Do you think you need a subwoofer?

Newbee...SW crossover frequency depends very much on what your particular subwoofer can do. Based on quite a bit of experementation I have also concluded that the type of music being played also has a big effect, so I have crossovers that enable me to change frequency with the twist of a knob. For some classical music I let the Maggie 1.6 take it from 50 Hz up. For some massive pieces, such as theatre organ, I run the SWs up to 200-300Hz, and there is no doubt that it is better.

An interesting test that I have run is to play white noise and sweep the X/O between 40 Hz to about 400 Hz and higher. With my rig there is no audible change in the sound up to about 300 Hz, which tells me that I have the levels well matched and that the SW (a 12" and a 15" for each channel each driven by their own amp) are not out of gas at 100 Hz. Of course my SW systems are custom designs that have been extensively tweeked, and my results may differ from those using off-the-shelf SW.

Dear Eldartford and Newbee: I suggest that you read carefully the links that Davehrab post here it can instruct about.

Btw, remember that the integration of subwoofers it's not only for a better ( quality/quantity ) bass but for a better midrange too.

Regards and enjoy the music.

Raul.

Dear friends: I wonder why many of the " regulars " on this forum decide ( till today ): " stay away " on this extremely critical subject for the analog music/sound reproduction.

Share with all of us your knowledge and points of view about, in that way all we could receive related audio benefits.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Rauliruegas...I read the links you recommended, and find little with which to disagree. In particular, discussion of the "slow bass" myth is exactly consistent with what I said in my earlier posting. I have been designing, building, tweeking subwoofers for several decades.

The overlaping X/O frequencies for SW and Mains is not important in my opinion. There will be some overlap anyway because of the finite filter slopes, and some electronic crossovers make provision to boost or cut response at and around the X/O frequency so as to optimize integration.

My present SW design is taylored for use with planar speakers, Maggie MG1.6. To that end I used a lot of cone area so that excursion would be small like the planars, and I stacked the 12" and 15" SW drivers and located them directly (several feet) behind the Maggies, so that the SW "plays through" them.
"Integration" is (dare I say it) perfect.

I am using a stereo pair of Sunfire Signature subs with my MG3.5 which is used full range and is bi-amped using a Marchand XM126s electronic xover. I have been able to obtain seamless integration of the subs with the maggies after many weeks of experimentation and frustration.

To fully recreate the recording space you need the lower octaves even if the recording involves instruments sans the lower registers.

I was surprised at the improvements in detail and ambience retrieval with increased delicacy as a result of the subs on all types of recordings.

Adding a second sub to complete the stereo pair, improved the overall presentation markedly (some folkes claim that low bass is nondirectional and thus one sw is sufficient, but a stereo pair improved everything). The subs also made the overall presentation more articulate and dynamic.