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Subwoofer advice

Sorry in advance for the long post but I thought it would be helpful to give as much context as possible in order to receive the most accurate advice.

I am new to this subwoofer thing. Currently I have a traditional stereo system. Dedicated amp/pre/dac and Harbeth 30.2 speakers. Now I am not unhappy with the bass output of the Harbeths, in fact, I was impressed with the useful output I heard under 50hz, even though they're only rated to 50hz.

I was thinking adding a powered sub or perhaps two subs would be beneficial as my Harbeths start to roll off around 40hz and I get no useful output below 30hz or so. I don't consider myself a bass head but I do like the occasional Daft Punk song, and know that a good sized woofer can make all the difference in a system. I think the Harbeth Radial driver is swell, but it struggles at higher spl, under 50hz. (Herb Reichart mentioned the logo will rattle against the enclosure with strong subbass, he wasn't joking)

I don't wish to add a processor into my chain for subwoofer management, even though I could (my preamp has home theatre bypass) I would rather do the "traditional" way where I set the crossover of the sub to maybe around 40hz and adjust placement in room manually by ear.

My room is small, 10x14.

My questions are thus: what brand should I look to get?

Should I get one or two subs? One to start?

What considerations must I factor in for seamless integration?
d2girls
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
1,621 posts
 
D2girls, you purchased a speaker that has limited bass, which will not really do that kind of music well, and due to its light weight cabinet it tends to be more warm and melodic then tight and punchy in the bass, which also makes intergration with a subwoofer more difficult. 

Harbeths are very musical midrange oriented loudspeakers like we have said in many a post. Shadorne is correct. 

Also a 10 by 14 room is really too small to really get two subwoofers in.

However, the correct way would be using two small very fast subwoofers, to provide a more even wave launch into the room and smooth out nulls, SVS woofers are a bit too boomy, and the Rethmik subs I dont think can derive their signal from an amplifer. 

Two Rel subs should do the trick. Put some Isoacoustics isolation footers under the Harbeths. Try to find a Rel dealer and borrow two of their smaller subs. You do not need a lot of output your room is tiny. 

If you try to roll off the bass to the Harbeths and put an electronic crossover in line with the speaker you may lose much of the musicality that you love out of the Harbeths. 

If you just augment the bass you may find that the extra output from the subs coupled with the Harbeths will just add that little extra you are looking for. 

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ
Post removed 
d2girls's avatar
d2girls OP
641 posts
 
Thanks all for the help, I am looking to get a full range speaker to replace the harbeths with. Seems like the better, simpler solution than trying to round it out with subs. Honestly, I didn’t even want to change anything, its my significant other who seems really keen on it.

I was seduced by Harbeth marketing! I shoulda gotten something different, something better. Shoulda Woulda Coulda. You guys know I haven’t even been in this hobby for longer than a year right? Plus I’m 1/3 of your guys age. I’ve got plenty of time to learn more. Let this be a lesson learned... at least I didn't blow $30k on a single component like some of you guys... also I'll be able to sell the Harbeths for pretty much 90% what I bought em for. Got lucky there, I guess.

And all this said and I haven’t even really said anything about how I like how my Harbeths sound. I love them to bits. Obviously when you read a thread like this it seems I’m not 100% pleased with the bass output in my system. But I’m mostly pleased. As I said before, I'm not the only person who has a say in my system. It’s as simple as that. If it were up to me I’d stick with things as is, maybe add a sub.

And yeah I guess thanks Audiotroy for your suggestions and pointing out that I bought a speaker that doesn’t do bass. I actually knew that buying them. Blame the boyfriend for putting thoughts of upgrading into my head...

This thread has served its purpose. See: the new thread I’ve made, titled Deadalus Audio speakers Muse or Muse studio?
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
4,908 posts
 
Dave and Troy (audiotroy) just posted "the Rythmik (correct spelling ;-) subs I don't think can derive their signal from an amplifier." Look two posts above theirs, where I said Rythmiks do exactly that. The A370 (in the F12 sub) and H600 (in the F15HP and other models) plate amps have hookups for BOTH line level (from say a pre-amp) and high level (from a power amp) sources---your choice which to use. Dave and Troy---got it now? ;-)
cantorgale's avatar
cantorgale
12 posts
 
@d2girls Congrats on the 30.2s. I just upgraded from 30.1s recently to the .2s and love them. I had the same issues with Harbeth as you are having re bass.  My solution was as several have suggested here - adding sub(s). I started with one HSU VTF-1 MK2, then added a second. Each add was an improvement. I then upgraded to dual HSUs ULS-15 mk2s as the smaller sub was not adequate from my larger listening space. To my ears and taste the ULS-15/m30.2 combination equals virtually anything I have heard in a showroom (except the $175K Naim/Focal system at my local dealer's open-house last week.)

I then added an external HSU High-End Crossover unit. Despite what is IMHO a miserable build quality, the external crossover adds a bit of magic to the bass while allowing the Harbeth to shine where it does best - in mids an highs.

I do have a question about inserting an external crossover unit into a high end system which I will post in this thread. But in all, subs do the trick with the m.30.2s
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