I have full range speakers (Dynaudio Confidence C2 Platinum) with a pair of REL S/510 in a small/medium room (11’ x 17’ x 8’). Using the subs is a game changer and I never turn them off. They provide very significant improvement to the Dyns used on their own without the subs.
5 Likes
With a pair of small mid-bass drivers with bass reflex loading I suspect your Dyns aren’t as capable at the bottom end as some speakers, however what you say does fit with the musing I voiced, which may apply to almost any speakers and situation, given good subs and their setup, though they their benefit surely must be inversely proportional to main speaker low bass capability
The Dyns do quite well with bass on their own, -3db at 28Hz, and I’m using a 300DR.
1 Like
It’s not a bout more bass, it’s the impact on the overall sound stage.
Gary
3 Likes
I have heard what subs can do in many 2 channel systems.
Also these have been with very expensive systems and the speakers used also very expensive.
For me i would rather have just a speaker that can go down to 20 kHz, be designed to do it, and do it well, rather that have to add subs that also then need setting up correctly to get the correct results and not be over bloated.
But for systems that suff poor bass control and depth, then i can see adding a sub can help.
Fine choice.The best and cheapest upgrade you can do in a Naim setup.
1 Like
That was my view too until I heard them in my own system, I was very surprised how much they bring to the party.
Gary
1 Like
Like i said if you have poor bass in your system, due to speakers that just dont go low or an amp, etc. Then i can see why you might need one.
But as said mine go down to 20 hz, they are also very well controlled in the bass department.
Also can you explain why adding a sub will suddenly make my speakers and smp work less?
The amp and speakers will be working exactly the same, unless you add something to reduce it. All you are doing is adding the lower frequency that your system can’t do.
As said that can work, but it slso needs to be done correctly as it’s far to easy to get it very wrong
I have no particular view upon benefits or otherwise of subs when one has speakers capable of full output right down to the lowest frequencies. However I recognise that rooms are often far from perfect, and where a speaker sound in one room might indeed be undiminished down to 20 Hz at the listening position, while in another everything below say 30 Hz might be missing, In that situation subs positioned somewhere differently in the room might conceivably fill-in.
1 Like
+1
I tried several expensive subs with my Raidho standmounts (45hz) but was never satisfied. Then tried the small, 8" REL T/5 and was hugely impressed. Just a touch…makes all the difference.
8 Likes
I use a REL T9i with PMC Twenty5 21i speakers.
I recommend you try out a Rel Baseline Blue cable between your power amp and the sub. There’s a Naim-specific version that has some resistors in the cable that prevent some [older?] Naim power amps becoming unstable.
See https://rel.net/shop/accessories/bassline-blue/
Best regards
6 Likes
For those who run a stereo pair of RELs, connecting directly to the terminals on the speakers may work out better. That’s what I do. I bought a regular (non-Naim) 3m Baseline Blue cable, cut it in half and re-terminated the bare ends to make a working 1.5m stereo pair. I use those to connect my S/510 directly to my Dyns.
21 Likes
Gorgeous room!!!
2 Likes
Thank you. It brings us much joy. Brahms (the Rottie) is happy there too (note the jar of treats on the table).
4 Likes
I thought the treats were to complement your beer.
3 Likes
Is there a danger that the sub will bring extra vibration that would affect your hifi stack? Perhaps more so with a TT?
I don’t have such issues, but I also have a full double Fraim set of racks. On top of that, my TT sits on a Harmonic Resolution Systems (HRS) R3X isolation base. I will probably upgrade that to the HRS S3 and use the R3X for my new Boulder phono-stage when I get that.
I will say that if you are using full range loudspeaker systems (with or without subs) that dig down to 20 Hz you better have your isolation sorted out for turntables, etc.
3 Likes
Quad IsoAcoustics GAIA on the sub does the trick. Vibrations are significantly reduced, and from what I can hear, the bass is tighter and more focused.
2 Likes
Did this to my T5 too
Its a great little sub
1 Like
REL recommends against using spikes or isolation feet on their subs, so I don’t use them. The subs are intended to remain coupled to the floor. I guess YMMV, but I see no need for them in my room.
1 Like