You were right about adding a sub.


I've had subs around the house, but used them mostly for home theater.

From time to time, some of you have encouraged me to use a sub in my 2 channel setup. Curiosity got the best of me over the Holidays and I hooked up a sub using speaker level connections and used the sub's crossover.

My speakers are Usher 6311 and my Integrated is an Anthem 225.

What a difference it made to not only the bass line, but cutting the lows increased the soundstage, improved detail, etc. I feel like I have new speakers, And the bug to try other speakers is gone.

Thanks for the tip- wish I would have tried it before now! For those of you that are tempted, it may be worth a try, it certainly was is my case. I'm using a Svs Sound Cylinder, fwiw. 

Regards,
gary

uncledemp
Bdp24, no offense taken. What sub do you recommend? I've read about Rel but never heard one personally. 

Srosenberg, I'll check the article out. I don't have a way to move the sub closer without losing the ability to cut frequencies from the mains. I'm using speaker level inputs. I do have a wireless subwoofer rec/transmitter that gives me the ability to place the sub wherever, but taking the load off the mains seems to have made the most difference in sound, or it seems that way. 

Shadorne, I had B&W 801s3 in the room years ago. Don't know if a sub would have helped- never tried it. Again, my biggest gain has been midrange and treble clarity.

Thanks for your input/ guidance.
Gary

I’ve had a few pretty good subs, including an early HSU (in a cylinder enclosure, similar to your SVS), a KEF B-139 driver (the one Dave Wilson used in his original WAMM) in a transmission-line, and the bass columns of the Infinity RS-1b loudspeaker (six 8" servo-feedback controlled woofers per side) I used to own. I now have a pair of Rythmik F15HP subs (each containing a 15" servo-feedback controlled woofer and 600w amp), as well as the very unique Rythmik Audio/GR Research OB/Dipole sub, which is not for everyone. Rythmik is becoming popular with Maggie owners, they’re that good. I also have a pair of Magneplanar Tympani T-IV’s, which have two 16" x 6’ panels per side just for bass! They produce a very different kind of bass than boxed subs do (leaner, very "percussive". They do drums better than anything else I have ever heard), and were a favorite of Harry Pearson.

If you want to stick with SVS, their SB13 Ultra (13" driver in a sealed enclosure) is a great sub, priced at $1600. SVS has just introduced the SB16 Ultra, so used SB13’s are popping up.

it's been my experience that high passing the mains has a tremendous effect on the entire frequency range and is absolutely my preferred method of integrating a sub (rather than playing the mains full range and bringing the sub in at the roll off point of the mains).  getting the timing / phase relationship right via careful placement of the sub or time delaying the mains will make the integration absolutely seamless.  when it's right, everything just snaps into focus and the sub completely disappears.
If you want to play with delay/timing between your mains and a sub, I'd suggest a digital crossover.  I mess about with a Behringer DCX2496...variable timing, slopes, types, points, whatever boats your floats....
Inexpensive, too.  Yes, I know...it may not have any 'pedigree' by the cognoscenti, but It Works.  "OMG, it's 'digital'!  It Must screw up analogue!"

Oh, get real, y'all....unless you've been living under a rock and Everything you listen to is ancient vinyl, digital is pretty much the gorilla in the room.  But, I'm not addicted to dead white Euro composers, either.  Nor do I believe that my 'system' needs to rival the price of the average condo to please me....

MHO...and everything I know is 'wrong'.  Doomed to 'audio hell'.  Oh, well...I know the bouncer, he lets everyone in anyway....*L*
I could not be more thrilled with my pair of Vandersteen 2Wq subs with battery-biased crossovers.  They have the same effects listed by the o.p., and are totally transparent and they blend seemlessly with my mains.  When you get that ---- eating grin on your face while listening, you tend not to want to change a thing!