Will a subwoofer add depth and clarity to my system, or just bass?

Hello plga,

      I think you may also want to consider the SVS-SB1000 subs that go for $499  each.  I know SVS regularly ships to international destinations and would accept returns from Argentina, even though I know you'd prefer not to bother.  But you would get almost $1,000 back to put towards another pair of small subs like the KEF Kubes just in case they didn't work well for you.  The SB1000 are small (13-1/16"W x 13-1/2"H x 15-5/8"D), have powerful 300 watt class D built-in amps , go down to 24 Hz, weigh 27 pounds and have a 5 year warranty.
     These subs do accept speaker line connections from your amp but you'll get varying opinions on the importance of this to sound quality.  The main idea is the sound qualities of your amp will be imparted on both your main speakers and subs when both are fed signals from the same amp.  I've heard REL subs hooked up via the amp and preamp methods and didn't notice a significant benefit of the speaker line method, but others claim they do and you may be able to notice an improvement, too.
     However, there's also a benefit to connecting the subs via the alternative preamp method.  You could run a single rca cable from each L+R channel output on your preamp to each L+R sub input and then an rca cable from each L+R sub output to each of your L+R inputs on your main amp.  
     Each sub has a built in crossover with a filtered rca line output (fixed at 80Hz, 12 dB/per octave high- pass. This method means the subs would reproduce the bass  at 80 Hz or less (or whatever frequency you set the low pass filter on the sub to from 50 to 150 Hz or less) and your main speakers would be freed up to just reproduce frequencies of 80 Hz and up.  I have heard significant improvements in the sound quality of the main pair of speakers when they're freed up from reproducing any deep bass signals. I believe these sound quality benefits are much more obvious to most people, imho, than the less significant improvements gained by using the high level  speaker line connection method provides.
     There's also another option using line-level rca cables connecting your preamp to the subs that entails running your main speakers full range and adjusting the subs low pass crossover frequency by ear until it sounds best to you.
     The main point being that you have a wide range of hookup methods with the SVS SB1000 subs to experiment with in your system.  This means your probably more likely to find a method that sounds and works best for you.

Tim

Thank you Tim! 

Tim,
Well I started out thinking save some money but between opting for the second amp, upgraded Morel drivers, and finished in Rosewood mine will probably be about the same all-in as a Swarm with the extra amp. Lotta work. Although, when I told Duke about the Morels he said mine will "kill" his, so maybe worth the trouble after all! lol! As if anyone will ever know. The Distributed Bass Array seems to be the best kept secret in audio, so relatively rare nobody ever gonna compare. Although last time I said that was my turntable, and then Chris Brady actually came over one night so who knows? Maybe Duke finds himself in Seattle some time....!

Anyway between your reviews, Duke's encouragement and the growing excitement of this project coming together I can hardly wait to hear it. Working this weekend but fingers crossed it will reach early hook-up stage next weekend.

Chuck

Hello Chuck,

     I was sort of adding your costs up in my head and thought it might of been less to buy a Swarm but I didn't want to ruin your fun. Anyway, you're going to have the only Swarm Deluxe Morel Special Edition....in Rosewood!
   
Possibly setting up next weekend? Wow, you're fast.  I also just realized I don't know anything about your room and the rest of your system.  Do you have time to describe?

Thanks,
  Tim