To Sub or Not To Sub, That is the question... (1 Viewer)

[Brett DiMichele]

I am just sitting here pondering my next move.
I run a pair of AR Hi-Res AR9's for my mains
and each tower has a 10" High Excursion Sub.
The towers are currently Bi-Wired but my
Onkyo TX-DS787 does not put out enough
Uuuuumph (100wpc) to take full advantage
of the 10" Subs (Which in the AR5 receive
175 watts of power from a Carver/Sunfire)
My dilemma is should I buy the Onkyo M208
2ch 100wpc WRAT Amp and run the LFE from
my 787 into the 208 and then to the subs
in the towers. Or should I buy a dedicated
12 or 15" powered sub.
For $300.00 I can have 2 10" subs capable of
sub 30Hz or for $400-600 I can have one sub
12 or 15" in size capable of 20 or so Hz....
Ohh decisions decisions decisions..........
I read in another post about tower owners not
wanting to "waste" thier built in subs by setting
them to "small" well I wouldn't have to waste any
thing if I Bi-Amp em...
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Brett DiMichele
Certified Audio Nut
My Home Theater Site!
[email protected]

 

[Steve_Ma]

Take a look at the link below. You can skip to John and Brian's comments which I believe directly address your issue. I am of the opinion that adding a sub in a situation like your is not a waste at all and will likely be a solid improvement.
http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/003524.html
Good Luck,
--Steve

 

[Jerome Grate]

That's a tough one. It depends on how low can the subs in the towers go and is the location of the towers giving you optimal bass response. Now I know someone here can tell you how to do the sub frequency response test. I personally would get a dedicated sub. You can control your bass with a deidcated sub through placement and frequency range.
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ONCE, I CONSIDERED SPARING YOUR RETCHED LITTLE PLANET CYBERTRON, NOW.., YOU SHALL WITNESS IT'S
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[Tom Vodhanel]

Definitely go for the seperate subwoofer. If you could spring for something like the PW2200($799 retail)..it would be a big improvement over the towers. If you were looking in the

 

[Robert_M_Jones]

Hi , i'm kind of going backwards from you. I just got a Rava and from some of your input I was going to get the AR9s to replace my crippled 13 year old front towers(The rubber surrounds are breaking down). I'm using a Sony DB930 receiver which is built similar to the ES line and puts out a much better signal than the DE line and is rated at 110W per channel. No matter what I was going to do with the fronts I was going to get a sub and I ended up getting that first. I liked the specs of the Rava and so far I like it. I got a little distortion in Episode 1 in a couple places but I had the sub set too high (didn't have time to tune it) and after hearing all the info about the soundtrack its understandable.
Now if I can find some AR9s in cherry I would be much happier..........

 

[Brett DiMichele]

Thanks for the replies all...
I guess I can just add the sub first and run my towers set
to "Small" and then later grab an M208 Onk Amp and Bi-Amp
the AR9's and use the subs in the AR9's when I listen to
music.. Unless a good sub sounds equaly as good with music
as it does movies (it should) in which case I could forgo
the whole seperate amp deal alltogether.
I know I am reiterating the same words but I just feel like
I am "Wasting" my mighty towers by not using the 10's inside
them. The 10's in the AR9's should have no problem hitting
sub 30Hz frequencies, they are very high excursion they take
loads of power (175 watts each) and have massive magnet
structures and are also bass reflex with a nice 3" Flared
Port. These were made to produce LOW bass!
But a dedicated sub is also designed to do just that one
task and I know they do it well. I had a 12" Powered Sub
when I was running a bookshelf DPL system that I stupidly
sold to a co worker and he won't sell it back.. Argh

Rob,
GOOD LUCK finding a pair of Cherry AR9's! The AR9's in the
Cherry Finish look absolutely TO DIE for.. And I don't even
like the whole "wood" look! I went for the Black Ash because
that fits my whole White/Black = Modern scheme.. And I don't
have a Wife Factor to contend with

Either way the AR9's
are simply wonderful speakers that will contend with the
best anyone has to offer in the $1000.00/Pair price range!
I am going to order a Hi-Res AR2C Center Channel right now
so talk to ya all later

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Brett DiMichele
Certified Audio Nut
My Home Theater Site!
[email protected]