Why I'm not adding a sub to my 2-way monitors for music

Having just added a second sub this week in part because of the rel sale, I would add to this discussion that with the good also comes a little bad. The second sub rel s/510 added richness to the sound and much deeper sound stage. The only new problem that emerged with this improved SQ is volume. While working I was listening to the streaming service I use on my $150 2.1 computer speakers and noticed that all levels were homogenized—meaning there was about the same levels of bass and treble and so forth. Playing the same playlist on my system I found myself wanting to adjust the sub level pretty often. On one song there’d be too much bass so I’d turn the sub volume down. On another song there was too little, so I’d turn up the volume, until finally I had to put the volume at some compromised position. The sub is magical and musical but I sure wish it had a remote.

There was a topic recently asking if audiophiles are on a different planet. I don't know about that, but this is one of those times it sure seems like they are. Erik has been around long enough to know about DBA, to have read all the extensive research on the subject, and to have seen that everyone who tries it gets the same outstanding results. He knows full well the key to good bass is multiple bass sources, not a single sub. This has been explained, demonstrated, and proven, time and again. Yet here we are pretending none of this ever happened.

Lalalalalala I don't hear you lalalalalala that is the whole message. Different planet. Here on Earth everyone but everyone will experience better bass with a DBA. The only question being: Is that what you want? Or would you rather go on pretending?

if one chooses not to add a sub to their system because to them it sounds good, then so be it.....but that doesnt mean that this is going to work for another member and their system.

if you are happy with the way things sound in your system, then fine, but it sounds like you are totally against adding one and trying to persuade others not to use one as well.

I've re-read the OP and the two articles directly relevant; the one mentioned in the OP and the one before it, "How not to buy a subwoofer."

Erik makes it pretty clear this is mainly about his process and how he came to his conclusions. A bunch of posts here are manning the ramparts to go against the claim that "no one should ever have a sub, their personal freedom be damned." I know folks need a cause to fight for, but...

Re: the DBA, Erik discussed it and didn't dismiss it, here: https://speakermakersjourney.blogspot.com/2020/04/how-to-not-buy-subwoofer.html

While I was a fan of this [DBA] idea due to the innovation and possibilities it offered I never really warmed to it due to the physical complexity.  For me, I want my system simpler, smaller, and tripling the number of speakers in my home has no appeal at all.

So, as I take this in, I see Erik making the point that if one wants to avoid the complexity of the DBA, one needs to be careful about whether a sub is genuinely needed, and how to assess that complicated question. He's not taking the work off of anyone's shoulder's; rather, he's making the unpopular point that making a correct judgement about this requires work and he's aiming to assist any audiophile not content to just buy more stuff.

I went with what my friend brought over to my house 20 yrs ago. I put 2-10" subs in between my mains. The Marchand crossover boards say 1985 on them. I sent into Phil(very nice person) a couple years ago and it was fine but he put some nicer opamps in since I sent it in. Charged me $150. I spent a whopping $400 for the setup originally, might have been a little extra for the crossover. I am lucky, people do things without labor just parts. Otherwise to buy all this new would now be a couple thousand. I know, some say it is just midfi crap. They still sit in the same place. I was really proud of myself. I could shake the entire house. Then...I got it right. Now the bass is not boomy and loud upstairs, yet is deep and rich at my listening position. Walking around the room and it doesn’t sound peak or null anywhere I can hear. Somehow, I can keep most of the bass in the room now. My wife sure isn’t complaining. Bear in mind these are only "good" to 30 Hz. There is some 20Hz output but that is not what the port is tuned to. I’m fine with that because as i said buying bigger and newer will cost quite a bit.

I have 15" woofers in my mains. I have listened to them without subs. They go down to about 35 Hz. The sound is good, but the subs just fill in a little more.

I could use a couple corner bass traps but I am not far off without them.  My friend passed away, no local audio groups, no dealers, so it has just been blind luck and lots of reading.

I have debated about restoring this Yamaha P2700. It just cruises with the subs. It is 30 yrs old now but haven’t located someone who could do this for a reasonable price. So far, I have been able to put my money into everything else.