Benefits of dual subs?

[Kingrsl]

I've been reading alot lately about people who have multiple subs in rooms. I can see why those with large rooms have them or those who want to even out the bass in the room by splitting them up. What other benefits are there to running dual or more subs? If your sub isn't compressing when running at/near reference levels, what will be gained by adding another sub? There wouldn't be a need for more headroom in that case. Also, when using multiple subs, wouldn't they still be calibrated to the same reference level so they'd yield the same amount of bass?

[tdekany]

4 cylinder engine vs 8 cylinder engine. The larger engine will work easier & has alot more reserve. Helps?

[jmprader]

I've been reading alot lately about people who have multiple subs in rooms. I can see why those with large rooms have them or those who want to even out the bass in the room by splitting them up. What other benefits are there to running dual or more subs? If your sub isn't compressing when running at/near reference levels, what will be gained by adding another sub? There wouldn't be a need for more headroom in that case. Also, when using multiple subs, wouldn't they still be calibrated to the same reference level so they'd yield the same amount of bass?

I have a medium sized room (16x22x9, more or less). I have dual HO turbos and they are not colocated. I think I could "get by" with one 99% of the time. Two provide plenty of headroom when my bass head friends show up and we kick out the ladies, otherwise, they loaf along.

Placement and eq have helped smooth out some FR anomalies over a broader listening area than was possible with a single sub. However, with dual subs it can be a more of a challenge to get it right on a price/performance basis. Calibration to a general reference level is not so much the issue, placement and eq is much more complicated and time consuming.

Question yourself when the wife starts tilting/shaking her head in your direction and rolling her eyes when someone stops over and they see the nutcake(s) busy at "work". Nirvana is an elusive state.

[mojave]

I have a VTF-2 Mk-3 and an MBM-12. If I leave the VTF-2's crossover in the out setting, I essentially have dual subs for part of the frequency range. However, the notes in the overlap range aren't as clear because the subs have different drivers and their phase and delay are probably different. This is probably why the manual recommends using separate crossovers for the sub and mid bass module.

I think that someone that uses dual subs without an equalizer and delay/phase adjustment will end up with worse sound than just using a single sub.

[Kingrsl]

I was considering adding a second VTF-2 MK3 to even out the bass in the room. I have an EQ to use with it if I go that route. The big thing is that I know I have the sub has more in it if I needed to push it but it is setup to blend in with the system (well, it's 3db hot). If it couldn't keep up at high volume levels I could see the obvious advantage. On a side note, the bass is flatter now that I've EQ'ed the response but it seems more localized now. Maybe it's just the fact that now it is louder at some freq's than what I was used to. I'd like to audition a second sub to see if I like the sound but I think my wife would kill me if I added anything else for awhile. New speakers, sub, receiver, EQ, PS3, remote, and a TV calibration in 2 months is alot.

[jmprader]

I was considering adding a second VTF-2 MK3 to even out the bass in the room. I have an EQ to use with it if I go that route. The big thing is that I know I have the sub has more in it if I needed to push it but it is setup to blend in with the system (well, it's 3db hot). If it couldn't keep up at high volume levels I could see the obvious advantage. On a side note, the bass is flatter now that I've EQ'ed the response but it seems more localized now. Maybe it's just the fact that now it is louder at some freq's than what I was used to. I'd like to audition a second sub to see if I like the sound but I think my wife would kill me if I added anything else for awhile. New speakers, sub, receiver, EQ, PS3, remote, and a TV calibration in 2 months is alot.

I turned 52 last December. My other half has a reasonable level of tolerance for "new boxes" showing up when times are good. I am close to knowing her limits after 20-something years of "bliss". upgrade lightly...or tit-for-tat