Do you think you need a subwoofer?


Why almost any one needs subwoofers in their audio systems?

I talk with my audio friends about and each one give me different answers, from: I don't need it, to : I love that.

Some of you use subwoofers and many do in the speakers forum and everywhere.

The question is: why we need subwoofers ? or don't?

My experience tell me that this subwoofers subject is a critical point in the music/sound reproduction in home audio systems.

What do you think?
Ag insider logo xs@2xrauliruegas
Raul -

***Btw, I choose ( too ) 1st order filter for the high-pass on my system. This high-pass filter is inside of my 20.6s. It work for me.***

I will first try placing caps before my amp inputs, for easy changes. I like the idea of permanently locating the filter inside the amp.

***I think there are no rules here other than: test, test and more tests***

My satellites go to ~80Hz. My concern is that a 1st order crossover accomplishes too little for my goals:

1) minimize overlap between sub and sats (only 6dB down at 40Hz and 12dB down at 20Hz!!!)
2) eliminate LF signal from amp, for less distortion

I will test, test, and test. How did you deal with the overlap?

scott
Darkmoebius - Like you, I am on the steep part of the learning curve. Here is an article about sub integration I found interesting:

Getting the bass right

Unlike Terry, the author advocates many reasons for corner placement of subs, to cancel nodes. In any case, you might enjoy the article. Let me know your results if you try placing the subs outside your mains.

scott
Skushino - Fantastic article!!!!!

I didn't get the concepts the first time I read it, but the next morning I went through it again using the Excel Room Mode Calculator spreadsheet with my room measurements and everything made sense.

First of all, I had to re-measure my room because I realized that I was using a false length distance AND I got my room width wrong. I had been using 16'x20'x8', when in reality my room is 15'x23'10"x8'. Length-wise, I hadn't accounted for the distance that the rear wall that extends back over the dining room.

Then, using the Room Mode Spreadsheet, I was able to find the proper 12' mid-length seating position at the 1st & 3rd(71Hz/24Hz) order nulls. Then, position the speakers at the 2nd order 5.75'(47Hz) null. That leaves me with the lone 4th order 94Hz length mode.

Width-wise, sitting dead center of the room puts me at the nulls of the 1st & 3rd (38/113Hz) modes. I can then put the mains and subs exactly on the the 2nd & 4th nulls (75/151Hz) at 2ft & 3.75ft from the side walls. That looks to provide almost complete cancellation of the the width problems.

So, by experimenting with speaker & seating placement< i should be able to do away with most of problem bands except the single 94Hz legth mode. Although, I an sure I can find a way to dampen that one, too.

Unfortunately, I won't get a chance to try any of this out until next Monday because my brother and his wife are visiting with their 2 year old. Everything gets packed away from Natasha's curious fingers.
Screenshoot of my RoomModeCalc ouput.

Unfortunately, in the length mode, the closest my speakers can be to the rear wall is the 2nd order 47Hz null(5.75ft). Which makes sitting at te preferred mid-room 1st & 3rd null (12 ft) serious near field listening six feet from the speakers. That just doesn't work for me.

But, it is possible to sit right in between the 3rd & 4th nulls at 19.75 ft and 20.75 ft. Both the 71Hz and 95Hz modes should be as close to their nulls as possible.

On the other hand, the 24Hz mode will be at it's absolute worst. Since I don't have an amp for my subwoofers yet, and the main IM-Ben's only go to 40Hz, this shouldn't be a problem. When I do have an amp, EQ'ing that mode down should be no problem.

I kind of like that solution because I didn't want to add any crossover into my main fullrange signal outside of it's stock 12dB/octave high pass filter for the super tweeter.
I think this is one of the most important threads on Audiogon for all to read and understand.

I have purchased a Velodyne DD15 (should arrive in about 4 weeks), and when funds allow I will try adding another for true stereo low freq. I'll experiment with crossing over my Dynaudio S1.4s ~80hz and see how that goes.

Questions: What is the difference between high-pass and low-pass? Also - on the DD series, there seems to be a graphic EQ as well as a parametric EQ. The parametric EQ has a Q value that can be modified. Is that parametric EQ something that I would want to fiddle with, or should I be able to accomplish everything with the more simple visual EQ? The velodyne documentation is a little light on describing what the purpose of the parametric EQ is relative to the visual EQ.

Thanks,

Todd