is there really a need for two subs?

No, there is no "need" for two subs in a moderately sized room. You can get very good results with just one if properly done. However, once you hear the difference between two properly set-up subs and one doing the best that it can, you will "want" two subs. There is a difference between what we "want" and what we "need" BIGTIME in this hobby : ) Sean
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For sake of clarity and so that some of you may better understand where i'm coming from, i have two subs in my HT system, two subs in my main 2 ch system and two subs in my bedroom system. The two systems that do not have subs consist of large modified horns / tubes in one and full range drivers / mono-blocks in the other. I could probably use some subs with the horns ( -3 @ appr 30 Hz ) but finding something that can keep up with 104 db sensitivity is not that easy. The "full range" drivers actually have quite measurable output down to 5 Hz ( believe it or not ). I found this out when playing the Cardas sweep tones on the Ayre Acoustics disc.

As such, i'm surely a believer in running dual subs, but would agree that one "good" sub is better than two budget models. Obviously, placement becomes more critical with one sub but you can get good results if you put forth the effort. Sean
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