Dangers of Mixing Different Subwoofers

Mixing different subwoofers in a home theater or stereo setup can work, but it comes with risks and compromises. If you're aiming for the most seamless and consistent bass experience, using identical subwoofers is always the safest route.

That said, we understand many customers already own a subwoofer and are considering adding a different model to improve bass performance. Here's what you need to know before going that route.

Why it’s not recommended

Using mismatched subwoofers, different brands, sizes, or even models from the same brand, can cause more harm than good when not carefully set up.

Here are the main issues:

• Phase and timing conflicts: Different subwoofers can have different internal processing delays or group delay characteristics. Even small differences can lead to phase cancellation, reducing bass instead of reinforcing it.

• Uneven frequency response: One sub may extend deeper or roll off earlier, leaving gaps or bumps in the bass across your listening positions.

• Level mismatch: A more powerful sub will dominate, while the smaller sub may strain to keep up or be drowned out completely.

• Complex calibration: It becomes much harder to time-align and EQ mismatched subs. Room correction software can help, but success is not guaranteed.

Our recommendation

For best results, especially if you're aiming for clean, even bass at reference levels, stick with matching subwoofers of the same series and model. This ensures phase alignment, identical tuning, and much easier calibration.

Not sure what would pair best with your current setup? Reach out! We're happy to help.