Adding a Subwoofer to a SDA SRS2 Home Theater
mustgtguy
Posts: 15
I have an 11 channel home theater system with all Polk Speakers and SDA SRS2's as the front speakers. The system sounds AMAZING, but would adding a large subwoofer make a huge difference? I ask this, because the SRS2's have the 15' passive they REALLY adds some nice bottom end already.
Post edited by mustgtguy on
Comments
-
Yes, it will make a huge difference by adding a sub.
-
Home theaters should have a sub or two or more if you can afford it. I have 2 subs on my system and love em.
I used the SDA-SRS2's for music listening only when I owned them.Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
What size room do you have that needs 11 channels ??
-
vette c6.r wrote: »what size room do you have that needs 11 channels ??
awesome sized! -
He must have a real theater. 150seats, Concession stand, ticket counter the works.
11ch's is way out of control in my book.
Although I wish I had it. -
11 channels......we need pics please! :biggrin:--Gary--
Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out. -
The room is 35x25 and the speakers are:
SDA SRS2'S...FRONT
FXi-A6'S...FRONT WIDE
FXi-A6'S...SURROUND
OWM3'S...FRONT HIGH
4.6'S...REAR
CSi-5...CENTER
ALL MCINTOSH POWERED -
No not really"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
-
Too much **** to list....
-
"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
-
I'm not sure whats in the coolaid these days....
To the OP. With a setup like that take a look at WILSON subs and don't look back. Anybody that says it wont make a difference is on crack!Too much **** to list.... -
I'm not sure whats in the coolaid these days....
To the OP. With a setup like that take a look at WILSON subs and don't look back. Anybody that says it wont make a difference is on crack!
I see only your opinion is valid, mine isn't. I see, as long as an opinion aligns with yours then it's valid, if not, must be the crack kool-aid.
Typical :rolleyes:
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
I see only your opinion is valid, mine isn't. I see, as long as an opinion aligns with yours then it's valid, if not, must be the crack kool-aid.
Typical :rolleyes:
H9
This time....yes. I'll try to use terminology and sentence structure that's been common to your other posts.
You should pay attention better. The op asked if it would make a difference not if it would sound better. If he had asked if it would sound better than your -opinion- is valid. Since he asked if it would make a difference...it's not. He didn't ask opinions.Too much **** to list.... -
Define difference? And yes, it is an opinion question. But I do agree his question is very vague in the sense he's given no real information beyond his gear and physical room size. I am sorry for inferring that he wanted a positive a difference.
So yes it will make a difference but in a negative way, but again with the very limited information, no one can really comment beyond their own opinion.
It seems you are inferring just as much as I am when you make a specific sub recommendation. Again, fine for you, but somehow not for me.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
Define difference? And yes, it is an opinion question. But I do agree his question is very vague in the sense he's given no real information beyond his gear and physical room size. I am sorry for inferring that he wanted a positive a difference.
So yes it will make a difference but in a negative way, but again with the very limited information, no one can really comment beyond their own opinion.
It seems you are inferring just as much as I am when you make a specific sub recommendation. Again, fine for you, but somehow not for me.
H9
I gauge what he's asking by the quality of his listed components. That's a hell of a theatre as listed and one could only assert his desire is to have a positive difference. I agree it would be a bit overwhelming and possibly too much but a difference it would certainly make. For someone to seek out a negative difference is being a bit...obtuse.
I don't believe I was inferring anything. He asked if it would make a huge difference- it most certainly would. My recommendation was based what the sub would have to be to make a positive difference to his overall set up. That might be construed as an opinion.
My recommendation would almost bolster your view by the enormity of sub it would take to create that difference. for future reference ...if my post comes across as a double standard, I either wrote it wrong or its been misunderstood as that will never be the case.
Too much **** to list.... -
He asked if it would make a huge difference- it most certainly would.
That is an opinion, no matter how you wrap it up.
IMO, he has a mish-mash of speakers.
Old Polks, new Polks, Mirage, etc. How they can all be timbre matched is beyond me. Not that they have to be since he stated he loves the sound. He just states McIntosh, certainly great gear, except they did make some models of gear that is merely average by some people's opinion.
I am not up on McIntosh gear for HT, but I assume they make some sort of pre-pro and again I have to assume it has some sort of LFE out and sub management control adn I assume when he states "McIntosh" that every single piece is McIntosh including a DVD player, is it Blu-Ray and does the DVDp and pre-pro support the absolute latest codecs, etc?
See there is so little we actually know based on the small amount of information given; the list of assumptions goes on and on based on the very general question. All people answering have to make all kinds of assumptions in order to form their OPINION about whether or not a sub will make a DIFFERENCE to the Op. We also have to assume he means a POSITIVE difference. Not just a difference.
That's a lot of inferring, assuming and opinion making going on. So, I'm not sure how your post is fact vs. opinion.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
That is an opinion, no matter how you wrap it up.
IMO, he has a mish-mash of speakers.
Old Polks, new Polks, Mirage, etc. How they can all be timbre matched is beyond me. Not that they have to be since he stated he loves the sound. He just states McIntosh, certainly great gear, except they did make some models of gear that is merely average by some people's opinion.
