Honest Experience on Effects of Subwoofer Please
I have read countless of threads on people’s experiences with subwoofers but am still confused. Although I don’t have any experience with high quality music subwoofers, I have been using a decent sub in my audio system for the past 18 years or so. The sub went in and out of the systems and various rooms throughout the years as I was not convinced if the sub was contributing anything to the system. At times I felt I could hear an improvement and at other times I thought the sub wasn’t doing anything. If I bump up the volume and crossover frequency on the sub to hear a larger impact, it’s overly done.
I am aware that a proper set up and/or quality of subwoofer is crucial to ensure a successful implementation of the sub(s) in a system. Let’s just assume that everything is done properly.
To cut to the chase, do people hear a small or appreciable difference with subwoofers, or it’s a big night and day difference? I know everyone’s expectations are different but I’m reading different opinions and experiences on this forum. For the first time in 15 years, I am considering a sub upgrade and have been in communication with the sub maker and dealer. I just wanted to get a clearer picture on the situation.
So, coming back to the question, just two questions;
1. Do people hear a small or appreciable difference with subwoofers, or it’s a big night and day difference?
2 Do subwoofers just fill up the missing deep bass below say 40Hz or 35Hz where the main speakers won’t reproduce, or they will also augment the mid bass and upper bass by producing a punchier sound with better kick, heft and dynamics? The drums or kick drums are usually in the region of the midbass and upper bass, not low bass.
Posts like the one below taken from another thread make me confused.
I suppose REL subs implement the high pass crossover or filter. No. REL's design philosophy is not use a high pass crossover with their subwoofers. https://rel.net/blog/2021-03-24/principles-of-sound/what-is-a-high-pass-filter-and-why-doesnt-rel-use-them/ |
The way I look at it (YMMV) is if you can swing a quality set of speakers that plays into the 20hz region you are way ahead of the game. A speaker that has good material and integrates well will run you near $20k new (YMMV). At this point you have two boxes with excellent bass down to say 24-30hz. From here you can use a sub to cover the rest. I would never want to play a sub to 35 or 50hz. You will get lots of opinions and mine is free and you get what you pay for. |
From personal experience, deeper bass rarely loads seamlessly in the same plain as the mid/highs, and will likely interfere with them due to the greater vibration that they create Some 10 years ago I bought SVS subs as they were inexpensive compared to audio dedicated subs. I finally sold them last year as I could not get them to blend as their plate amp choices volume control was too sensitive, meaning even barrel cracking it, the bass would overpower the room. So, it seems high quality subs are essential, and SVS may well make them now, but not then. hth |
I admit I did not read everyone else's answer, so apologize if I am repeating something. First, what are your main speakers? Some main speakers need a sub more than others. A really good sub will be better at the lowest octave than pretty much any speaker. This is not subtle, it is very, very obvious. It's a matter of personal taste whether the sub is integrated well enough with your other speakers for your liking. Benefits to the midbass are real IF main speakers are being CROSSED OVER at a higher frequency, that is to say if BASS frequencies are being diverted from the main speakers - they will be moving with smaller excursion so that should give a cleaner midrange, greater power handling. If main speakers are still playing the whole range then benefits to mids would not be as obvious. Maybe could still occur somewhat if your need to turn the volume knob up changes with the introduction of a Sub. "There is no replacement for displacement" (zero fidelity?) If you need loud music in a large room, played with authority and accuracy, you need large woofers. A more modern possibilty would be the use of small woofers combined with a ton of power and digital processing as some of the modern subwoofers just coming out recently. There is a YouTube channel called Nemo Propaganda Reviews. This dude knows more about subwoofers than anyone on earth! |
My experience has been that subs are good for Mid-Fi and Home Theatre (not so much for HQ 2-channel). Inevidently, once I got the a sub to integrate sound pressure level wise, with my speakers (current rotation is Quad 63, ML ESL and ET LFT VIII), in my dedicated listening room, it screws up the Detail, Timing, Sound Stage or Image. Over many years I tried Electronic Cross-Overs (the closest to good), DSP and passive circuits... the experiment is now (as of last month) permanently suspended. To each his own...YMMV.... |
