Subwoofers - Final Thoughts with Martin Logan ESL 13A


I’ve narrowed this down to 3 choices (I think) and was looking to see if anyone has had some experience with pairing these subs with ML ESLs? I can’t try and return because they are mostly secondhand purchases, so hoping to get it right the first time!

Force Cancelling subs have been highly recommended, so:

KEF KC92 (or KF92 older model) 2, 3 or possible 4 of these:

https://assets.kef.com/product-support/kc92-subwoofer/KC92_info_sheet_EN_V4_20240124.pdf

Martin Logan BalancedForced 210 - Maybe the best as they match up nicely, but I could probably only do one of these as they are HUGE. I have only one spot I could put one as far as the manual's recommendation goes. Martin Logan says these will cover 3000 sq. ft. My room is only 500 sq. ft. Two maybe overkill, but some say, "2 subs or no subs" Maybe I could put another addition on the house :-( 

https://www.martinlogan.com/en/product/balancedforce-210 - click on Specs/Lit

Lastly, The Swarm Subwoofer System - not sure how well this would work with my ESLs.

https://www.audiokinesis.com/the-swarm-subwoofer-system-1.html

Any advice would greatly be appreciated (as usual).

Thanks, and all the best of the season to you all!

 

 

 

128x128navyachts

I am extremely happy with my one ML BF 210 and my two CLXs.  Integration is important and ML gets you there easier with the custom crossovers you can download to the 210 and the PBK kit.  I previously had Kinergetics and Entecs.  The 210 is far superior.

To @elliottbnewcombjr  

Wow, not your typical Stereophile review - and by Dick Olsher no less, practically Bob Carver's Vacuum Tube Audio's personal press rep during the Cherry VTA 180 release. 

I still can't get my head around how someone could modify one of his solid state amplifiers within a two week stay in a hotel room with the parts on hand, and win the challenge! 

@navyachts   I have tried numerous ways to tweak the bass on the MLs. From the Perfect Bass Kit, to the dials on the back. I am not savvy enough (yet) to make adjusts with the ARC Genesis software, but I did send the files into a tech at Paradigm/Anthem AV support for them to tweak and I just can't seem to get it right. Yes, I have had subwoofers before and had trouble integrating them, but I thought I'd give it on last ditch attempt as I feel something is missing here.

I've yet to hear any method of signal processing or amount of amplifier watts that can ameliorate a subwoofers poor performance when located out of the rooms standing wave bass modes.

Locate and position the subwoofer within the modes only then should processor and or EQ adjustments be made. The speaker matching comes as a byproduct of the subwoofers available adjustment parameters. (Does not apply to -6dB sub-bass speakers.)

https://www.audioholics.com/home-theater-connection/crawling-for-bass-subwoofer-placement

From your list +1 the AK Swarm. When I setup a distributed bass array (Swarm) in my home using dissimilar subwoofers the need for bass mode positioning was not needed. Simply put, the boundary located array takes the room out of the equation  providing an almost uniquely unparalleled low frequency timing presentation.