I am not up on McIntosh gear for HT, but I assume they make some sort of pre-pro and again I have to assume it has some sort of LFE out and sub management control adn I assume when he states "McIntosh" that every single piece is McIntosh including a DVD player, it it Blu-Ray and does the DVDp and pre-pro support the absolute latest codecs, etc?
See there is so little we actually know based on the small amount of information given; the list of assumptions goes on and on based on the very general question. All people answering have to make all kinds of assumptions in order to form their OPINION about whether or not a sub will make a DIFFERENCE to the Op. We also have to assume he means a POSITIVE difference. Not just a difference.
That's a lot of inferring, assuming and opinion making going on. So, I'm not sure how your post is fact vs. opinion.
H9
Fair enough...
He still needs a sub whether he plugs it in or not. :biggrin:
p.s. The Wilson WHOW will make a difference two counties away...just sayin.
I wonder if pics will be posted?Too much **** to list.... -
No not really????:rolleyes:
First Guess: He, AND ME, had no idea what you were referring to.I see only your opinion is valid, mine isn't. I see, as long as an opinion aligns with yours then it's valid, if not, must be the crack kool-aid.
Typical :rolleyes:
H9
Were you answering the most-recently-posted question, or the question in the thread starter's first post? Were you replying to some other post in this thread? No frame of reference, therefore your reply was nothing but confusing. -
Shurk, if you look at all but my first post they had quoted references.
My first post, "No not really", is answering the OP's question about adding a sub making a huge difference. My response was meant to be both short and flippant, since the OP originally gave almost no other info.
Plus, my post was #9. If you look, no other questions were asked since the OP's that my answer would remotely fit. I would think most would deduce based on reasding the posts who I was responding to. If this were a 3 page thread and I posted that on page 3 I could see some being confused.
Plus if you look at post #12 from SDA 1C, his response clearly indicates he fully understood my post because he's taking a shot at my response.
Finally there were no other posts prior to my post that asked a question where my answer would remotely make sense.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
A damn fine shot I might add though the target was the size of Norma Stitz. I'm not sure I could have missed!
flip?pant/ˈflipənt/
Adjective: Not showing a serious or respectful attitude: "a flippant remark". More ?
Dictionary.com - Answers.com - Merriam-Webster - The Free Dictionary
Evil begets Evil, Mr. President!Too much **** to list.... -
I have an 11 channel home theater system with all Polk Speakers and SDA SRS2's as the front speakers. The system sounds AMAZING, but would adding a large subwoofer make a huge difference? I ask this, because the SRS2's have the 15' passive they REALLY adds some nice bottom end already.
One thing to consider is that stereo loudspeakers designed for music are not the best for reproducing the low frequency sound effects from movie sound tracks. You don't want to abuse a nice pair of stereo speakers in this way. The SRS 2's 15" passive radiators were meant for reproducing the low frequencies commonly found in music.
For home theater applications, I would strongly recommend a large good quality subwoofer to handle the very low bass frequencies from movie sound tracks. Routing the very low frequency sounds to the sub will allow the front, center and surround speakers to play more cleanly and accurately.
I want to point out that after installing the subwoofer and getting it calibrated properly, it may sound like you actually hear less bass. What you will be hearing is actually more cleanly defined and articulate bass without the previous bass distortions caused by the smaller speakers trying to reproduce very low bass frequencies. If you pay close attention, you will be feeling more bass against your body and seat rather than hearing louder bass. It takes some people a while to get used to this more accurate low bass representation.
If your home theater system also doubles for music listening duty, then I would say the use of a subwoofer with the SRS 2's is a matter of taste. I have SDA SRS's as front speakers in my home theater system. When listening to music on this system, most of the time I don't use the subwoofer, but sometimes I do if I'm in the mood for a little extra bass kick.Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country! -
We have another one that can use Google and cut and paste.
How about if I add Somewhat flippant, would that suffice or will you still be hell bent on picking apart my posts. I'm sure the OP finds all this very unhelpful. If you have an issue with my posts in this thread kindly take it to PM.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
Based on the info presented I posted my opinion.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
A damn fine shot I might add though the target was the size of Norma Stitz. I'm not sure I could have missed!
flip?pant/ˈflipənt/
Adjective: Not showing a serious or respectful attitude: "a flippant remark". More ?
Dictionary.com - Answers.com - Merriam-Webster - The Free Dictionary
Evil begets Evil, Mr. President!
id?i?ot
noun \ˈi-dē-ət\
Definition of IDIOT
1. usually offensive : a person affected with extreme mental retardation
2. a foolish or stupid person
Look I can look up words too.
SDA1C, Why are you being so Gauche
gauche adjective
1. lacking social grace and assurance
Ex his rude comments on the board marked him as gauche and uncultured.
