personal issues mean that i no longer have this exact set-up, but my present set-up is layed out similarly, yust on a smaller scale.
regards,
doug s.
