John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

Just got a pair of Yamaha NS10's that I'm sofit mounting. I have been reading that they should be complemented by a Powered Subwoofer below about 100hz because they don't have good detail on the lows below that (I am a bass player, so lows are mucho important.) I am thinking of going with one Sony 8" Powered Sub. I have a limited budget. My questions are:

1. Do I need a sub for each side, or can I use just one?
2. Can I mount the sub in the bottom of the left sofit cabinet (with a bass trap in the bottom of the right cabinet) or does it need to be centered?
3. Should I sofit mount the sub?
4. Should I just blow off the sub and use just the NS10's?
5. If I just Use the NS10's do I need to attenuate the bass as
Barefoot has recommended?

1. Do I need a sub for each side, or can I use just one?

You can use one, two is better.

2. Can I mount the sub in the bottom of the left sofit cabinet (with a bass trap in the bottom of the right cabinet) or does it need to be centered?

Subs can be soffited, but should NOT be centered in most cases - this puts the sub in a null and makes it work much harder for less bass in the room. It's usually better NOT to soffit subs, so you can change placement once the room is complete. Easier to dial in the response that way.

See this page

http://www.harman.com/wp/index.jsp?articleId=default

for several "white papers" on the subject by someone who knows.

3. Should I sofit mount the sub?

See above.

4. Should I just blow off the sub and use just the NS10's?

I wouldn't do that; NS-10's are too light in the bottom end, especially for what you want.

5. If I just Use the NS10's do I need to attenuate the bass as
Barefoot has recommended?

Possibly; otherwise there may be a "bump" in the response at the low end. I've not soffited these so I'd leave the option open (simple bass shelving control, same as most stereo amps have, adjusted to taste/flatness)

HTH... Steve

Thanks!!!