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


 

I've updated my blog post with more data, more analysis and the conclusion that in my particular case I do not need a subwoofer.  I encourage everyone who is on the fence about adding a subwoofer or not to read and comment.  I think that either way you'll be able to make more informed buying and configuration choices.

Everyone's situation is different but I hope the post helps you get to the right conclusions.

 

erik_squires

if you are adding a sub, you are adding a tone control. That’s just facts. You are already outside of the pure, well disciplined land of hifi purity and the goddess of music and all things holy will no longer show you her face. We are already damned.

People accuse me of all kinds of over the top exaggeration and insult, but I've never even come close to vilifying anything as unholy and damned. G-d Eric the stuff you get away with. Tsushima and his little crew of familiars would be all over me in a nanosecond if I said you are impure and damned to hell for your choice of speaker. Can't fathom even a shred of it but I must admit, you got your act down son. That you do.

You go, girl.

@edcyn  what sub are you using with your Nola Boxers?  I’m looking to buy a sub for mine and curious about your setup.  I’ve been looking at smaller sub like SVS SB3000 and REL t7x.  As to OP post, I think it’s great that he was able to tune his room to the point where he doesn’t feel he needs the sub.  That clearly took some effort and gave me some pointers on what I can do in my room to improve it.  Thanks, OP.

 

You are hilarious. You completely ignore the specific claim of you pushing DBA like a cult (only we can fix it) and jump into something that was not about you, and allegorical.

You are very selective in your outrage.

@nymarty

Paradigm DSP 3100. And hey -- glad there's another NOLA Boxer user out there!

Dear @erik_squires : I’m not against what you already achieved because at the end is what you like and what you think.

 

I added subs to my really full range speakers for one main reason that name is: lower IMD. My ADS per sé goes down to 16hz but you have to pay a very high price for that: high IMD.

 

You have a 2-way speaker designs and this could means that you crossover 2.5khz to 3.5khz ( more or less ) from the woofer to the tweeter.

 

In any two way speaker design the IMD is rally high and this is the reason why you in reality need a pair of subs: to lower dramatically the IMD and when you do that the " ligth " comes out and your room/system will shines as ever before and as a side advantage is that now you can go deeper and with better quality performance in your bass range that’s where the MUSIC foundation lives and obviously that the electronics of your main speakers will works with out any kind of distress and with higher headroom and you don't need to measure anything because the best " measure " to that IMD are the IMD comparison you make trhough listening tests before and after. You can tame the IMD but you can't disappeared by room treatment or any other way because the IMD is developed by the speaker 2-way woofer.

 

Imagine your today IMD levels in your speakers when the movements on the woofer reproducing 35hz-40hz at the same time needs to reproduce frequency range above to at least 1khz ! ! ? ? ?

 

Tha’s my take for subs In any passive speakers.

 

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.