2nd RSW-15 overkill?

[vbguy01]

Well, after a trip to some theme parks in Florida, I find myself wanting to upgrade the home theatre. I'm exploring my options but I'm thinking of adding a second RSW-15. I currently have 2 RF-7's, an RC-7 ,2 RS-35's and the RSW-15. The room is large, about 15x25, not ideal for home theatre understandibly. Is anyone using 2 large subs or is that overkill? I am thinking there is no such thing but could use some inputs. Thanks.

 

[Johnd]

Not if you want more bass. Typically, multiple subs are used to achieve that certain "preponderance of bass" and to minimize those voids all so common when only only sub is used. If you're desiring more bass after the sub is positioned in its' "sweet spot" and it is accurately set, why not get another sub? Cheers.

 

[sivadselim]

Sounds like you want to "dig deeper", which another RSW15 is not really going to help you do.

 

[Nuglets]

Sounds like you want to "dig deeper", which another RSW15 is not really going to help you do.

I don't quite understand this advise...Another one of those subs will dramatically improve the sound, especially if you have the room treated and/or your bass response equalized for the flattest frequency response. I have found that in my room, my sub resonates at around 50-70 Hz making it hard for me to get an equal balance of low bass and the right volume level. I also have a large room (30ft x 25ft x 18ft) with the kitchen open to the living room and now have my sub off because my fronts have an easier time delivering lower frequencies. The reason for this is because my fronts have more bass drivers and a larger internal volume than my one 12" powered sub.
If you get another one of those subs and place them right you will get much "deeper" and better bass in my opinion. If you can get rid of nulls (cancellations usually due to room acoustics and/or speaker placement) and lower the peaks (Frequencies that are too loud) you will be much more satisfied with the sound of two subs rather than one.

P.S. I've never heard that sub, but it looks like a beast...I can't see how you could go wrong by buying another one...especially in a large room.

 

[sivadselim]

I don't quite understand this advise...Another one of those subs will dramatically improve the sound, especially if you have the room treated and/or your bass response equalized for the flattest frequency response. I have found that in my room, my sub resonates at around 50-70 Hz making it hard for me to get an equal balance of low bass and the right volume level. I also have a large room (30ft x 25ft x 18ft) with the kitchen open to the living room and now have my sub off because my fronts have an easier time delivering lower frequencies. The reason for this is because my fronts have more bass drivers and a larger internal volume than my one 12" powered sub.
If you get another one of those subs and place them right you will get much "deeper" and better bass in my opinion. If you can get rid of nulls (cancellations usually due to room acoustics and/or speaker placement) and lower the peaks (Frequencies that are too loud) you will be much more satisfied with the sound of two subs rather than one.

P.S. I've never heard that sub, but it looks like a beast...I can't see how you could go wrong by buying another one...especially in a large room.

Yes, another one of these subs will increase the available output and will perhaps help with room problems (although it could also create room problems), but will NOT allow you to go "deeper". That's just not possible. The sub only goes so low, and doubling, tripling, or quadrupling the number you have will not "magically" make you now suddenly able to achieve a lower frequency response.

I have this sub, by the way. It has VERY substantial output capability, but I'm well-aware of it's low-end limitations. It is not known as a "bottom feeder" type "movie" subwoofer that would be desirable to achieve the Orlando "theme-park" experience that the OP speaks of. The output below 25Hz drops off quite significantly and it has no output whatsoever below 19Hz. Hence my assumption that what the OP really wants is to go "deeper" (up to an octave, even) and my comment was that simply doubling the number of subwoofers will not help toward that end at all.

 

[AVRat]

I agree with sevidsalim here. What do you feel is missing? Is this a dedicated HT room? Does your room have any acoustic treatments? By adding another sub you are doubling up on the SPL but not necessarily adding to the visceral impact. In auditioning Klipsch subs, I've been underwhelmed compared to others. If it's practical you could sell the Klipsch and purchase a more appropriate sub(s).

 

[Nuglets]

Yes, another one of these subs will increase the available output and will perhaps help with room problems (although it could also create room problems), but will NOT allow you to go "deeper". That's just not possible. The sub only goes so low, and doubling, tripling, or quadrupling the number you have will not "magically" make you now suddenly able to achieve a lower frequency response.

I have this sub, by the way. It has VERY substantial output capability, but I'm well-aware of it's low-end limitations. It is not known as a "bottom feeder" type "movie" subwoofer that would be desirable to achieve the Orlando "theme-park" experience that the OP speaks of. The output below 25Hz drops off quite significantly and it has no output whatsoever below 19Hz. Hence my assumption that what the OP really wants is to go "deeper" (up to an octave, even) and my comment was that simply doubling the number of subwoofers will not help toward that end at all.

That makes sense...If he's looking for lower frequency then, no adding another sub will not do all that much. I do think adding a sub will help him get down to 19Hz easier (assuming placement is carefully chosen)...In my opinion, 19Hz is quite low, and he may not be achieving that in such a large room at the listening position.

I guess now I am wondering...If the crossover starts rolling off at say 25Hz, with 2 subs would it lessen the amount of rolloff you hear? Would that allow the sub to remain louder at a slightly lower frequency than with only 1 sub?

 

[mulester7]

.....VBGuy, I personally vote for two like subs in the front soundstage equally split apart from the center to taste....if you end up in the front corners or relatively close to the front corners, fine....two subs won't lower the low-limits of one, but it will seem as though they did through what you hear on the lowest of the lows being "much stouter" than one....you will probably want to lower the volume of the two allowing the elements and amps to last longer still getting plenty of output from the two....honestly, two subs seem to give the effect of "more" than only one being added to the original one....this is what I've found in my theater......

 

[sivadselim]

I guess now I am wondering...If the crossover starts rolling off at say 25Hz, with 2 subs would it lessen the amount of rolloff you hear? Would that allow the sub to remain louder at a slightly lower frequency than with only 1 sub?

Ignoring any room effects (which can be substantial), the same depth at the same SPL should be obtainable if the single subwoofer is calibrated properly simply by using it's master volume control.

Now, if the OP is already running an RSW15 at max. volume (which I highly doubt), then yes, obviously adding another at max volume will increase the output at every frequency that the sub is capable of.

But the maximum volume increase you can get from adding an additional sub will be +6dB if they're collocated (ie. stacked) and +3dB if they're separated. Unless the one sub is already running at it's maximum (and it shouldn't be), this 3-6dB increase should be theoretically attainable from one sub simply by turning up the master volume by this number of dBs.

Yes, two subs can definitely help alleviate room problems, perhaps providing a much smoother frequency response. But one can be calibrated to the proper SPL (provided you're not already at your headroom limit) just as two can be. A proper calibration is a proper calibration.