Is it better to have two matched subs or one

aubreybobb - By full range do you mean essentially flat to 20 Hz or below?

big_greg -- I agree the Ref 1s image splendidly.  I use mine mostly for Roon via ethernet to an Ayre QX-5/20 digital hub with balanced analog to a KX-5/20 preamp and VX-5/20 amp.  For surround and movies I add a DX-5 DSD disc player, Bryston SP3 processor, and 4 LS50s.  A pair of HGS-15s with acoustic room correction extend LF to below 20 Hz.

db

unsound/duke, how does it subtract some bass signals?

I use single-end stereo out from an Ayre preamp to a Velodyne SMS-1 bass manager that presumably sums the channels into one balanced channel that I split between two HGS-15s subs.

There are at least two alternatives:

• The SMS-1 has three single-ended outputs. I could take two of those to the subs. Not sure if they are summed outputs.
  
• I have a spare SMS-1. I could take balanced LR from the preamp to each SMS-1 then balanced out to each sub. Set up is more complicated.

With the current setup, I’m unaware of the subs unless a pipe organ pedal note is invoked, but they do seem to make the setup sound a bit larger with large orchestrations.

Any advice-- and from you too erik -- would be appreciated.

db

The Velodyne SMS-1 bass manager shows the in-room response of my KEF Reference 1s to be pretty flat to 30 Hz before sharp roll-off, so it's no surprise the location of jazz bass players is well imaged even without the subs.  But the location of jazz bass players is also well imaged by my LS50s.

db