Do you think you need a subwoofer?


Why almost any one needs subwoofers in their audio systems?

I talk with my audio friends about and each one give me different answers, from: I don't need it, to : I love that.

Some of you use subwoofers and many do in the speakers forum and everywhere.

The question is: why we need subwoofers ? or don't?

My experience tell me that this subwoofers subject is a critical point in the music/sound reproduction in home audio systems.

What do you think?
Ag insider logo xs@2xrauliruegas
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!
Dear Skushino: I read the second link that I think is very interesting about the subwoofers subject. All the live and computer experiments tell us many things, that one with 5,000 subwoofers ! ! !!!.

At the end they found that the near perfection about LF it can have it with four subwoofers but they conclude that we can have a very good LF performance with two subwoofers ( and very practical ), this is what they find it:

+++++ " Two subwoofers is very nearly
as good and has very good low as good and has very good low
frequency support as well. " +++++

I think that we are in the " right road ".

Tks for the links. I will take the time to read the other one.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
Dear Scott: The audiholics link is a good one too, but is more dedicate to HT systems. In this link there are some interesting facts in the: Setup Tips.

Tks for share with us these info. Is really educational.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.