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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
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
d2girls's avatar
d2girls OP
641 posts
 
Actually I sold the Harbeths.. sorry 😅
cantorgale's avatar
cantorgale
12 posts
 
@audiotroy  As posted above, I also have Harbeth m30.2s. 

I solved the Harbeth bass issue by adding dual HSU ULS15 mk-2s. (My listening room is (a) 12 x 14 for near field, which opens to (b) 20 x 30 which is why I upgraded the HSUs from VTF1 MK3s to the ULS 15s.

Also, having recently added the HSU High-End External Crossover I have a question:

I have been told that inserting a crossover between amp and pre will degrade the preamp output with noise, distortion, phase-shift, etc. when you go through the crossover electronics.  Also, that an external cross-over will also defeat any benefit of high-end after-market interconnects in the pre/x-over/amp path. 

Do you have any thoughts about this?
Thanks for any input.

(PS Audio BHK 300 monos, Audible Illusions L3A line stage, DSPeaker Anti-mode 8033, Modwright-modded Oppo Sonica DAC, Fidleizer Nimitra S server; cables - Syn Res; Wywires; Wireworld), 
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