Do you think you need a subwoofer?


Why almost any one needs subwoofers in their audio systems?

I talk with my audio friends about and each one give me different answers, from: I don't need it, to : I love that.

Some of you use subwoofers and many do in the speakers forum and everywhere.

The question is: why we need subwoofers ? or don't?

My experience tell me that this subwoofers subject is a critical point in the music/sound reproduction in home audio systems.

What do you think?
Ag insider logo xs@2xrauliruegas
Dear friends: First thing I can tell is that that old " warning " against line regulators with amps ( at least in my case ) is totally untrue, there is no single power limitations I can detect about.

I did it my usual whole tests wide/deep process with outstanding results.

Througth that process between other test LP tracks exist two extremely demanding bass range recordings: Telar 1812 and the RR Dafos. Both demanding not only for the speakers system or amps but everywhere from the cartridge to the room where is the audio system.

I really pushed my system with the track: Gates of Dafo's and obviously with the cannon shots in the Telarc 1812 looking for any single sign of power limitations, clipping or quality degradation at very high SPLs: 98 db at seat position with peaks over 107 dbs. It never " collapsed " in any way, everything in focus with extreme detail and resolution.

So, in my case that " warning " is a myth. Rigth now I'm waiting for other two 2.8 watts regulators to connect my monoblocks there. I have to say that I don't know what could happen when test it because my amps are fully regulated input to output. We will see.

Now and returning to the new Velodyne experiences, what am I listening through?:

- first and listening at my normal SPL this SPL " goes down ", in reality does not gone down but this is exactly what my ears and body " feels ". I know that SPL did not gone lower because I measured.

- for my " whole body " can again to feel the same SPLs than before I need to increment around 3 dbs the attenuator/volume in the Phonolinepreamp. However and after the time I just return to the past attenuator position, I don't need to do nothing about but stay there.

- in the whole bass range disappears its false bloom reproduction, false bass power feelings that is not in the recordings, notes has a never experienced clarity/resolution that today I can say are more " transparent " and with an outstanding separation in between. Yes, I'm discovering each single of my LPs ( and I say that not as the normal " cliché " some audiophiles or reviewers tell us. It's literally. ), it does not matters which one or kind of music.

- when I was feeling that I losted that " bass power "/bloom and the like what I did it was to increment the volume in the Velodynes and even that at the begining I thougth was rigth latter on I decided that was not and that I don't need to adjust the subwoofers volume but to stay as in the past.

- all those clarity, transparency and very high resolution in the bass range frequency mmade and makes that the other frequency extreme really shines as never before and yes discovering " new sounds " in the very well know recordings I have and that ow I know I really did not know so well as I imagine.

- now that both frequency extremes are THERE the mid range is too better than ever and this fact ( at least for me. ) confirm what I  was and am telling from many years now: that music at home does not belongs at the midrange frequency range but at both frequency extreme ranges that are the music frame in home reproduction.

As better both frequency extremes as better not only the mid range quality level but the overall listening experiences. Mid range depends on those frequency ranges where these frequency ranges does not depends on the mid-range.

- one part of the 1812 whole track is when we can listen the Carrillon that with its multiple bells diferent tones/harmonics and all at the same time is just imposible to identify each single of that Carrillon sounds.
Well, that was till now because I'm hearing from the very first time the real glorious of that Carrillon sounds that I never did it in any single audio system I experienced trhough my audio life ! ! !, incredible experience for say the least.



Even that some people make jokes or laugh of me ( some of you that are reading this post. ) I touted and tout, posted and post ( elsewhere ) for several years that quality level differences between different home audio systems belongs to each audio system/room DISTORTIONS LEVELS  and nothing more.

In the last times my quest was and is to make any system single change with the main target to achieve lower distortion levels and this time  ( fortunatelly. ) that " move " was and is rith on: LOWERING DISTORTION LEVELS and this fact means MORE MUSIC enjoyment.

Rigth now with that simple " move " I'm listening less to the system room/venue and more into the RECORDING. Additional what is happening/listening ( till today ) confirm not only the other changes I di it in my system in other years but what I posted in diferent audio subjects here and in other forums.

Btw, other " myth " that falls ( for me. ) is that theory that odd harmonics are so irritating to our ears and this is ( for me ) totally untrue because third or fifth bass range harmonics are pleaseant ones like the second ones and today more clear than ever and MUSIC is " harmonics ". Problem, as always, are those system distortion levels.


Yes, all pasive systems needs a pair of active subwoofers wired in true stereo fashion.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.









Subs make the full range speakers sound better, ...also even out audible bumps in the room.

Raul....I agree as to multiple subs
Dear @stringreen : According scientific studies four subs are optimal in a home audio system.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
Dear friends: There are at least to things to share with you that I forgot:

- many people that own active subwoofers in their stereo audio systems speak on that thunderous bass that they don't have it before the subs in their systems and some of them speak to about that the room or diferent home items  in the room " shake/rattle " with their subs. Some like to talk about.

Well, I have not that shake/rattle or thunderous sound/reproduction in my system any more.
That kind of " events " are caused by high distortions in that frequency range but does not comes in the recordings and if some are experienced that they have an audio reproduction problem and certainly very low quality level on what are listening, it does not matters if they all are satisfied.

- the other issue I forgot is that inside my whole tests process exist the digital/CD tests that with out it any analog tests process is totally incomplete.

Testing bass range nothing can compare with the digital alternative that when with good recordings is way superior to analog and not only this but if we want to know how bass range must sound we must to listen to CDs and learn about.
I have several digital tracks that I always use trhough that whole tests evaluation's process and not only for the bass range but in this precise bass subject two of the recordings I use are: The thin red line and Gladiator ( I own " hundreds " of excellent CD that can show me what I'm looking for. ) that I know really good and what I can tell you is that the pristine, crystaline and precise definition and extremely high resolution is just: ASTONISHING.

The good " news " is that not only in the bass range but in the overall frequency ranges ! ! ! !


Thunderous bass does not comes in the recordings, it's generated on purpose by. In a home system comes for very high distortions in more than one system link and for the room interactions with.

Thunderous bass exist only in the nature through: sound on the Niagara falls or a thunder.

My take is that if we don't improve the quality level of each one bass range system/room reproduction it does not matters what we can do in the other frequency ranges our quality system levels will stay in average status.

I think all of us must have to take care more deeply on that system/room bass range reproduction !!!!

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.