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 Pryso: I want to add ( a little late!. ) that even if the main speakers cross-over is at 160hz like you say and other benefits that the ones I posted earlier one advantage using separate self powered subs is that that separate subs can more easy be integrated on the room due that you can move it anywhere you need where in a full range speaker you can't because the woofer driver is an integrated part of the speaker and when you move the " whole " speaker to " tame " the bass response you " alter " too the full frequency speaker response .

In other side when you have separate self powered subs ( in true stereo fashion conection. ) using an external electronic crossover always your main amplifier will be liberate it for the low/deep bass response/handling and this means thet that main amplifier will perform better than full range, everything in benefit of an improvement in overall quality audio system performance.

Pryso from my experiences IMHO it is very very hard to beat a satelite/subs main system ( I support/recomended this kind of approach. ) against a non powered/passive non-separate full range speaker and even a self powered non-separate system.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
One of the things the speaker SYSTEM needs to do is cover the low frequencies to the same suitable extent as the other frequencies. That requires a suitable combo of amp and speakers. A "sub" in the sense of a separate device that covers the low range, may or may not be needed as well.

That pretty much covers it in a general sense I think. Beyond this, the devil is all in the details!
Dear Mapman: +++++ " One of the things the speaker SYSTEM needs to do is cover the low frequencies to the same suitable extent as the other frequencies. " +++++

certainly that is a " must " to have. Not an easy task but the effort to achieve it is worth on its rewards.
The subs integration has to be: seamless.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
Rauliruegas, I would agree except for supertweeters with no frequency response below 15k Hz. There I have found no integation issues. There are two of these that I know of-Muratas and Townshend.
Dear TbG: The ST integration in a system could be a " revelation " too because we are not waiting ( between other ST advantages ) that adding ST in our system the bass frequency range ( in especial. ) improves its quality performance just like the subs integration enhance the high frequency range.

I'm using the Tannoy ST with success. You can choose to cross at: 14khz-16khz and 18khz with a gain choosing between 88db to 95db.

I heard the Townshend but I prefer Tannoy's.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.