Do you use a Subwoofer when listening to stereo?

Having had some exposure to only marginally integrated subs, leaves me to keep my wishes clear of any subs rocking my guts. (I'm not into 'thunder and lighting' AV shows either.) So, 'Horses for courses' I'd say.

@justmetoo — I’d say you’d do well to go hear a system with well integrated subs as you’re completely missing (and mis-categorizing) the benefits they can provide.  And subs could also actually help alleviate the slight bass overload issue you’re experiencing.  Keep an open mind on this and you might be rewarded greatly. 

It is all a personal taste.  Some do like it, some do not.  I do.

@ozzy62 --

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If your speakers are generally of the full range variety, no need to add an additional electronic crossover to the mix. KISS applies here, less electronic artifacts, the better.

It depends on the specific set-up and quality of the digital cross-over (which needn’t be expensive per se); where well-chosen it can, potentially, lead to an even better outcome with the main speakers high-passed. For this to have the best effect (i.e.: a HP on the mains) it seems generally accepted that a cross-over no lower than ~80Hz leads to the best outcome in taking advantage of relieving the mains (+ their amp(s)) from the central to lower bass, leading to 6-10dB more headroom and a likely cleaner, more effortless reproduction (with 2-way main speakers the benefits of a HP may be even more pronounced as this more obviously affects midrange cleanliness).

Such an approach however may call for added attention in regards to subs placement being in symmetry with the mains, as directivity will have a bigger say with a chosen, higher XO-frequency. Theory may dictate it’s difficult to nigh on impossible to localize bass even with a XO up to 100Hz or a bit higher to the mains, but when practically experimented with I’ve found placing a pair of subs symmetrical to the mains is very beneficial, even when crossed into the 70’s.

This type of set-up with two symmetrically placed subs would still be compatible as a future DBA, as additional subs could be crossed lower and placed more freely to best take advantage of smoothing out room modes, or where ever interior decoration may dictate them to be placed. In fact that’s what I may intend at a future point, adding to my existing two subs.

For all its apparent prowess a DBA set-up as configured with the mains run full-range doesn’t take advantage of the potential gains to be had with a HP on the mains and a higher XO here. Added component complexity in the form of a quality digital XO - while justified, to my ears, run in the signal chain over passive speakers - mayn’t be so in every case; my set-up is fully active via separate components, and as such the digital cross-over used is, by necessity, in the signal chain to begin with acting as the XO (without ANY passive filter components) for both the mains and subs, and so a high-pass on the mains isn’t adding more physical components, but simply an extra high-pass digitally.

Atmasphere, phase is only half the issue time is the other one. I find it rather comical that people can say phase is not an issue. Wire one of your speakers 180 degrees out of phase and what happens to the bass. Any fundamental from impulsive bass sounds such as bass drums disappears. Most people would not notice this because their systems do not produce these fundamentals in the first place and I think this is what most of the mythology stems from.
Now it is true that the wavelengths are very long and physically getting a subwoofer 180 degrees out of phase would mean backing it up 15 feet and the degree of out of phaseness depends on the frequency. But, if you do that you have now created a 15 msec delay between arrival times making the situation even worse. Accurate bass transients at the listening position at least, requires the arrival times of the sound from each speaker to be exactly the same with the signal being in phase. In order to do this you need to be able to measure what is going on and then make the appropriate adjustments. In my case the computer makes the adjustments for me. I also have the ability to manually change delays and phase so I can demonstrate to you exactly what happens to bass transients. These are not something that you just hear by the way. They are something that you also feel. Now, I use four subwoofers but they are arranged in a specific way for a reason. They produce a single wave front without interference from the side walls floor or ceiling. There is essentially no back wall because of the way I designed the room. That wave front gets to my recliner at exactly the same time and in perfect phase at all frequencies as that of the satellites or main speakers. 
Swarm systems where you are placing the subwoofers at various random points in the room is a way of dealing with your typical room acoustics.
It is not necessarily the best way to integrate subwoofers with your main loudspeakers. Whether or not you can actually make it work satisfactorily? I have no idea. I have not measured a system set up that way. 

Nobil100, it is not just what you hear, it is what you feel. Eventually you will get a proper crossover and learn. Unfortunately, accurate bass below 40 Hz is a rarity is home systems. In order to use subwoofers at the state of the art you need digital bass management. Without it you are lost. If you think you can get it right just by listening...just keep listening. Listen to live performances in smaller venues like jazz clubs. See an artist like Dave Holland then buy one of his records. Are you even close?

 Adding subwoofers under the main speakers is just a cheap easy way to do it. The manufacturers would not be able to sell subwoofers otherwise. The Swarm system is a great way to deal with room acoustics which do cause a large share of the problems related to bass reproduction but not all of them.  

I find it rather comical that people can say phase is not an issue. Wire one of your speakers 180 degrees out of phase and what happens to the bass.

@mijostyn
Generally speaking, if you have a DBA setup, two of the subs will be in front and in phase with each other and the mains.  But the other two may not- take a look at Duke's instructions above. Below 80Hz time alignment simply isn't an issue.


Its great that you were able to build your room to prevent standing waves (which is hard for me to understand how that is possible). In such a situation a DBA does not make much sense. Most people do not have that luxury!! But that is such an exception to the norm that in a nutshell, your situation does not exist for most people. But having such a room, you must be aware that your comments, while correct for you, really won't apply to anyone else.