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
Rauliruegas...Not surprising to me. My subwoofer systems, each consisting of a 15" and a 12" driver, has the centerpoint of the two drivers about 40 inches above the floor. This puts them near centered behind my Maggies, which was a design objective.

By the way, I also elevated the Maggies by about six inches, and that helped too.

I have always been a fan of elevating speakers, including suspending them from the ceiling if the wife permits. (They usually don't).
I stopped suspending my speakers when I bought the 350 pound per side Duntech Sovereigns.
The reason for the wider soundstage is that the subwoofer has its own amp and therefore the burden of those power gobbling lows are taken from the regular amp which can perform better. Subs are particularly important in video presentations, because there is lots of very low stuff on DVD hat have nothing to do with music, but which taxes regular amps and woofers
Bruce Edgar recommends lifting his mid-bass horns a few inches off the floor. My implementation of his mid-bass weight so much I had to put them on casters so by default they are lifted almost 3". The bass horn is also lifted ~3" only because the casters make it easier to adjust room location.

I've not heard anything as tuneful as bass done by horns. YMMV.
Dear Stringreen: IMHO the subwoofers help to any audio system in many ways other than improve the low bass response.

Please read here: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1117893153&openflup&27&4#27

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.