Double The Punch

The Age

Thursday December 4, 2008

Adam Turner

One subwoofer is good, but two can be better, writes Adam Turner.

SOMETIMES one subwoofer just doesn't cut it. A Mirage subwoofer added rumbling bass to Mitch Radanov's home theatre, but it took a second subwoofer before he was truly happy with the sound.

Subwoofers are designed to disperse bass sounds around the room and, as such, one is usually enough to do the job.

But Mr Radanov found his home theatre required a second subwoofer to offer uniform sound.

He recently built a home theatre, measuring six metres by four metres, complete with raised seating at the rear to create the feeling of a cinema. He originally bought a 7.1 sound system from Norlec HiFi, with Mirage OM7 front speakers, an OMC2 centre, OMR2 sides and rears plus an OM-200 sub-woofer.

The speakers are driven by a Denon AVR-3805 amplifier, with a Sanyo Z5 projector and 100-inch LP Morgan screen taking care of the visuals.

"I'm pretty fussy when it comes to my home theatre and I found, when listening to the sound while sitting down the back, there seemed to be more bass coming from one corner than from the other," Mr Radanov says.

"It was annoying me as it changed the sound in different parts of the room. I rang up Norlec and they brought down another subwoofer, the exact same model, and we experimented with it until I got the sound that I wanted. Now that I've added another Mirage OM-200, I've got an even bass sound across the back of the room."

"I also experimented with a different type of subwoofer, but because it wasn't the same make and model as the Mirage

OM-200, it had slightly different sound. I decided to get the matching one and place them against the front wall - about half a metre in from the wall - and now I'm finally happy with the sound."

Mr Radanov particularly likes to watch music DVDs in his home theatre, using the Denon amplifier's Dolby Pro Logic IIx setting to turn 5.1 sound tracks into virtual 7.1 so as to provide sound from the extra speakers on either side of the room.

He is considering upgrading his Denon 3910 DVD player to a Blu-ray player, to take advantage of the 7.1 soundtracks often used with high-definition movies.

"I haven't made the jump to Blu-ray yet, mostly because I'm waiting until more movies are available on Blu-ray.

"Next time I upgrade my amp I'll probably get a Blu-ray player as well, so I can get the best from my seven-channel surround-sound speakers."

SOUND ADVICE

A subwoofer can add some serious punch to your home theatre set-up.

Rel R-205 $1999

THE Rel R-205 is a 200-watt subwoofer sporting a 10-inch driver. It features a Class D amplifier and offers linear response down to below 20Hz.

Mission E5as $2299

THE Mission E5as is a 300-watt subwoofer featuring a 10-inch driver. It offers a frequency response of 25Hz to 110Hz.

Jamo C80SUB $2990

THE Jamo is a front and rear-firing subwoofer equipped with two 10-inch aluminium cone woofers in a closed cabinet. It features an 1800W BASH amplifier and offers a frequency response of 20Hz to 200Hz.