I have been trying dozens of different high quality subs in my small room to try to find the best match with speakers like the smaller Maggies and Reference 3A monitors I have been using. My favorite by far for QUALITY bass has been the little Totem Kin subwoofer. It is -3db at 29 hz, and has the smallest footprint by far of all the subs I have tried (the enclosure is only 1/2 a cubic foot!) It uses a very rigid 8" carbon fiber driver in a sealed enclosure. For pure definition and completely uncolored bass that is fast and tight, this is the one. It bettered my previous favorite REL T-7i, in the way it actually improves the lower midrange of the music, as well as the detail in the bass. The other subs I tried got quite muddy in that area when I set the crossover much above 50 or 60 hz. If I set any of the other subs crossovers at 90hz or higher, they all did very negative things to the music. I can set the crossover on the Totem Kin sub anywhere between 120 and 200hz, and it does nothing but compliment the lower midrange and bass, making grand piano recordings and powerful brass horns sound more full bodied with no mud whatsoever, even in my small, often bass problematic room. I like the fact that turning the sub "on" does not make me first realize that the bass is 10hz deeper or more powerful than without it, but that my midrange actually sounds better!
Tight bass sub recommendations
What are the recommendations for a high quality subwoofer set- up. I have Maggie’s 1.7I speakers which I love but I think could use a little sub energy. Most of what I have tested seems a little boomy. I know there are 2 schools of thought 1 sub or 2 subs. I’m just looking for a deep Tight bass. Thoughts???