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
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@furiouslyadrift is very right about the Rythmik subs. Their plate amps have far more controls for achieving integration with main speaker than do most others. Not just the adjustable crossover (frequency and slope), but continuously-variable phase (not the insufficient 0/180 degree toggle switch found on many), damping (high / low / medium, at 14 / 20 / 28Hz), both line (from pre-amp) and high-level (from power amp) inputs, and 1-band PEQ.
Def 2 subs.  Everyone says this.  Can't go wrong with Rythmik or Power Sound Audio (PSA)  or SVS.  Folks who own the sealed SVS SB-2000s 12" give them lots of praise.  They are $1300 for 2, five year warranty.  The Rythmik F12 is a 12" sealed servo-controlled sub (the boss has a Ph.D. in EE), in a larger enclosure, and digs deeper.  More expensive, but, yeah, digs deeper.  About $1800 for a pair.  PSA is more of a home theater sub maker, but they do make sealed subs.  SVS has the best trade up policy, but they all have their own.  Bottom line, you can't go wrong with any of the 3 companies, but get 2 subs.
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
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