Seriously though, you are acting like a child. Nobody called you out so cut the crap you are making the place look bad. -
DarqueKnight wrote: »I want to point out that after installing the subwoofer and getting it calibrated properly, it may sound like you actually hear less bass. What you will be hearing is actually more cleanly defined and articulate bass without the previous bass distortions caused by the smaller speakers trying to reproduce very low bass frequencies. If you pay close attention, you will be feeling more bass against your body and seat rather than hearing louder bass. It takes some people a while to get used to this more accurate low bass representation.
+1 to DK's subwoofer-jedi advice.
You other two, take it to PM instead of fouling up the OP's thread, sheesh. -
DarqueKnight wrote: »One thing to consider is that stereo loudspeakers designed for music are not the best for reproducing the low frequency sound effects from movie sound tracks. You don't want to abuse a nice pair of stereo speakers in this way. The SRS 2's 15" passive radiators were meant for reproducing the low frequencies commonly found in music.
For home theater applications, I would strongly recommend a large good quality subwoofer to handle the very low bass frequencies from movie sound tracks. Routing the very low frequency sounds to the sub will allow the front, center and surround speakers to play more cleanly and accurately.
I want to point out that after installing the subwoofer and getting it calibrated properly, it may sound like you actually hear less bass. What you will be hearing is actually more cleanly defined and articulate bass without the previous bass distortions caused by the smaller speakers trying to reproduce very low bass frequencies. If you pay close attention, you will be feeling more bass against your body and seat rather than hearing louder bass. It takes some people a while to get used to this more accurate low bass representation.
If your home theater system also doubles for music listening duty, then I would say the use of a subwoofer with the SRS 2's is a matter of taste. I have SDA SRS's as front speakers in my home theater system. When listening to music on this system, most of the time I don't use the subwoofer, but sometimes I do if I'm in the mood for a little extra bass kick.
This is exactly what I was talking about the other day! Sublime! Darqueknight once again!Too much **** to list.... -
Hey guys not trying to start any fights here, just looking for opinions.
But I must say...to the guy who says a "mish mosh" of equipment....?????
Old Polk...new Polk...a mish mosh??? Have you heard SDA SRS2'S with newer Polks in a home theater?
Also, did I say I had Mirage anywhere...what the...????
To help clarify more for you guys the speakers are all powered by Macs, but I use a Denon AVR4311 in pre-amp mode for the pre amp.
The blu-ray player is a Sony 400 disc DVD changer, and 100% of the DVD's are concerts, not movies.
Just was wondering if I could get better sound adding a sub/subs.
Thanks -
The room is 35x25 and the speakers are:
SDA SRS2'S...FRONT
FXi-A6'S...FRONT WIDE
FXi-A6'S...SURROUND
OWM3'S...FRONT HIGH
4.6'S...REAR
CSi-5...CENTERIMO, he has a mish-mash of speakers.
Old Polks, new Polks, Mirage, etc. How they can all be timbre matched is beyond me.
I do have to say that I was wondering about this setup myself, but not becasue of the timbre issue. As a matter of fact, Polk recommends the CSiA6 (essentially the same as the CSi5) to match the SDA-SRSs, so that's probably a good choice for center. Considering Polk's recommendation there, the FXis probably aren't a bad match either. I'm assuming the 4.6s are Polk Monitor 4.6s... which may not match perfectly, but hey, they're surrounds. The OWMs are, according to Polk, "timbre-matched for smooth integration into Polk Audio systems." (All systems?)Hey guys not trying to start any fights here, just looking for opinions.
But I must say...to the guy who says a "mish mosh" of equipment....?????
Old Polk...new Polk...a mish mosh??? Have you heard SDA SRS2'S with newer Polks in a home theater?
My question is - how does this front sound stage work out? It would seem that it would just be a whole lot of noise all over the place.
You've got the SDA effect going with the mains, speakers that are designed to radiate sound in all directions for front wides, the OWMs, and a center ALL up front - Wow! A 7-speaker front sound stage! Seriously, that's got to be some kind of a record. :eek:
Really, though, I'm not criticizing. I'd just love to give it a listen and find out what it's all about. The key is, it seems to put a grin on YOUR face, so that's all that really matters!
Considering you aren't using this for movies, I'm inclined to agree with H9... I don't think a sub is going to add much to this. As long as you're running those SDAs full range. -
You said it yourself in the second paragraph....sound coming from EVERYWHERE!
When your watching a 120 inch screen and all that sound is coming from everywhere....It sounds truly AWESOME. To my ears anyway :-) -
hey guys not trying to start any fights here, just looking for opinions.
But i must say...to the guy who says a "mish mosh" of equipment....?????
Old polk...new polk...a mish mosh??? Have you heard sda srs2's with newer polks in a home theater?
Also, did i say i had mirage anywhere...what the...????
To help clarify more for you guys the speakers are all powered by macs, but i use a denon avr4311 in pre-amp mode for the pre amp.
The blu-ray player is a sony 400 disc dvd changer, and 100% of the dvd's are concerts, not movies.
Just was wondering if i could get better sound adding a sub/subs.
Thanks
absolutely! And it would be a positive improvement! You could build one of these if you feel ambitious hehe
http://www.decware.com/newsite/diy/Box_Plans/HWK15.htmlToo much **** to list....
