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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
erik_squires
16,390 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
792 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.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Or sometimes more is more. Your problem was you had a sub. All rooms have problems with bass modes, and the smaller the room the worse the problem. Unfortunately you went for the proven to fail approach of trying to suck up the bass with room treatments. The proven to succeed approach is four subs. Don't need to be big, especially in such a small room, but the small room only makes it more essential that you have more bass sources.  

The results you were looking for, they do indeed happen when you get a distributed bass array. Do a search. Study the system. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367 Look for comments from Duke and Tim. Everyone with a DBA will tell you its the way to go.
erik_squires
16,390 posts
 
perhaps the treatments negate the need for one at all.

They sure do reduce the need, yes.  By reducing the mid and treble energy in the room they can restore the bass/treble balance.

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.


Often true. I've never been against subs, but the road to great sounding subs is fraught with peril.



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