Hallo all - put this in Studio & Recording rather than off-topic as I thought people here might have a bit more experience.
I am considering adding subs to my music systems. One is a Canton soundbase, the other is in the workshop and comprises four bookshelf-type speakers. I am after some low-frequency extension at sensible volume levels, not floor-shakery, but I am concerned about annoying the neighbours (in the workshop) and Lady BMcH (at home).
Auralex and others do isolation pads for subwoofers; in theory I can see that they might reduce transmission through the fabric of the building. I can probably DIY something with springs and foam and that sort of lark for the workshop, 'cos it won't need to be pretty in there.
The other option for the workshop is just to get some speakers with bigger woofers - the Boston Acoustics CR5s (or 6s, can't remember) were free about 20 years ago. But they do a nice job with music, until the bass gets really deep.
Thoughts welcomed.
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I had an 8 inch Studio sub for a while and it was really obvious when it was on or not in the adjacent room, even 2 rooms away, at what I would consider reasonable volume in the room (not whisper quiet but not should I turn it down kind of volume either).
I tried it sat on top of a GIK Soffit (a fairly decent sized bass trap 120x40x40cm) as an experiment though and it really didn't stop any noticeable transmission between the rooms.
I'm guessing your goal isn't a flat-ish system but I did find it particularly difficult to find a good position for it, to integrate with the main speakers. It's not as simple as just sticking it on the floor somewhere but IIRC you work in something to do with sound anyway so I'm sure you're completely aware of that.
My own preference for a typical smaller room is just beefier monitors, ideally a 6" woofer with decent power handling. I had a set of HS8s a few years ago that certainly had enough low end for my liking.
If you have the budget I've generally found Genelecs sound good for low end relative to their size. If you want a HiFi speaker I know very little about them to be honest.
I did an entire project at uni on subwoofer placement, built a Matlab implementation of the Boundary Element Method to do it, so I'm pretty comfortable with that (or the move-it-around-until-it-sounds-best approach).
Come to think of it we might have a sub knocking around at work... I could do some entirely valid office-hours experimentation for free!
https://www.bkelec.com/HiFi/Sub_Woofers.htm
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
But before I dump £275 on a Canton one I want to be sure it won't annoy anyone I care about.
Maybe borrow one for a bit (via work?) or get one on approval that you can return if it doesn't work out.
Some bigger wall speakers it is then. I'm sure one or other manufacturer will want to have a Surrey demo suite...
incidentally, when I had more guitar amps, I bought lots of Auralex drum riser pads, which are needed in large quantities, so are only £12 or something each, you could try some of those, I used to cut them in half with a breadknife
I would guess that it might be hard to marry up new subs with old FR units
Almost no one sells passive subs which I guess you'd typically use with old passive (I assume) bookshelf speakers?
I had a powered one once that I used with passive Wilmslow audio mini monitors, and it was OK, but my current matched set of Focal passive near fields (which have a switch to turn off the frequencies the sub will provide) + matching sub works way better.
Have a look for old second hand passive subs, I bet they are cheap now
Active subs are the way to go. REL, though costly, are among the best on the market. I listened to music on a very old Arcam powered system that used a small REL sub and Rogers speakers last night. Very nice it was too.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
Feel free to laugh at me.
For the office, at least, it turns out I can go quite a lot louder without upsetting Lady BMcH, at which point the soundbase woofers get working properly and everything sounds magnificent.
You'd think I'd understand that sort of thing.
I thought all guitarists knew this