Frequency Range - Bookshelf Speakers


For a 2-channel stereo system, which consists of a pair of bookshelf speakers and a powered subwoofer, what difference does it make if the bookshelf speakers go down to 70Hz vs. 30Hz (or anything else in between)?
agiaccio
Vinyladdict said "If I'm sending everything below 60 or 80hz to ONE sub (essentially mono'ing below 60 or 80hz... probably 80) should I have no problems with "woofer pumping" and subsonics?"

Did eliminating the subwoofer affect/help this problem? Do you still have rumble or subsonics without the sub? Could this be another reason not to use a sub? To eliminate modal response problems and inherent vinyl "noise" (subsonics and rumble).

Bob
much of this depends on room size and musical genre. imo using l/r monitors that on their own can't do a pretty good job on fairly deep bass, say @50 hz is not logical. depending on who you rely on for info, most bass is non directional below @150 hz. a speaker so small that it cannot produce lower harmonics without relying heavily on a sub is gonna sound off without some incredible fine tuning. if you know of a small spkr that plays flat down to 30 hz let us know because unless you have a BIG listening room or crank pipe organ and tuba you have eliminated the need for most subwoofers. i love my sub but just set it at low x-over...monitors with no decent bass just do not cut it in the realism dept with me.
My AAD 2001 do.
Excellent monitors but need muscle ( I would say 100wpc minimum - quality too ).
The bass is quite amazing for its size. Speed is another area where AAD 2001 excel. Having Martin Logans for almost 8 yrs can leave permanent hunger for speed and transparency. They are very comparative with ML in that department tho.
My priorities have change as well as amps around my house (SET, Low power PP tube and SD speakers).
They do not get much use lately for lock of space and adequate amplification ( I've nice vintage SS Accuphase integrated but needs some work).

Mariusz
I have a pair of Totem Mani-2's that reproduce deep bass very well with proper amplification. Actually it is amazing how clean and deep they go but I find that integrating my Sunfire sub crossed over quite low so that I cant "hear the sub" adds to the overall sound of the music. If I turn up the crossover it becomes a set of speakers and a sub, much less coherent. The room size is 20x14 and that has a lot to do with bass reproduction, as was mentioned.