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Sub Question

I tried to do a search, but could not drill down on this. Anyway, I have never owned a sub. I never really felt the need. However, I had a friend tell me that a sub does more than just enhance bass output and perhaps bass quality. He went on to say that having a sub takes pressure off the driver thus making the speaker do less work. Because of this, the speakers will sound better or have better clarity. Thoughts?
128x128kclone
kclone's avatar
kclone OP
655 posts
 
Thanks for the responses so far, but I don't think we have adressed my original question. Does a sub indirectly help or improve the sound or frequencies by taking pressure off of the speakers?
slanski62
42 posts
 
Indirectly, yes. The sub by itself does not relieve the burden of reproducing the last one to two octaves. The passive attenuation circuit does that by filtering these low frequencies so that they never reach the main speakers. That way, the mains can concentrate on the easier-to-reproduce signals above 80Hz or so.
zanon
114 posts
 
If you use high-pass in sub, it will take take pressure off your mains.

Best if you do this with stereo subs.
Post removed 
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Kclone,

To repeat and restate:

If you put a crossover unit ahead of the main speakers it will reduce the burden on the main speakers' woofers by attenuating the bass signal they receive.

If you put an (active) crossover unit ahead of the amp feeding the main speakers, it will reduce the burden on both the main amp and the main speakers.

If you use no crossover on the main speakers - there will be no reduction in the work they do at low frequencies.

Subs can be wired in any of these ways, so the direct answer to your question is:

"It depends upon how you choose to wire the subs".

Marty

FWIW, I personally use an active x-over ahead of the main amp. Not only does this minimize the "work" of the main amp and the main speakers' woofers, it allows me to use digital room correction for the bass signal that is sent to the subwoofers. IMHO, this is a great solution. Other posters to these threads sometimes prefer a different approach. Different strokes....
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