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Using small stereo speakers with a subwoofer

For over 25 years I've used panel speakers including Acoustat, Magnepan and Martin Logan. I bought the Martin Logan Odysseys in about 2005 and have been very happy with them for stereo as well as HT (I haven't done surround sound now for about 10 years). As a side note, my preference for the music that I most listen to, has been the ribbons but, for me, it seems that the ESL's are more versatile. Also, I'm not saying that panels are the best choice for everyone; it's just what I've become accustomed to.

That being the history, I find myself in the position of trying to find a replacement speaker setup using stand or bookshelf speakers augmented with a subwoofer. I've tried something like this before and wasn't satisfied with the sound so need some input.

I have a Vandersteen sub which I can put back into service but the way it's designed allows for phase adjustment but no choice in crossover frequency. I don't really understand this concept but never really paid any attention to it when I was using larger front speakers. I'm considering trying the NHT 2.0 bookshelves primarily because they're inexpensive and I've read good reviews about them. This is a very small speaker which NHT advises using their sub with for those who are bass conscious.

So, here are the concerns; without the sub I can't imagine that these tiny speakers are capable of reproducing enough bass even for solo guitar music. That being the case, I assume that the sub they sell for use with the 2.0 will blend well because the crossover point and slope are specifically made to accompany this speaker pair, but can the Vandersteen be made to accomplish the approximate same thing? Also, am I spinning my wheels starting with the NHT's in the first place.
broadstone
b_limo's avatar
b_limo
829 posts
 
Honestly, I considered the wavetouch speakers and may consider them again someday soon.

Ivan, your post sounds like spam, or an infomercial. You go on and on about how great these speakers are (which they may be!) only to say you've never actually heard them. The original post was about bookshelf speakers and a sub to replace tower speakers because the op was looking for more bass...

No hard feeling, Ivan, just saying that your intentions may have good, but could actually be harmful to a small, just starting out, company like wavetouch. Spam and lengthy posts touting a product that is slightly off the original post sounds fishy to most people and make them run.
ivan_nosnibor's avatar
ivan_nosnibor
782 posts
 
Oh...ok, I think I'm beginning to see where you're coming from. That may be an angle I didn't consider well enough from the start, my bad if that's so...not trying to muddy up the waters for anyone... I'll see if I can't be a little more careful about things like that from now on.
johnnyb53
3,490 posts
 
Ivan, here's a suggestion from someone who tends to write lengthy posts (me) who's learning to rein it in a bit:

Draw a line between recommendations or reviews based on personal experience vs. suggestions based on what you've read about or heard about. If it's a suggestion without experience, simply mention it as a possibility with a link or two to the relevant information and leave it at that. Maybe even add a disclaimer at the end that you have no connection with the vendor.
ivan_nosnibor's avatar
ivan_nosnibor
782 posts
 
Alright Johnny, looks like something like that may be my best bet in any case, actually.
oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
1,076 posts
 
I have always had a tough time in my room with towers with respect to room modes and boomy response. That said the last few speakers have been monitors with good bass response run full range along with a sub that rolls off around 60hz with a crossover slope that best compliments the mains. To accomplish this I use a Velodyne SMS 1 to serve as as a low pass crossover and eq the sub to tame the nasty 40hz peak.

I am running Revel M106 monitors with a REL R305 sub with excellent results.....
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