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Turned Off My Subwoofer ... And My Speakers Sound Great

I’ve had a pair of JA Pulsars (non-Graphene) for a couple of years now, and have been using them with a subwoofer. Today, I noticed that my Pulsars sounded very different. There was an expansion of soundstaging, the bass was more articulate and robust (i.e., it had more weight to it), and the highs really sparkled.

This was somewhat different from the sound to which I had become accustomed, so I looked on the panel and discovered that the sub had been turned off. Apparently, my wife had been dusting around my listening room and had accidentally hit the off switch.

I am kind of befuddled by this because I thought use of the subwoofer was supposed to achieve those sonically pleasing effects. Apparently not in my case. Have any ’Goners had this happen? I’m really happy with the "new" sound sans subwoofer, but continue to wonder why that is. I mean by all objective measures, the sub should improve the sound, not detract from it. I just don’t get it.
rlb61
mattmiller's avatar
mattmiller
1,497 posts
 
If you like your sub turned off you had the wrong sub, I hate subwoofers normally, unless your feeding it the same signal as the mains ,they never blend properly and just muck everything up. A great sub well make your main speakers sound better actually.


Matt M
jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
agree with matt m 100%
erik_squires
16,142 posts
 
Sorry, one of those links was a duplicate which should have gone here:
https://speakermakersjourney.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-snr-1-room-response-and-roon.html
turnbowm
353 posts
 
Sounds like your sub settings (Xover, etc.) need to be re-examined.
rlb61 OP
789 posts
 
@erik_squires Thanks for the links. My very small listening room (i.e., 10x9x8 - a converted bedroom) is treated with a variety of items from GIK. Perhaps the room is too small for a 10" sub, or perhaps the treatments negate the need for one at all. Even if adjustments need to be made on the sub, such as more futzing with the x-over, it seems to be a lot of work for a small return. All I can say is that the Pulsars sound really excellent on their own, and I am seriously considering selling the sub.  Sometimes, less is more.
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