Do you think you need a subwoofer?

Most collectors playing 78s are not going to hear the full potential of the records because their equipment is the equivalent of playing an LP on a Crosley. Bad stylus fit, bad EQ, suboptimal processing capabilities, or simply not playing an archival-quality copy. 78s will never sound like an LP-era recording, but you can make them sound like the best reissue CDs out there or better with the right equpment.

My 8351Bs are on stands on my large standing desk--sort of by necessity. They measure well in GLM software, and my room is treated with GIK panels. I mostly remaster on Sennheiser 800S headphones because I have a young child who’s usually sleeping when I have my ’free time’. I admit I haven’t put much thought into the concept of crossover frequency. The tuba and string bass on old jazz records sounds nice and tight, but I listen mostly to 78s probably limits my scope of reference when I listen to anything more modern. I’ll be researching subs and will probably pick up a pair when the time is right.

Genelec recommends 7370A subwoofers (around $4k each) for the 8351B but also has said in the past that 7360As (around $2.5k each) are fine if your room is on the smaller side and you listen at lower-to-moderate SPLs, which would fit my situation. Most people who implement subs with 8351Bs seem to leave the crossover frequency in the neighborhood of the default 85Hz. Still a bit on the fence--most of my music is pretty light on the sub-bass and that's a hefty investment for something I'll only get big benefits from on infrequent occasion. The 8351Bs are pretty strong at reproducing the bass on 98% of what I listen to.

@mke246 Again it is not just the added bass performance you are looking for. It is improving the performance of your 8351Bs. 85 Hz is OK, but I would go higher at 100 Hz. Just removing turntable and record rumble from the 8351Bs will make a significant improvement.

@rauliruegas I got that crossover frequency directly from Genelec's literature. 

I use Channel D's Pure Vinyl Program for RIAA correction. It also has every EQ curve known to man. My phono stage is digitized, the signal is converted to a USB channel, sent to the computer that applies the chosen EQ curve and sends it back to the Lynx Hilo on a different USB channel. I can also record it to the hard drive in the process and do a lot of fun things like apply a pop and click filter that is very effective. 

I love Fats Waller songs but I prefer to listen to Art Tatum play. 

@mke246 : This thread exist and I started mainly to learn and understand that the main function to integrate 2 self powered subs to an audio room/system that’s used to listen MUSIC is to cleand up the whole mid/HF frequency ranges putting the main speakers IMD at minimum using a hiugh pass crossover filter and as an additional " side benefit " those subs permits no9t only to go deeper in the bass range but with a dedicated amp/drivers to that bass range be listened spot on.

Now I think that due to your personal needs in reality you don’t needs to add sub’s due too that your Genelec speakers are great self powered tri-amp excellent design where you not only can have 113 db SPL but can go down to 32hz and even usuable 28hz an according with specific model measurements your speakers at continuous 86dbs is THD is so low that maybe you can’t be aware of its levels and the low bass at that SPL is just accurated and only at over 95db SPL the speakers goes inside trouble.

Additional to all 5hose you normally listen at true near field position and different that mijostyn I don’t need to insist in subs for you. I listened your speakers and for any one it’s an " eye/ear opener ", excellent monitors truly accurated that’s main characteristic for an studio monitor.

R.

After doing some research the past couple nights I'm strongly considering adding a pair of Genelec 7360s to complement my 8351Bs. I know Genelec recommends the 7370s, but I think the 109 dB SPL of the 7360s is more than enough for my needs (even 80 is pushing it for me and 90 is usually borderline painful--not sure how some of you do it!), and my room is on the smaller side. The 7370s wouldn't really even fit without some creative rearranging.

I'm not sure I fully understand the measurement side of things and whether it would be an upgrade in more than just the sub-bass with these particular monitors. I do have a couple bigger nulls in my GLM at 72 and 108Hz that the subs probably will help address.

Listened to some stuff with deeper bass the past couple days to refresh my memory, and I'd call my current setup nice and tight and reasonably full range but a little light on the deep tones you can really feel--no surprise there. Even looking at those Fats Waller organ records recorded in a church studio in Camden, NJ by Victor Records in1927, they have crisp, well-defined bass as low as 31Hz! Incredible! I think my monitors technically are capturing it, but I could see how a sub would be a more effective solution to reproduce this type of record, or any record, accurately. Would like to understand the numbers a bit better.