2 subs for music?

[jsf0656]

I listen to a lot of 70-80s rock music. I have a 10''sub now. would I benefit from adding a second 10'' sub for music listening. would that give me more of a tower sound vs bookshelf sound which is what I have now?

 

[everettT]

I listen to a lot of 70-80s rock music. I have a 10''sub now. would I benefit from adding a second 10'' sub for music listening. would that give me more of a tower sound vs bookshelf sound which is what I have now?

It will make for more even bass which translates to better sound. What is your gear and how large is your room?

 

[jsf0656]

thanks for that. I have a modest polk RTI 6 bookshelf speakers with a PWS10 sub. wife doesn't want towers so I have the RTI 6s on stands with a Yamaha RX-V475 5 channel amp but I only use 2-channel. room is about 15x15.

 

[everettT]

thanks for that. I have a modest polk RTI 6 bookshelf speakers with a PWS10 sub. wife doesn't want towers so I have the RTI 6s on stands with a Yamaha RX-V475 5 channel amp but I only use 2-channel. room is about 15x15.

It wont hurt, but if it were me I'd save up for a different sub since that polk is their entry level sub.

 

[jsf0656]

is it ok to stack a sub on top of another one as room is a concern.

 

[ryanosaur]

is it ok to stack a sub on top of another one as room is a concern.

That will boost output, making it louder; it won't do anything to improve bass response in your room.

 

[everettT]

Without rubber pad, it may vibrate off FYI

 

[jsf0656]

so it will sound deeper with 2 as opposed to 1. I want to add another sub so I need to tell wife that it doesn't need to be stacked!

 

[jsf0656]

I like the little polk sub for me its fine. just wanted to give a little bass in the room but try to make it sound deeper. so I thought the second sub would achieve that.

 

[snakeeyes]

If you want deeper bass, you may need to look at other subs. Such as: HSU, SVS, Monolith, Outlaw, Rythmik.

 

[ryanosaur]

I agree with Snake, but I'm wondering if your idea of deep is ours. Deep to us is lower frequency. I have a feeling that your "deep" is a factor of using a small sub in a room that it can't fill.
Jus to help us out, how tall is your ceiling? And is that 15x15 room open to other areas, or closed, please?

 

[everettT]

Not deeper, louder. Your sub is really suited for music and at low to medium volume. For HT its gonna struggle to be impactful.

 

[ryanosaur]

So, that little guy is only rated at 50w, with a response from 40-160Hz.
Its not really doing either for you: output or deep bass.
For the price the Hsu VTF1 Mk3 would be significantly better for your room than that polk. Their VTF2 would be better still.
Svs would be another good option with their 1000 and 2000 series, but more expensive.

 

[jsf0656]

I guess you are right. I have vaulted ceiling in living room and it opens into dining area. so the bass I am getting is fairly decent for my music but it doesn't sound really deep but is defined if that makes any sense.

 

[jsf0656]

Not deeper, louder. Your sub is really suited for music and at low to medium volume. For HT its gonna struggle to be impactful.[/QU

I only use my 2 channel setup for music listening, no HT.

 

[ryanosaur]

I've an old HTIB in our greatroom with a small sub... our greatroom with vaulted ceiling and all associated open area is >8000'3. Yes, I hear bass. It fills in the empty area that our kleenex box sized speakers don't quite hit. It is more serving the purpose of a woofer in a floorstanding/tower speaker.

In Rock, you're really only missing the impact of the kick drum. Maybe some organ and piano goes lower than your sub does. Which isn't to say you won't hear it, but the frequencies are getting quiter because of the roll-off below that 40Hz tuning of your current subwoofer.
If you do HT, you are missing A LOT.

 

[jsf0656]

I think that I am trying to make it sound more like if I had towers vs bookshelfs! I am 63 and the wife and I only care about music! no HT.

 

[jsf0656]

I am using the Yamaha receiver that my son gave to me. that's why it is a 5 channel receiver and only use 2 channel!

 

[ryanosaur]

I think that I am trying to make it sound more like if I had towers vs bookshelfs!

Nothing wrong with bookshelf/standmount speakers. My private rig (not in the greatroom) is using standmounts. And killer subs!

I'm not really interested in trying to get you to buy something different, but your satisfaction, or lack there of was coming through in your messages.

If you really wanted to keep with the polks, you could add 3 or 5 more... it will get louder, and you will experience more even bass throughout your listening area, but those little guys are not up to the task of filling your room.

If you want lower extension, more punch, and greater output, my advice would be new subs. 1 pb2000 or VTF2 that I mentioned above would be a great improvement over 2 of those polks, especially considering the volume of room you are talking about. 2 of either of those subs and you might just find bass contentment.

EDIT: but if sheer joy of bass, bass enlightenment, vibrational nirvana is your goal... well, we can point you toward the mountain top, too!

 

[jsf0656]

I understand what you are saying. I do not want to have 3-4 subs laying around as the wife would run me out of the house. we have been married for 43 years so I am to old to pack up and leave LOL! but I really appreciate all your help so I understand it much more clearly now...one better sub vs 2-3 entry level subs would meet my needs better.