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

After years of owning a venue and working with live sound, I came back to my passion for home hi-fi. My budget exceeded my expectation, primarily because I felt that I needed a firmer low-end that a sub could provide.

While subtle, it is satisfying to hear the full range and knowing that there is nothing more.

My components:

Van Alstine - SET 120 and Transcendence PreAmp

Fritz Speakers

Rythmik F12SE

I could have foregone the Transcendence PreAmp and used the speaker level input from the SET 120, but Rythmik recommends low-level signal which the preamp gave me.

Overall, I am happy with the result

Using a sub(s) is a topic that has no end as to whether to use one or not and how to integrate one into a system to produce the sound a listener prefers. I have posted this link in several post replies. Whether you are an expert on subs or not it's an article well worth reading. Quite lengthy but if you have the patience to read it you may gain some useful info......

http://www.soundoctor.com/whitepapers/subs.htm

Yes indeed. I put a bi-directional SVS Micro 3000 on my cabinet ...behind my TV, and it really rounds out the sound of my Klipsch Fortes. You can enjoy five or six settings on your cell phone... amazing world of sound now. 

The title of this thread encapsulates my own experience. Several years' experience showed that my "subwoofer optional" Legacy Signature SEs simply couldn't play the Octave 0 notes present on some recordings. The gorgeous, enormous, discontinued Tannoy Definition subs being closed out at Upscale for 1/3 price, I couldn't resist. (This is after corresponding with Duke and realizing that the Swarm setup simply couldn't work in my non-dedicated listening room, and noting that RELs, like Model Ts, come only in black). 
So: the Tannoy crossover can be set at 31Hz, just where Legacys roll off steeply, then slope down at -24Hz/oct. from 31-120Hz. Result is a (nearly) seamless integration (current sub placement is temporary), with the sub not only playing flat & resolving bottom details down to 19 Hz, but also subtly enriching the overall sonic balance. So, yes indeed -- much more benefit than just fully resolving the Octave 0 content.  

These days, on the odd occasion that I have someone over or when I am discussing my setup with someone, I will mention that I have five subs. Invariably, they will make a comment about how my home theatre surround sound must sound awesome. I then tell them that actually only one sub is for the home theatre and the other four are for listening to music.  They are dumbfounded until I explain about how things actually work.    

If you like one sub, you will love four.