Should I bother to try a subwoofer?

I used a REL sub and until it quit working it sounded OK but not any better than the one I replaced (ACI) it with at less than a third of the price.

I'm sorry, but IMHO, crossing-over at or above the -3 dB bass response of your primary speaker - particularly monitor speakers - is a recipe for frustration. Ever wonder why some say subs are difficult to integrate into a 2-channel system? One of those reasons is simply the sub is crossed-over far too high. At least no one here is recommending an 80 Hz crossover point.

The Dynaudio Contour 1.3 MK II has a lower -3 dB response of 43 Hz. Again, IMHO, the best place to start is multiplying the lower -3 dB response by 0.7 for your starting point:

43 Hz x 0.7 = 30.1 Hz

This is assuming you can cross-over your sub this low. Many cannot (and have a lowest cross-over frequency of 40 Hz).

Often, rooms that are appropriate for monitor speakers have natural resonances in the 50-ish HZ range. You need to consider more than just the response of the speakers...you need to consider the response of the room.

Oh...and keep it away from corners. IMHO, that's mistake #2 that makes subs "hard to integrate".

And my last controversial statement in this post...IMHO you'd be better off with 2 (or more) "lesser" subs than one "more expensive" sub.

Duke over at AudioKinesis has an offering he calls "the swarm". Check it out (at least for some food for thought). www.audiokinesis.com. I have no affiliation (other than meeting him at LSAF a couple years back).

My post is pretty much is on point with you Nrenter. I think you speak truth!

The thing I posted was pasted directly from the REL site, and it seems REL stuff generally does music very well (a friend has a completely different model than I do with the same main speakers and it works fine). Also...every room differs absolutely, so a corner might sound great for some. REL subs crossover (or appear) wherever you want 'em to. I set the frequency on mine right where my main speakers lose the low end based mostly from listening...and aided by a test CD which I highly recommend if only just for fun (you can see from warble tones or whatever exactly what your room is doing to the sound at your head). It does take a while to dial it in...now I just adjust the level a little here and there. I also think they're expensive new, but, again, used they can be a steal.

I have friends who say
Quote:

"Oh....your cheating!" when they see my sub in the corner.

And I've also heard

"OH, I thought that was all coming from your speaker, Your using a sub!?)

Like using one is like wearing platform shoes or something?

My sub is crossed low and set at around 50 hz or so. I don't turn it up alot,just enough.....you know... tastefully!

I run into certain ....mind sets.... that don't like the IDEA of using a sub. These people want a set of speakers to do it all for them, because they FEEL a proper set SHOULD give them ALL the sound.

In large rooms, using big speakers is fine, most people don't have big room.
If you set up good, small speakers on stands and use a quality sub you can get most all the benifits of great sound.

Why try and let the idea of what a thing should do or be. limit you on what you could have?

If I try and run large, full range speakers in my smaller room (11x22), I forfeit good imaging, soundstage, air, depth and so on. I would just get a ham fisted BOOM sound.

Me no like ham fisted booom sound....