Active sub woofer recommendations for stereo bookshelf setup

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Caporegime
Joined
13 May 2003
Posts
34,601
Location
Warwickshire
Hi all

At home I mostly listen to music via FLACs played on the PC in the study through a NAD D3020.

The speakers are Monitor Audio Bronze 2s and the amp has a sub woofer output, passing <150Hz information via a stereo / RCA jack.

I'm after more bass and sub bass, with a focus on sound quality and 'filling in' the low notes, rather than volume.

Would anyone have any recommendations on mid-range level active subs that would be suitable for this application please?
 
Look for a sealed box design rather than ported something like bk xls 200 or similar. I use a svs SB 12 plus and it's superb as a music sub.

I would set the crossover on the sub to 80hz or below for music.sont set it to bypass 150hz is too high
 
What do you define as "mid-range" because crappy subs start at £50, and higher-end subs can be £5,000 easy.


As general guidance, the size of the driver and the cabinet determine how deep the sub will go. Design and (to a degree) cost as well play a part. For example, a typical 10" sealed-box sub will add some bass volume to your Bronze 2s, but not really dig that much deeper, but a higher-end 10" ported sub will change the rules of the game. A 12" sealed will go deeper and stay "fast" for music (BK P12-300SB or BK XXLS400), but you'll need to spend really big Bucks if you're hoping to replicate the sort of very deep bass that you feel, or hear the biggest pipe organ tubes.
 
Also as above depends what music is played most speakers will reproduce low enough, if your speakers are capable of going low enough a sub may not be required, unless for other reasons or low powered amplifier. Only a a couple of instruments go to sub bass frequencies, and electronic synethised instruments etc.

Or in a smaller room and or being close to speakers may not want or need a sub.

There is also the hifi crowd will throw up whenever the mention of a subwoofer if mentioned in hifi stereo is mentioned, I sort of of agree I think bigger speakers no subwoofer is better than smaller speakers and a sub (again room dependant)
 
I thought the hi fi crowd came round to the use of subs a good while ago.....

I have a REL T5i sub hooked up to my music system. Arcam SA20 amp running Focal 906 bookshelf’s.

Took a bit of tweaking to get the sub blending in where it doesn’t stand out but it has transformed the system.
 
I can highly recommend the Cambridge audio minx 201. I have one paired with my bookshelf speakers and it really kicks...such a nice addition.

I actually used this with my Monitor Audio Bronze 1s before getting the matching 10" sub.
 
Hey guys. After extensive reading I decided to order a BK Gemini II. Should suit my uses pretty well I think. Can't have anything too loud anyway.

Thanks for the help. Will report back.
 
I had a BK XXLS400 and it was excellent, went nice and low.

I upgraded to the Monolith Plus and that's excellent too, nice and low with a bit more warmth to it and better for movies it rocks and I got it for 300 second hand.
 
Must be sealed. I'm only interested in HiFi for it really, so pace and accuracy over warmth and boom.

Looking forward to it arriving. I ordered an open box in matt black from eBay.
 
Dunno about inaccuracy, my Mono seems as accurate as my XXLS400. Ok maybe a bit more punchyness to the XXLS400.
 
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