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
I not only do not need a sub for music but I removed it from home theater, the VMPS with outboard cross-over and a high power Caver amp with gain control for the woofers is all I need, Organ notes no problem. They claim usable bass down 10db at 16hz, I dunno what I am getting in my room but whatever it is...........its all I need.
Dear Eldartford: +++++ " My point is that the crossover electronics should permit the frequency to be easily changed, and one should not be afraid to adjust it as freely as the volume control. " +++++

I respect your point of view and certainly any one is free to make about what any one think is better for achieve the quality performance that are nearest to its music sound reproduction priorities.

My point of view is a " little " different from yours: I don't like to use the subwoofers ( crossover/volume ) like a continnuous " bass equalizer ". My first target is to obtain the best quality sound reproduction from my main speakers lowering the Intermodulation Distortion through let it them free to reproduce frequencies from 60Hz and lower and my second target is to obtain a better quality bass performance through a dedicated/specialty audio item ( subwoofer ) and to obtain ( too ) a lower bass response.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
Rauliruegas...At first I took the same approach as you, (and everyone else it seems) and I tried to find the a frequency for "best quality sound reproduction". I never seemed to get it right. It took me many years to realize why: there is no one best X/O frequency, at least for my system. It depends on the kind of music being played. I do not use the X/O frequency as a tone control. I have my system tweeked up so that there is no audible or measurable (RTA) change when I sweep the frequency. But with music that has heavy LF the six 12" and 15" subwoofer cones have the "punch" that folks say is missing in Maggies.
Dear Eldartford: +++++" there is no one best X/O frequency, at least for my system. " +++++

This is the name of the game. In my system it is an audible change when I sweep the frequency.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
Rauliruegas...I forgot to mention that when I sweep the X/O frequency I am listening to and observing a white noise signal. Music is another story, which, of course, is the reason that I vary the frequency. My ability to sweep the X/O frequency without audible effect may not be usual, but my claim is that it indicates that my custom designed SW systems are well matched to the MG1.6 speakers.