Subwoofer

Particularly if the soundstage is a large reverberant church/cathedral or concert hall, RW. The ability to play really low makes possible reproducing the huge sound (long wavelengths and very low frequency reflections between walls, floor, and ceiling) heard in such enclosed spaces. And having two subs is important in being able to do that, as some of that very low frequency information contains out-of-phase (left minus right and visa versa) elements, which are cancelled when the left and right channels are summed to mono.

These days I can set subwoofers up to 140hz and higher. This is not possible with paper cones. This makes a huge improvement for the integration.

In the past I never went further than 80hz. Rel subwoofers could not even reach this level.

After a phonecall of a client of mine to use it till 120 hz, I tested it directly. And mannn this gave a new level and thoughts. I never had thought to use it this far. These days I set most sold subwoofers till 120hz.

What I said before; there are many ways to improve the interation of a subwoofer. Stealth low freq can only be reached by professional mic and lasers. By hand this accuracy is not possible.

In almost all shops and at shows I only audition low level of integration. This means that setting up a subwoofer is still difficult for most people.

Even with the roomacoustic systems a subwoofers owns you still have not the perfect integration.

When instruments and voices become bigger in proportion or less focussed, you know one thing for sure.....it doesn’t integrate as it should!

I can be very particular and posses a keen sense of hearing. I was playing music by ear before I was introduced to my first music teacher. I do not require laser guided measuring devices or proper star alignment before partaking in sub woofer set up to integrate subs to a level of personal satisfaction. I can distinguish variances brought forth by things like cone material and surface areas. I can also appreciate multiples of 8" sub woofers as I find they often produce tighter cleaner bass. Not to say subs with larger cone surfaces are inferior in this respect I don’t believe that to be true all the time. I do believe not all subs are created equal even while being seemingly equal to some. Steps out.

"bo1972"..."In almost 18 years of time I learned that over 95% of all products in audio are not worth it’s money."

Using arbitrary percentages to make an across the board deduction like that is just plain silly. I would have to presume you have listened to every audio device ever made in the past 18 years ?

I also do not believe in running my main speakers through the sub's crossover just for purity's sake. I know there are certain advantages to doing so but I like to keep the mains as clean as possible. This way also allows you to just turn the sub off when not wanted or to compare with and without.