Is this dual sub setup adviseable?

silversubaru

Hi guys
I want to add another powered sub to my set up. Current set up:

2 pairs RTi 8's
1 CSi3
1 PSW12 sub

The PSW12's are no longer available here in South Africa and from what I gather, the next option is to purchase a PSW125.

Will it work if I run the 125 with the 12? Are the subwoofers similar in terms of output and frequency response? I was told by a local audiophile that I should try and run 2 identical subs for optimum performance and this option would be close but not identical.....

Any suggestions or advice?
Thanks
Daniel

quadzilla

Looking at the specs for the PSW125 at http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/psw/specs.php and for the PSW12 at http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/specs/recent/psw12/, the lower 3db limit is 34Hz on the 125 and 33Hz on the 12. Where you might run into trouble is the 12 is 100 watts continuous, and the 125 is 150 continuous. If you don't turn things up that much, you'll probably be OK. Otherwise, the max SPL on the 12 is going to top out long before 125 does. But if you're not pushing your 12 hard now, I would guess that you'd probably be fine, at least from a spec standpoint.

What I can't speak to is how the two subs sound. Might be nearly identical, and one might be a lot warmer than the other. That, I don't know.

silversubaru

Thanks for the update- my tech understanding is pretty low so I appreciate it that you have put it into laymans for me!
I use my setup predominantly for music and parties and I drive the speakers at 60-65 volume setting on my Onkyo 705 receiver for 3-4 hours at a time. The sub volume is at half way so I guess at those volume levels and settings I am probably driving the sub hard but not over the top?

quadzilla

The Onkyo is listed at 100 watts per channel. When you're playing your music, are you in stereo mode, or something else? Either way, it's doubtful that you're pushing a lot of watts through any part of the set up. In that case, the 125 and your current 12 should play fine together from a purely power stand point. Probably your biggest problem will just be getting two different sources of low bass sounding good together in your room. But it can be done, and it's definitely worth the effort. The other problem would be in possible general differences in the "tone" of the subs. And 2 different subs can sound very different, as I learned this past weekend when I went from PSW 450s to M&K V-125s. The sound couldn't be more night-n-day between the two set ups.

Just out of curiosity, have you tried ebay and the polk store for a psw 12? If there's not a hurry, one is bound to turn up sooner or later. Otherwise, I'd wait for someone that can talk about how both sound as far as warmth, looseness or tightness, etc. If the "tone" of the two are noticeably different, you probably won't like the result, which is why I have matching subs.

silversubaru

Thanks for the reply. I play music for parties in all channel stereo setting.
The E Bay thing is a no no for us here in SA and most people are not prepared to ship all the way to us as they still think we are a banana republic with no efficient mailing systems in place!!