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Why the fascination with subwoofers?

I have noticed many posts with questions about adding subwoofers to an audio system. Why the fascination with subwoofers? I guess I understand why any audiophile would want to hear more tight bass in their audio system, but why add a subwoofer to an existing audio system when they don’t always perform well, are costly, and are difficult to integrate with the many varied speakers offered. Additionally, why wouldn’t any audiophile first choose a speaker with a well designed bass driver designed, engineered and BUILT INTO that same cabinet? If anyone’s speakers were not giving enough tight bass, why wouldn’t that person sell those speakers and buy a pair that does have tight bass?
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sfseay's avatar
sfseay
496 posts
 
I bought the Focal Sopra No 1’s knowing they would be light in the bass region.  Just picked up a pair of JL Audio F112 suns with custom floor stands.  Wow!  I had an old Definitive Technology sub before but having two subs of much higher quality makes a huge difference.
lewinskih01
909 posts
 
@atmasphere 

I'd give it a shot. I don't use the Swarm but if I had it to do over that's the route I'd likely take. Duke is working on a sub system for me though- one that is integrated into a coffee table. It will be used to break up the standing wave in my room.

Interestingly, my additional two subs would go disguised as coffee tables as well. 

Ok, so you don't use swarm, but I take you are replicating the concept: distributed bass array playing a mono signal. Is the goal to minimize SPL variations at different seating locations? Or to optimize at the prime seat?
How did you determined you needed to break down a standing wave?

Regards
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,976 posts
 
Ok, so you don't use swarm, but I take you are replicating the concept: distributed bass array playing a mono signal. Is the goal to minimize SPL variations at different seating locations? Or to optimize at the prime seat?
How did you determined you needed to break down a standing wave?
The goal is uniform bass response in a greater portion of the room including the listening positions. I've done lots of setups over the decades as I've been doing audio shows since the late 1980s; so the answer to your third question is 'experience'. Standing waves are a common problem in a lot of rooms. One time we used an Accuphase room correction device but quickly learned that it can't do anything about a standing wave. If one is present, you can put as much power into it as you like and at the null point the bass still won't be right.

So the elegant approach is to use a distributed bass array system like the Swarm, which is the best example out there.
mitch2
4,114 posts
 
Do you have to play a mono (i.e., summed) signal from all the subs or would there be value to trying the front subs in stereo and the rear subs or one rear sub in mono to better deal with standing waves?
lewinskih01
909 posts
 
@atmasphere 
Ralph: if I'm taking measurements and measure a deep valley within the subwoofer frequency, would that be pointing to a standing wave?

@mitch2 
While many records have very similar low bass recording on both channels, to be certain it works you should play a summed up mono signal to achieve this.
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