1 sub? 2 subs?

Milo, I have heard the combo of Sonus Faber Concertos and a REL sub, and have not heard a better match yet, especially for a music oriented 5.1 channel set up. As far as two subs, get one good one first (REL), see how it goes, and then consider two. The two sub set up helps with cancelling standing waves, but can be overkill in a small room. I have also heard the REL Storm with the Sonus Faber Grand Pianos and the coresponding center and surrounds. Not for one second did I think of another sub, it sounded awesome in an approximately 25' X 16' room. However, it was mated with a very good amp and preamp (Musical Fidelity) which helped me to hear just what the REL is capable of. It made me want to trade up from my Stratus III ! Just heard the Sunfire this weekend for the tenth time... very attractive size and design but it mostly goes BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

Mikec is correct as usual.

Gmorris, maybe you have heard the Sunfire in carefully set up surroundings, but I have heard it many times in 3 different well designed listening rooms in NYC, and every time it was more thud than tone. Now granted, they may not have taken the time to impeccably optimize set up, but the first time I heard a REL sub it was brand new, and just plugged in at a dealers. Without any kind of set up, no break in, no careful setting of crossover frequencies I immediately sat up and asked what was that! It was a stunning sound, unlike any sub I had heard. So under the most undesirable circumstances the REL was a knockout, and under very decent circumstances the Sunfire was consistantly typical of everything that made me dislike subs in the first place. If there was a sub that sounded like a REL that was the same size as the Sunfire I would stand in line to be the first customer. The only other sub I have heard that impressed me was the big Aeriel, which costs a heck of a lot more money than the Rel, and is probably not as versatile, being better matched to Aeriel speakers , wheras the REL can compliment a wide variety of systems. Sorry, you can keep your Sunfire, I'll keep my REL, thank you very much.

Forgot to mention Audio Physics' top of the line, damn good sound as well.

Gthirteen, thanks for the clarification. I have a friend with dedicated home theater in a custom built room who uses two Sunfire subs. The sound in the room is excellent, without the subs calling any unnecessary attention to themselves. Your explanation of the flooring aspect makes a lot of sense. In stores the Sunfire was consistantly boomy. Although I was not bowled over with excitement listening to my friends system, there was nothing wrong with it at all. I use my system for 70% music and 30% movies and TV. The REL had such good pitch that I couln't make an improvement on it, without mucho dinero to spend. Hope you enjoy your system.

** meant to say Gmorris.

Good luck Gmorris. I know that can be quite a complicated and expensive undertaking.Do you already know what amps and speakers you will be using?