Has anyone had any experience using subs with Naim gear? Specifically, I have a Nait3/Flatcap (just added the Flatcap, and what an improvement!), Rega Planet, Pro-Ject 1.2/Blue Point, ProAc Tablette 50s. I am looking to add some low end, but am afraid that most subs won't be able to keep up with the Nait3 and Tablettes. Some suggestions have been:

1.) REL Strata II (What's the best way to connect a REL to a Nait3?)
2.) Sunfire True Sub Mark II
3.) Two Sunfire Juniors
4.) NHT Sub 2

I have not tried any of these in my home yet, and from what I've read, the choice of a sub seems to be very subjective and personal. Right now, adding more low end is more important to me than upgrading my digital source (I think??). I would like to spend <$1500. I suppose another choice might be to sell the Tablettes and go to a "bigger" speaker, but I really do enjoy the ProAcs--I just miss some low end on certain types of music (rock, electronica). Compared to most of you, I am a "newbie" at this and would love to get some input.

I have listened to a lot of subs to match my MA Studio 2's. The REL's where the only ones that did a good job. I bought a REL Stadium II. It was a pretty good match, but I got a bit annoyed by the bass sometimes. Listen to a Faithless album and you can really impress your friends, but in the end it was not what I was looking for. I sold it last week and will buy a pair of floorstanders (probably Intro's). Nevertheless, if you want a deep bass, I think the REL's are pretty fast. Just try one to see if you like what you're getting!

Yep, the REL subs are really good, but some people (particularly a friend who is all-Naim with mkI Kans) finds the bass a bit 'too much'.
Personally, I like subs as they represent a great way of getting an enormously deep bass without requiring 6' tall speakers...

If possible, go for an older mark I sub of better breeding (e.g. a Studio or a Stentor) - failing that, ensure that whatever you get has the Volt driver and a decent amp (the Stentor kicks out a conservatively-rated 200w/rms, but is known to be able to kick out >100A of current on demand

Connection is best taken directly from the speaker output posts of the power amp; in my case, I have a two sets of binding posts, which is probably required if you only have one sub (otherwise, I'd imagine you'd lose the stereo!), but for two subs you just treat them like regular speakers (with the caveat that you'll need to twist the two +ves of the Y-cable together to make a regular +/-ve cable).

HTH,

John

I use a REL Stadium 3 with SBL's off of 135's.

My favoured connection is at the speaker end of the leads and the bare ends should be soldered into the 'banana' plugs if possible.

That way, the amps don't 'see' the additional load at their outputs.

For me, the main benefit is in enhanced soundstage and a general sweetening of mid and top end information. Acoustic guitar is transformed with a sub, beleive it or not.

The low bass is also worth having if used subtly.

As Richard Lord of REL says "If the recording engineer decides to put it in there; it is arrogant to suggest that you don't want to hear it"

If the sub is set correctly, IT WILL improve your system.

I'm standing by for the counter claims!

...deep bass, once achieved, is difficult to give up

FWIW, arguments about 'speed' don't seem to come into it with the really deep stuff, as the wavelengths are so 'slow' by their very LF nature that they don't have perceived 'speed' at all.

I don't think I could ever go back to 'regular' speakers, unless they could plumb the depths like my RELs, and I know I'd have to spend $#!+loads to get that depth and quality of bass...

John