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If you have full range main speakers can a single sub be enough?

Frank Dernie

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As per the title, can a single sub added to a pair of full range speakers be set up to behave like a system with 3 subs, and if so which software would do it best?
I realise in such a system two of the "subs" will have a fixed location.
 

ppataki

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I have a pair of fullrange speakers (Audio Nirvana 12" classic) and I have one SVS SB-1000 under each of those; so basically I put the cabinet of the Nirvanas on top of the subs
I cross them over at 190Hz using iZotope EQ and I use Dirac Live 3 for room correction then iZotope Vintage EQ for tonality adjustments (all this in Jriver 27)
I also have a pair of the same Nirvanas as rear speakers (currently not having a sub under those but planned for next year)
This way you will not lose the directivity information in the bass range and will take the low-end burden off of the main full range speakers
I am extremely happy with the results personally
I hope this helps
 

andreasmaaan

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Could you explain what you mean "behave like a system with 3 subs" in a bit more detail? :)
 

Soniclife

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As per the title, can a single sub added to a pair of full range speakers be set up to behave like a system with 3 subs, and if so which software would do it best?
I realise in such a system two of the "subs" will have a fixed location.
This seems like a three sub setup, which often looks very close to a good as 4 sub setups, so likely very good.
Is this for something other than you Devialet setup which could do it.
 

sigbergaudio

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Not entirely clear what you are trying to do. Are you looking for a way to route the LFE-signal of a movie soundtrack to your main speakers?

EDIT: There's also almost no such thing as a full range speaker, which speakers are we talking about?
 

Dimifoot

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As per the title, can a single sub added to a pair of full range speakers be set up to behave like a system with 3 subs, and if so which software would do it best?
I realise in such a system two of the "subs" will have a fixed location.

I use a 2 subs+2 mains (40hz and up) for LFE and .1 duties. It works well.
Software/hardware: Trinnov.
 

mSpot

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Could you explain what you mean "behave like a system with 3 subs" in a bit more detail? :)
I think he means that his full range speakers already extend down to subwoofer range, so whether adding a sub would be equivalent to a system with 3 subs.
 

blueone

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As per the title, can a single sub added to a pair of full range speakers be set up to behave like a system with 3 subs, and if so which software would do it best?
I realise in such a system two of the "subs" will have a fixed location.

This is what I do. I use a pair of Salon2s full-range and a sub with DSP adjusted to fill in dips in the measured response at the listening seat below 100Hz. The challenge is that it requires L/R speakers with strong response in the 20-40Hz octave, and they're rare. The strategy seems to work fine for music systems, but if you have a home theater system (especially with multi-row seating) I still like multiple subs a lot better. It's just easier to feed the LFE channel into subs. I got the idea from someone using this strategy with B&W 800Ds, and he says he got it from another web site. The single sub + mains full-range strategy does need DSP either in a discrete component or in the sub. Running the sub with a simple low-pass filter and mains full-range results in bloated bass octaves.
 
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Frank Dernie

Frank Dernie

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Not entirely clear what you are trying to do. Are you looking for a way to route the LFE-signal of a movie soundtrack to your main speakers?

EDIT: There's also almost no such thing as a full range speaker, which speakers are we talking about?
Goldmund Epilog 1&2 -3 dB point 26Hz iirc
 

Jdunk54nl

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They will work well as long as you get them in phase with each other via time alignment or phase adjustments (not just a polarity adjustment). Anytime you have multiple speakers playing the same frequencies you have the same issues.
 
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Frank Dernie

Frank Dernie

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Could you explain what you mean "behave like a system with 3 subs" in a bit more detail? :)
Simply a system with 3 LF sources at different locations in the room.
My room was set up over 20 years ago by positioning the speakers for most even bass, and I have a sub which integrates fairly well but I wondered if anybody used a bit of DSP code (nothing like this was available of course when the room was set up).
I have tried a DSPeaker multi mode and Audyssey but for me the DSPeaker was overall worse and I only use Audyssey for films I hear no gain on music, in fact using the FR recommended by Amir in his Audyssey review is bloated overdone bass on the sort of music I listen to, awful, not as good as the carefully positioned speakers with no manipulation.
 
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Frank Dernie

Frank Dernie

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I suppose what I am really asking is if anybody knows if there is something which is likely to be better than what I have now.
Devialet have just come up with a way of adding room compensation filters for its DSP engine, so I may well try that first.
 
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