I am so glad to hear this. As it turns out, I have had a somewhat similar setup as yours (that being an SMS-1, controlling a GR research servo sub). Yes, it was the soundstage, but more as well. I realize that the sub is relieving the main amp and speakers of bass frequencies (I set the crossover to 80hz also), so allowing them to do better with the rest of the audio band. Soundstage was impacted in my case as well, but the musicality of lower frequencies is something that I have missed for far too long. Most folks think that it is about bass impact and extension, yet there is so much more than this to enjoy. It is so good that I have not even entertained the thought of ’better’.
Roll of subs in soundstage?
When I replaced my older KEF Ref 107/2s with newer Ref 1s it seemed to improve the sound above 30 Hz a bit, but lost a sense of scale with large orchestrations. I recently reset the crossover to a pair of Velodyne HGS-15s from 40 Hz to 80 Hz, keeping the slope at 24 dB/octave. That change somehow seems to have expanded the soundstage and sense of scale with large orchestrations to match that of the 107/2s. I use an SMS-1 bass manager that provides acoustic room correction, and set the volume so I’m unaware of the subs except when a pipe organ pedal note is played. Whereas at the 40 Hz crossover setting the subs were rarely invoked, at 80 Hz they are often active. I don’t understand how that change in crossover can have such a profound effect of the perception of soundstage and scale.
I recently acquired a third HGS-15 and the SMS-1 can manage up to 3 subs, so I’m tempted to try a distributed bass setup. I have a pair of HGS-10s and a spare SMS-1, but that might be too complicated to set up.
db
I recently acquired a third HGS-15 and the SMS-1 can manage up to 3 subs, so I’m tempted to try a distributed bass setup. I have a pair of HGS-10s and a spare SMS-1, but that might be too complicated to set up.
db