What Size Subwoofer Will Pair Best With My Speakers?

We get it in a variety of different ways. How big a sub do I need? How big a sub do I need for my room? Do I need a 12 inch? Really what people are talking about is trying to match the scale of the performance of the sub to the scale of their system and their room. So a bunch of factors pop up here.

When we start talking about that some of it is just pure, dumb, common sense. Right, we're looking at it going, okay sir, you've got an eight by 10 foot room maybe a 15 inch sub is not right for that space. Then we got into actually matching with the main speakers. So, understand this fact, smaller subwoofers tend to be quicker and they also tend to have greater reach up.

So, there's a natural inclination to run a small piece with very small speakers. Let's say we've got a pair of nice little speakers that run out of gas completely. They're gone, they're done by 60, 70 Hertz, which is not particularly deep. Would you try and put it with a really powerful, say a 12-inch design that really is fantastic from 20 to 40 Hertz, 45 Hertz. And then as it starts to get up into higher frequencies, it itself is rolling off. So, you've got two different curves going on here. The main speaker is dying away up high, and the subwoofer is really good down low and then it also dies off at some point.

You may have a half octave gap, so it's extremely important you understand small subs for small speakers. That is a generalization, but a pretty good one. So, let's say you get into the intermediate, which is where we get a lot of this crossover. You have a good pair from a well-respected speaker brand, let's say it's a relatively modest floor stander. Sells for a couple of thousand.

It’s got maybe a couple of six and a half inch drivers and a tweeter, 30 inches tall. Now we're getting into this crossover area, right? Is it right with a 10 inch or 12 inch? I'm making huge generalizations when I say this, and the answer is both may work just fine. It starts to get into your objectives.

Be honest with yourself. Are you somebody who really values super, super dynamic loud home theater performance, having a little extra isn't the end of the world. We make sure all of our subs and I want to emphasize this for our home theater subs. A lot of audio files cringe when they hear the term home theater subs, because they're so used to hearing big, soggy, slow, heavy sounding pieces.

We don't do that. Everything we build is quick. So when you start looking for example, at our 10 inch version or our 12 inch version, both of those will work in terms of speed and immediacy really well. It really starts to get down into personal preference. I can tell you that there is in general, a correlation between physical size and how deep something will go and in general how loud it will go.

So, when you look at one of our little babies, a Tzero MKIII, It's about a 10 inch cube. It's not going to play anywhere near as loud as say an HT/1003, which is roughly double that size. Great question. Thank you.

[JPWinters]

Had a single HT-1205 for a music system which was good, but then added a 2nd HT-1205 and was shocked at how much better it was. Great subs for metal music.

[TheManWithoutNarcissisms]

I have a HT1003MK2, I use for music because it says its still musical. I needed a fast sub and the HT1003MK2 delivered. Will be getting a second soon.

[shogo]

So true. Need to match the sub to the speaker/room size. I use an ambeo soundbar with 2 Rel HT1003s and it was just perfect. Nice clean basslines and no boom. I initially bought 2 HT1205s and it was a bit overpowering for the room, so the dealer recommended i try out the HT1003s and he was right.

[Novilicious]

I have Klipsch floor standers and it’s been a pain to blend them with my dual relax, but I finally cracked the code! Amazing sound beyond belief!

[jamesoneill]

Just bought the T9i Red edition what a work of art it is...it replaced a T7i still my HT1508 knockout combo

[lawchoongseng]

Hi John
My main listening room is 9’X15’x8.5’
I do shift all my gear out to my hall at times for days. It’s 18’X23’X8.5’.

I have the following speakers
Totem Hawk
KEF LS50
Dynaudio Evoke 10.
Elac UniFi UB52.

I am itching to get a REL T series to compliment mainly the standmount speakers. ( believe the Hawk will benefit from it too 😄 ).

I am using Perreaux R200i and Moon 340i amplifier.

Hope to get your opinions.

[labalo]

I like what I’m hearing and how the message is being portrayed. This is why I am an owner of dual carbon specials.

