Finally Learned: Subs serve much larger role than adding more low bass

Initially i was underwhelmed by adding a second sub.  Sure it helped a bit with staging and loading the room but all in all it didnt seem like the gamechanger i expected.  Fast forward and i'm trying a new amp, and whenever i make electronic changes i initially turn the subs off to do a:b comparisons (i don't know why) and my inital reactions to the new amp were mixed - cleaner less distortion and better at high volumes, all of which i liked, but the soundstage was now very much defined almost like a frame by the speakers, as opposed ti the whole front of the room.  I listened for a few days, decided i could live with and enjoy the new amp despite this trade off, and turned the subs back on.  Wow, everything got better - soundstAge was even bigger than before with the old amp, tones got more depth and instruments were more clearly placed, more musical and engaging.  Blew me away!  And i'm not using high end equipment, subs are vintage rel amp change was vintage krell to NAD m22v1, speakers thiel 2.3.

thoseboys, Your example says it much better than I could. Thanks!

Yep, well integrated bass that is quick and tight and something that will play low (25hz) is a game changer.  It adds so much to the music including the mids, highs and soudstage.  Theres quite a bit of music that benefits from a sub, even in the midrange.  There are times were a solo vocalist has tones that go really low.  Somegimes it might just be that they blew into a mic to hard but it actually adds to the music.  Its hard to explain but once you here the bass in parts of the music, you can't unhear them.  

First Velodyne F-1800MkII in southern CO in the 90s was to me. I've had plenty of subs since, some RELs and now some SVS sealed (additional subs, sell nothing!)

Moved from one REL B1 (in theater now) to three subs:  one SVS SB-3000 and two SB-2000s in my primary listening room, set at 50Hz. Need to add a fourth sub still and keep working a bit with positioning but it is much better than a single sub to my ears.

Most of the time they not particularly needed with my mains, but when low bass is on the track I hear it cleanly and with lots of backup reserve with subs set way low in volume. I'm a believer.

Always forget:  first real experience in 'hearing' what a sub does without noticeable bass music was listening to Eva Cassidy's version of "Fields of Gold" a nice REL in the room. Turning the sub from off to on simply opened up the space Eva sang in. It was the first night and day experience I ever had 'hearing the room' through the subwoofer, and with no bass on the track.