One or two subs?

[E-Stat]

E- Stat: Are you mention that you have your sub accounting for the frequencies above 80 hz and I assume unfiltered, therefore you blend your sub without using a crossover by essentially let the sub fill in the gaps where the speakers roll and let the speakers handle the rest? Hope that made sense. Or I assume you have a high crossover. By the way, which equalizer do you use in your room.

No, I high pass the mains and low pass the subs. My point is that even when low passed, there is typically content found an octave higher unless you use an extreme slope. I experimented greatly with different combinations. I began with the notion of running the Polk satellites pretty much full range and attempted to blend. In my room, that didn't work. What I found was that I needed the EQ to handle the room modes. In order to do that, I had to run the subs higher (EQ on subs only!). So, the Polks nominally high pass at 120 hz and the subs low pass around 100 hz. Measured response is reasonably flat and I get more headroom from the mains because they were really not happy delivering 50 hz.

One more question for E Stat. You talked about the frequency response being very smooth in your room, do you have bass traps as I am strongly considering building some of those you mentioned in my last thread? Would you consider properly placed and constructed traps as or more important to the frequency response than the quality or lack of a sub?

I'm a big fan of bass traps, but alas can only use them upstairs in the two channel music system. In the den downstairs, I use EQ on the subs instead. More important than the quality of sub? Perhaps. I value linear response higher than eking out the last hertz or two at the bottom. I find that getting the upper bass/lower midrange really right is critical for neutral system response.

rw