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Stereo Subs - Do they need to be identical?

I'm thinking of getting a couple of subwoofers to mate with my MBL 121 monitors. Generally, I've seen setups where people use two subs of the same brand and size. I'm wondering whether it can make sense to use two different sizes. For example - a Venoyne DD12 and a DD15. I'm likely going to go with Velodyne DD series or JL Audio.

In particular, I note that the big Velodyne 1812 uses an 18 inch and 12 inch woofer, with suppsed benefits in terms of speed (12 inch) and extension and depth (18 inch).
outlier
aldavis
191 posts
 
Yes science (theory) and experimentation are necessary to get you to where you need to go. Theory is a good starting place. Mounting into the wall (soffit) is an option and can be tried but you also have to factor into the equation the room length and how this placement will specifically fit into that. My point is that theory is just a starting point and that when you really get into this particular project you have to do your own listening and your own measurements because the variables in any given case are so numerous as to render any given prediction based soley on theory ( even very sound theory) woefully insufficient. - Jim
rauliruegas
9,123 posts
 
Dear Outlier and friends: IMHO it is better to have to identical subs it does not matters which is the crossover frequency.

There are IMHO many subjects on the subs integration and maybe many things to know about, here are some links that can be interesting to read:

http://www.soundstage.com/maxdb/maxdb061999.htm
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1117893153&openflup&27&4#27
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1117893153&openflup&31&4#31
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1117893153&openflup&75&4#75
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1117893153&openflup&84&4#84
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1117893153&openflup&158&4#158
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1117893153&openflup&183&4#183
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1117893153&openflup&196&4#196

There are to much to " explore " on the subs subject ( a complex one ) and there are a lot of misunderstood about, IMHO I think that till today the last word on subs is/are not writing yet.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,333 posts
 
Duke,

Thanks - Earl's paper proves what I said - symmetry in the bass is likely to
give you stronger (more coherent) peaks and suckouts than an asymmetrical
placement.

I would add that Aldavis point about phase is a real concern. I'd prefer to have
the timing of the primary sub signals to arrive at the listener all at the correct
time. So in practice this limits the amount of asymmetry that can be achieved
(to the left or right side wall at a similar distance to the listener as the mains).
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