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
Dear Drummermitchel: Nice to see that your sub's stereo integration was/is sucessful, congratulations.

Like you say we have to " listen and be patient " to achieve good results.
You even still have " land " to make a little change try it and listen for an improvement or not: to use the high-pass on your DD ones to liberate ( lowering the IMD on the main speakers ) your Revel's from low bass. You can do it and see what happen.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
Drummermitchel, did you mean to say "our living room is NOT really big(11X12)"?

Your post is a bit confusing. You reference buying a 900 sq. ft. home, then you say "So I have been buying gear suited more for a bigger room."

Now if you are happy with your sound, that is what really matters. It is just surprising to me that if your room is really 11' x 12' and you installed a pair of Revels and two DD-15 that you have room for the system to breath and image and you are not blown out by the bass. But maybe that was your point?
Dear Pryso: Yes, I agree with you: not really big.

This is the real " magic " of sub's alternative: it does not matters ( almost ) on the room because we are talking in the subs alternative mainly about low bass quality more than quantity.

In my experience two sub's always perform better than one in a room, two sub's makes the response be smoother.

Jloveys and Halcro point out that the ideal number is four sub's and there is the link to a scientific studies about made by Harman International elsewhere in this thread. Anyway the best way to go is when you listen it in your own system: you can't believe what you are hearing and the huge improvement in the quality system performance.

Btw, Dgob ( He posted in this thread ) has a very small room and he integrate two sub's in true stereo fashion with very good results too.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
It's kind of a joke as our living room is 11'X12",and yes that was my point.i tend to buy the best I can(to enjoy),and hopefully this year we'll add on or aquire a bigger house.
i know my system would love more breathing space,I can only imagine what she'd sound like in a bigger room.The room does give me some idea of what to expect,perhaps the calm before the storm.
Dear pryso: My " ask " to M.Levigne was because ( if I remember ) in their last three speakers in his audio system ( including the today ones ) he owned and own speakers that handle the low bass by self speaker powered woofers ( well I think that with his Kharma's he used the separate Kharma sub's ), so he already has a wide experience on the advantages to reduce the IMD on the speakers and the advantage to have dedicated drivers/amplifiers working in the low bass.

I hope he can read this and want to share his experiences about.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.