How do you know if you need to add a sub (without auditioning one, I mean)?

So what does anyone think of the idea of using a Loki as a very inexpensive experiment to see if more bass even suits me. I know it won’t be the lower register bass and there are plenty of other differences between this and a sub.

Think you just answered your own question. Why even bother? You’ll be missing many of the benefits of adding a sub(s) so really what’s the point, especially when you can try actual subs in your system absolutely risk free? I frankly don’t understand the hesitation.

To the OP, mild curiosity has now reached the point where you NEED four subs and people just don't understand why you're hesitating.  


If you want more bass, then EQs can do the job.  If you want deeper bass, then a subwoofer is your tool.  Keep in mind that there really isn't much musical content below 40Hz on most recordings.  On most popular recordings over the last 60 years, bass was in the 50 to 160Hz region.  The lowest note on a 4 string bass guitar is 41Hz, but it's fine if your loudspeaker doesn't go that low because the low E note has a large amount of overtones that fill for the fundamental.  Reading into many of the comments above I suspect people are setting the level on their subwoofer(s) so high that they can hear the subwoofer.  It's can be impressive, but it's not very accurate.

It is simple, 99.9% of systems improve with subs. 

61: great information. Thanks so much.

I had the same question.

I took my 20 yo home theater sub (B&W ASW1000 which is just fine for move explosions and helicopters) and hooked it up to my dedicated 2 channel system, just to see what it sounded like with my B&W 805D3s, not expecting much. I dialed the crossover down to maybe 50Hz, set the volume to just under where it was obvious, and immediately heard the difference. Even that old tubby/slow HT sub added a depth and warmth that wasn't there before. Whole experiment took maybe 30 minutes.

After proving the value to myself, I got 2 REL S510s and took the time to place them and dial them in. Night and Day. Shocking, really.

If you don't have an old sub laying around, borrow one from a friend or you can probably find a used one on craigslist for super cheap. It doesn't have to be very good or modern to do your own experiment.