Do you think you need a subwoofer?

After adding a second sub to my system, there was smoother bass response. Again, this isn't about louder or stronger bass, in fact, I was seeking lower, smoother bass. Ironic that the path to this goal was accomplished by adding a sub! My girlfriend is a great listener and concurred that bass was better quality. Since I returned the second sub (on loan from my neighbor), I miss the performance. But, permanently adding a second sub may not be in my short term future. I already stretched to get one large horn sub in my room. A second is really bordering on impractical....

Dear Scott: I understand the why for only one sub. But the test that you do with the second sub tell you that you can do an improvement in a future when you already want it.

Your test is very educational to all of us. Tks for sharing your experience about.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Carlos: It will be very interesting for all of us to know your points of view about the subs integration, now that you already have both subwoofers.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Raul: I might not explained myself but my second subwoofer its already ordered but coming on its way from Vandersteen. I have not receive it yet. So far with 1 sub (2wq) I have placed a few centimeters ahead and to the side all from my right speaker. At first i tried it at the corner which of course made it prominent (btw, thats were Vandersteen recommends to put it) but kind of boomy then I moved it ahead until it was at least a feet ahead of my mains which its were it sounded the most articulated but then there were some discrepancies, for example in orchestral pieces to hear the contra basson ahead off the cellos in the soundstage was odd, (as you know most of the time the contra-basoon its located on the second row of the woodwind section towards the right.) Finally I justed moved it back a few inches to where its now, and thats were the best compromise its achieved. I look forward to when the second sub arrives as to where its best position; I guess i,ll just start in a symetrical way as to my other sub is now. BTW I have not regret for a moment the desciscion off adding subs to my system, and i think this is just going to get better. Best wishes, Carlos

I bit the bullet, and repositioned my little horn sub in an experiment to tame uneven and boomy bass in my room. The sub was located in the left corner, behind and to the side of one of the main speakers. I moved the sub midway along the side wall. Now it is similar in position to one of Raul's subs, slightly in front of and to the side of the right main speaker. The initial results are promising! Bass is less boomy, more tuneful, and better integrated with the main speakers. The level is lower (no problem for me) while the LF quality is much higher. I simply adjusted the output level to compensate for the reduced output of two boundaries compared to three in the corner. This is exactly what I wanted.

Here are a couple of articles on sub placement I found helpful:

http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/setup/loudspeakers/SubwooferplacementP1.php

http://www.harman.com/wp/pdf/multsubs.pdf

Raul, you may not be surprised to know that the second article advocates 4 subs as optimal!