Adding another sub

[stu mcc]

Morning all,

I'd quite like to beef up the output from my centre channel which can sound a bit thin and weedy at times, so I was wondering if one of the small BK subs would do this?

Is setting up a pig; would a better centre speaker (currently a KEF q9c) be a better way to go - what do you all reckon? I know Kazman uses a centre sub, anybody else do it or have any experience?

Any views gratefully received,

cheers, Stu.

[russ.will]

What is your center and for that matter, your other speakers?

If your center is set to 'small' and all your crossovers to 80Hz, the bass from the center channel should already being reproduced by your existing sub (XLS-200?) which is plenty for this purpose. Adding a sub to the center channel is actually more difficult than it sounds.

I'd expect that a bigger centre may be the way to go. Q9s can be had for about £60 at the moment.

I take it your running Kef Q fronts and something like an Egg as a center?

Russell

[stu mcc]

Hi Russell,
I'm running Q9 centre, Q7 fronts, Q1 sides from a Roksan Kaspian power amp, Q8ds rears fed by a Yamaha RXV2500 and sub is an XLS200, all crammed into a 17ft square room - you can't have too many speakers! Crossovers are as you say set to 80hz an d all speakers to small,


plan was either to add a Gemini or change the centre to a Q6i, hope that's a bit clearer!

Stu.

[abit late]

Originally Posted by russ.will

Adding a sub to the center channel is actually more difficult than it sounds.

Why's that? As long as the sub is in the same place as the centre speaker I wouldn't have thought it'd be difficult to integrate, although it might not add much value.

[12 promises]

Originally Posted by stu mcc

Hi Russell,
I'm running Q9 centre, Q7 fronts, Q1 sides from a Roksan Kaspian power amp, Q8ds rears fed by a Yamaha RXV2500 and sub is an XLS200, all crammed into a 17ft square room - you can't have too many speakers! Crossovers are as you say set to 80hz an d all speakers to small,


plan was either to add a Gemini or change the centre to a Q6i, hope that's a bit clearer!

Stu.

have you checked out all your amp settings?
the speaker set up you have is plenty capable of producing enough bass and the centre Q9c is an ok speaker for dialect on my system.

[russ.will]

Originally Posted by abit late

Why's that? As long as the sub is in the same place as the centre speaker I wouldn't have thought it'd be difficult to integrate, although it might not add much value.

I feel there's not much point for a number of reasons;

1. There's already a sub doing the sub 80Hz stuff from the center anyway so you're right, it isn't going to add much value.

2. The percieved benefit may be from adding a sub requires the center to be set to large. This is where the problem lies. This means the center will now be driven full rangewith the sub only filling in below the centers natural roll-off with all the loss of clarity and amplifier headroom this will entail.

3. The only way around this last problem is to buy a sub with a high level connection in AND out that will also HIGHPASS the signal to the satellite (center) speaker and NOT just pass the full range signal too. I'm struggling to think of any of the forum favourites that can actually do this, although I may be wrong and either way, I'd be slightly suspect of the potential transparency of any crossover built into a budget sub.

4. If you're going to buy 2 subs at this price level, good though the XLS-200 is, you'd probably be better off considering an upgrade to SB12/plus. A better sub rewards you with clarity benefits extending far farther up the frequency range than the output of the sub is limited to.

IMHO the OP would be better off looking for a better center and in my two brief experiences of it, the current iQ6c is way clearer and more capable than the Q9c that both he and I have. I've never really liked it, especially when the volume goes north and it's single driver really has to work.

Stu mcc - Sorry miss-read your post regarding the fact that you already have a Q9c. I guess the above makes my thought clear for what they're worth.

I am surprised you find the Q9 thin and reedy. I'd call it many things but in my room, I've always found it a bit thick sounding. In my 18x12ft room I even run with the port plugged to limit it's bass output in order to thin the sound out a touch.

Silly question, but have you got the jumper bars fixed in between the bi-wire terminals or are running it biwired? I'm just checking the signal is getting to the mid/bass driver. You can imagine the sound if it's not!

Russell

[stu mcc]

Thanks for your input boys, looks like an upgraded centre is the best bet.

Cheers,

Stu.

[stu mcc]

Well,

messing about on the web I noticed that our friends at Richers are knocking out the KEF XQ2C at an unbelievable 150 quid!!!! I've just got back with mine, it's a bit red but I wouldn't care if it was flourescent lime green - don't think I've ever been so chuffed!

Off to play now,

Stu:

P.S. I think they've got a few if anyone's interested.