[MrNysbak]

My system is one T9x with B&W 705s3 speakers. Thinking of replacing the sub with REL S510 as according to specs S510 has deeper bass.

[ChaiBearProductions]

Hey John,

I have a 9x9 listening bedroom. My speakers are the Kef LS50 Wireless. I used your pairings tool and was suggested dual T5i’s or a single T7i.

I have no room for two subs, so would one T7i be the correct choice, or would you recommend a single T5i?

[jadepowell]

Im currently building a pair of Klipsch La Scalas with a built in bass box on the bottom. if the Rel subs sound good then i would definitely be interested In talking to someone for sure 👍

[pcbartolomeu]

I have a pair of Magnepan .7 speakers. Are REL subwoofers fast enough to transparently blend? What model? My room is 4.2 m by 5.7 m. I will use a 2-way Marchand XM9 active crossover to feed the lows to one or two subs (what is the best option?) and the mids/highs to power amp (Hegel H190) and then to the Maggies. Thanks!

[michaelfuchsbichler]

I play with B&W 704s2 with two T-Zero mkII in a small room. Sometimes i think bass is to much sounding by hearing Prog-Rock

[trendyloca]

How about having different size subs in the same room 1205 and 1510. Should it be better to catch up small main speaker and maintain immediacy, and big bass

[AndrewInThaPlaceB]

I have a set of ELAC Navis in a 15 ft x 15 ft room with high ceilings and exposed surfaces. Main usage is music and some tv. What do you recommend?

[nite]

Would the JBL Classic L10cs pair well with the JBL L100 Classic MKII for better sub-bass or is it better without a sub?

[MarioKaya]

Hi, I got the Canton Vento 826.2 bookshelf speakers on speaker stands driven by a Denon DRA-800-H amplifier.
I'm using my stereo system for critical music listening only (no home theater use).
The set up is in my 20 m² living room (4.7m X 5.4m) opposite the sofa (ca 2.6m distance between speakers and listening position.

Im thinking about getting a REL sub for my stereo system. Do you recommend the new model T/7x or T/5x ?
thx for the advice. :)

[willbuckley]

John, I'm using 2 REL T91's with Focal Aria 936's. I know it's a bit late in the day now I've bought this gear but does this sound like a good combination to you?
The room is 15ft by 12.

[divertiti]

John, I have a single T9/i that's sounding really great with a pair of full range Joseph Audio Pearl 3s in a 16'x23' room. I'm happy with the sound but wondering what would be the logical next step upgrade? Getting a pair or multiple T9/is or switch to a single S3 SHO or S/510?

[gamechanger-ot]

Hello John & Team,
I have an bar with a main room with the following dimensions floor is 36 feet by 26 feet with a 17 feet high ceiling .
I have a pair Tannoy SE Prestige Sterling.
Contemplating one of
Carbon special
or G MARK 2 .
Or 212 SE .
Also there is space for possibly a pair
Or a pair of 812 or 512.
This is a bar with limited space ..
I have only 2 corners at the entrance of the bar ( all this entrance is glass ) with the Tannoy’s flying up on the side wall as there is no space for them on the floor hence no mid range or bass felt on ground level.
The truth is I love the Carbon ( especially how John gets so excited when talking about ) and really appreciate the cabinet of the amazing G Mark 2. However there is only space for 1 G MARK 2. Or possibly a pair of Carbon ( which I love as well ) but I love the G look and especially the remote control ( which if the Carbon had would be amazing ).
Please advise as I am ready to pull the trigger.
Love your incredible art.

Cheers

[davidlittle]

I only listen to stereo. I have a pair of Altec Lansing Model 19 speakers driven by a 300B PSE power amplifier. I also have an OPPO 105 AU which is used predominantly for CDs but on occasion the odd DVD or for the TV. I use the stereo RCA outputs from the OPPO but believe it might be possible to use the low frequency output from the OPPO to drive a powered Subwoofer. The room is approximately 45m2. Which sub (if any) would you recommend and why?