subwoofer for music?

01-02-14: Bob_reynolds
Will 2 subs help stereo imaging?
I don't think there is any notion of imaging at bass frequencies.

Really? Well I have a notion of it because I hear the imaging pop into 3D when I get subwoofers integrated properly. It's not that subs image all by themselves; it's what they do along with the mains. There's something about reproducing strong fundamentals and room energy that provides a better foundation for the overtones handled by the L-R speakers, and that improves imaging and soundstage.

BTW, YES, you can get strong, deep bass from 6-1/2" woofers. I have a pair of Mirage M5si's, which have two 6-1/2" woofers, one facing forward and one back. The cabinets are large--50"h x 18"w x 8"d, or about 7,000 cu. inches. You can't make a categorical statement based on driver diameter. Stiffness and weight of the cone plus driver excursion (how much air does it displace?), and cabinet volume are all part of the equation. Fed enough power, my Mirages can make deep, loud bass.

With Stereophile's test CD I have verified that my 6-1/2" woofers take me flat down to 29 Hz and are still usable/audible to 26 Hz.

If you look into the OP's speakers, you'd find that each column is packing at least 3 woofers--one forward facing and additional internal ones making an isobaric arrangement. Since the speaker is discontinued it's harder to determine the exact alignment, but they either fire downward into the plinth (as in other Neat models) or the energy exits via the rear port. At any rate, isobaric alignments are capable of quite a bit of bass, and at good volume.

To the OP: I recommend a pair of JL Fathom F110s or F112s, whichever your budget can allow. Integrating a single sub can be full of compromises; integrating a matched pair is relatively easy and does more to improve imaging as well. It also doubles the low bass they can reproduce. I'd go for a crossover frequency of 40 Hz.

01-03-14: Kr4
"You can't make a categorical statement based on driver diameter. Stiffness and weight of the cone plus driver excursion (how much air does it displace?), and cabinet volume are all part of the equation. Fed enough power, my Mirages can make deep, loud bass."

Here's a categorical statement: If all of those other parameters are equally optimized, the larger driver is capable of producing lower, louder bass. The dual 7" drivers in my Paradigms come no where close to matching what I get from the dual 10" drivers in my B&Ws, with or without adding subs.

Of course that's true, "all else being equal," but no such premises were part of the original statement. More radiating area is its own reward; it's why I have Maggies. Still, the other factors I mentioned are significant and can tip the scales one way or another. The deep bass that comes from a JL F112 is only partly because of its 12" diameter. It's also because of its extreme excursion capabilities, driver stiffness, magnet strength, and the high power in the built-in amp.

BTW, the Neat Ultimatum MF5 has at least *three* 6.5" drivers per tower, which totals nearly the same radiating surface as a 12" driver. Properly tuned to a large enough cabinet, this can account for the Neat's excursion down into the 20s. My Mirages do that too, but most 6.5"-based towers don't.

Neat's own product description says:

The visible main drive unit handles bass and midrange and is isobarically loaded by similar drive units located inside the cabinet.

So if there are isobarically loaded drive units (plural) inside the cabinet, I figure
there must be at least two 6.5" drivers inside the cabinet plus the visible one mounted on the front baffle, for three total. I'm figuring it might be similar to this.

You're probably right to go with a 12", because your towers go so low to start with. You might even consider the Fathom F113 for a deeper and fuller reach.