"John Phillips" wrote in message
...
I'm not familiar with subwoofers and would appreciate advice on creating
a shortlist to audition. I regret I do not have a spare cupboard to do
what Don Pearce did and anyway I prefer to buy rather than make.

The sole purpose is for two-channel music (opera recorded "live" is a
special interest and piano music too - but I like a lot more "natural"
music than that).

The room is not large: 7 metres (23') by 3.2 metres (10'6") and 2.6 metres
(8'6") high.

I have Proac Response D15s (1 metre tall floorstanders with 6.5"
mid-woofers). I am sure I would not mind the cost of matching the
D15s appropriately. They produce quite reasonable and tuneful bass.
Nevertheless, Googling suggests a good subwoofer should improve things
such as piano and venue ambience. Is this a reasonable expectation?

What types should I be looking for to work with the D15s? Google suggests
the modern trend for "musical" subwoofers is to use a closed box rather
than one with a port. Is this correct?

Concerning particular makes/models, REL's lower-end ST series (Stampede,
Strata, maybe Storm) get good reviews seeming to eclipse most of the
others in the UK market. Is REL a good manufacturer to start with?

Those Rel ST range are ported, so that knocks out the arguement that CB is
more "musical"

I have a Rel Storm, and for music it is good enough and I think for your
room it'll be more than suitable...although if going to be used for HT I
would buy something else. So you're only going to use it for 2 channel hifi?
And not home theatre?