Long time lurker, first time poster...
I have to jump in and state what mijostyn stated above is excellent advise. After 30+ years in the audio world (home hi fi, car audio, Pro Audio), having large (or many) cones move very minimally is the key to low distortion and, if using ported cabinets, very little cause for port noise.
I am a big fan of sealed cabinets, but a ported cabinet can extend lower with a flatter (on paper) response if done correctly. However, with gain, crossover point selection and room loading, a sealed cabinet can provided a flatter response than what is shown on paper, like a ported cabinet can, as frequencies get lower.
Two (or more) subs seem mandatory to my ear. I can hear the soundstage pulled towards the subwoofer in a single sub setup in a home system or pro audio system.
In my main home system, I am using two 18" JBL 2269H drivers in specific JBL cabinets (vented design for recording studio use) for low frequency extension beneath my JBL 4349’s for strictly 2 channel music reproduction. Each sub frequency driver is being run by a JBL Synthesis SDA-2200 amp in bridge mode at 790 watts (admittedly, not the most high end of amplifiers-but I’m affiliated with a JBL Synthesis dealer, so I use what we sell). The 4349’s are driven by a McIntosh MC312 and the system is crossed over by an outboard home hi fi crossover at around 80 hertz. Lots of power for effortless driving of the system. I am tainted by JBL low frequency "color" due to all my years in pro audio. There is a familiarity to me of how JBL low frequency drivers reproduce low end and I enjoy it. I could go into why I like the accordion surrounds, paper cones, etc., but that gets boring...
18’s in a home? That seems illogical and nonsense. However, those cones simply don’t move at low to moderate levels. Again, goes back to what mijostyn states about low distortion levels when the cones (air pistons really) are not moving much. I have zero vent noise or chuffing. Again, being a sealed cabinet guy, I was quite hesitant on these cabinets but after implementation of the system, that large driver (and it’s construction) simply sounds good. At full tilt with the drivers reproducing frequencies in the 20’s, it’s scary as to how much fun it is. I have other systems in the house in smaller rooms with tiny cabinets (and one system with a tiny subwoofer) and 50 watts of power, but I hardly listen to them anymore due to just how much fun it is to listen to a large system with subs driven by big power in a big room.
I’ll probably get promptly booted out of here and banned for life for suggesting 18" JBL drivers on an audiophile forum, but just wanted to share my experiences and I’m having a ton of fun with this setup. Dual 10’s or 12’s should be a starting point for any addition of subs. I applaud everyone for at least considering subs in their home system. For decades I ran a small, low power, no sub, intimate system in my main room thinking, "nah, I’m good if the cabinets start rolling at 50 or 60 hertz". Life indeed begins below 40 hertz.
I have to jump in and state what mijostyn stated above is excellent advise. After 30+ years in the audio world (home hi fi, car audio, Pro Audio), having large (or many) cones move very minimally is the key to low distortion and, if using ported cabinets, very little cause for port noise.
I am a big fan of sealed cabinets, but a ported cabinet can extend lower with a flatter (on paper) response if done correctly. However, with gain, crossover point selection and room loading, a sealed cabinet can provided a flatter response than what is shown on paper, like a ported cabinet can, as frequencies get lower.
Two (or more) subs seem mandatory to my ear. I can hear the soundstage pulled towards the subwoofer in a single sub setup in a home system or pro audio system.
In my main home system, I am using two 18" JBL 2269H drivers in specific JBL cabinets (vented design for recording studio use) for low frequency extension beneath my JBL 4349’s for strictly 2 channel music reproduction. Each sub frequency driver is being run by a JBL Synthesis SDA-2200 amp in bridge mode at 790 watts (admittedly, not the most high end of amplifiers-but I’m affiliated with a JBL Synthesis dealer, so I use what we sell). The 4349’s are driven by a McIntosh MC312 and the system is crossed over by an outboard home hi fi crossover at around 80 hertz. Lots of power for effortless driving of the system. I am tainted by JBL low frequency "color" due to all my years in pro audio. There is a familiarity to me of how JBL low frequency drivers reproduce low end and I enjoy it. I could go into why I like the accordion surrounds, paper cones, etc., but that gets boring...
18’s in a home? That seems illogical and nonsense. However, those cones simply don’t move at low to moderate levels. Again, goes back to what mijostyn states about low distortion levels when the cones (air pistons really) are not moving much. I have zero vent noise or chuffing. Again, being a sealed cabinet guy, I was quite hesitant on these cabinets but after implementation of the system, that large driver (and it’s construction) simply sounds good. At full tilt with the drivers reproducing frequencies in the 20’s, it’s scary as to how much fun it is. I have other systems in the house in smaller rooms with tiny cabinets (and one system with a tiny subwoofer) and 50 watts of power, but I hardly listen to them anymore due to just how much fun it is to listen to a large system with subs driven by big power in a big room.
I’ll probably get promptly booted out of here and banned for life for suggesting 18" JBL drivers on an audiophile forum, but just wanted to share my experiences and I’m having a ton of fun with this setup. Dual 10’s or 12’s should be a starting point for any addition of subs. I applaud everyone for at least considering subs in their home system. For decades I ran a small, low power, no sub, intimate system in my main room thinking, "nah, I’m good if the cabinets start rolling at 50 or 60 hertz". Life indeed begins below 40 hertz.