Subwoofers - 1 Martin Logan Depth or 2 Grottos?


A previous call for help narrowed my search for a musical 2-channel quality subwoofer - thanks all. First choice was Vandersteen 2WQ but my stupid (albeit sweet sounding) integrated amp does not have power inputs. So forget Vandy. Second choice is Martin Logan Depth. But I was wondering if two Grottos would be better than one Depth? Depth has BalanceForce technology for tightest bass. Grottos do not but two may offer better stereo imaging. Not sure which evil to neutralize.

Current system:
Amp - Opera Audio Consonance a120 Hybrid Integrated (90 wpc)
CD Player - Opera Audio Reference 2.2
Speakers - EgglestonWorks Fontaines
rockadanny

Showing 3 responses by nsgarch

I agree with the Nerd. Also, someone here on AgoN had a really nifty way of locating a good spot for (I guess one) sub:

Put the sub at your listening position and play some music with a range of bass, and walk around the room to find a spot(s) where the bass response is flat. That (those) is/are the best place(s) for your sub.
Hi, I didn't understand what you meant by "integrated amp does not have power inputs. So forget Vandy." Also, how big is your room?

Anyway, I have a Depth (one). I was going to get two, but one does the job quite well. It's right between my main speakers and (I guess) because of its omnidirectional radiation pattern, doesn't seem to excite room nodes. I have the phase angle set to 90 degrees as recommended by ML and it mates seamlessly with my CLS electrostats, crossing over at 35Hz. It has extremely fast transient response, and plenty of output for a 12x24x10 room.
OK, I understand, but I don't think it should be a problem, at least for the way I think a subwoofer should be used.

I would just leave the Eggleston's hooked up as they are (no high pass) and (I assume the Vandy has line level inputs like the Depth) simply connect the preamp outs to the sub(s) line level inputs.

You don't have to put the (single) sub where I did if you can't, but I do feel that the Depth design is probably the least critical of location, the Vandy somewhat less, but it's still down-firing (semi-omnidirectional) and will do OK if it's on a hard surface. I don't think the Grottos are really any different or better than any other single driver mini-sub.