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
Speedy

I think you have hit the nail on the head re Raul !!.

" In your set-up,from what I can see,you have little ability to move the main speaker(not subs) into the listening room.So,if your ADS speakers actually go as low as you claim,the corner placement would kill bass definition.THAT itself is probably good physics,but I'll settle for my own assumption here....So,it is most likely a better scenario,for you,to cut of the main speaker,and use your subs for the remaining "non boomy" bass(due to not ideal main speaker placement)."

Looking at Raul's room and speaker placement, running his ADS speakers full range would be a BOOM box. Raul is no doubt getting better sound using the 2 subwoofers way out into the room. Not your classic sub positioning. Clealy this cleans up his boomy bass he has running the SDS speakers in the corners.

Raul, you need a bigger room to do your ADS speakers and Levinson amps justice and move the speakers out from the corners.

BTW, how do you make an amp only produce sound from 50hz upwards like you do with your Levinsons??

enjoy the music
I think Sirspeddy proves the point. A mini monitor is going down to 31hz(I'd like to see that frequency curve.i.e. how many db down?)? That little woofer/midrange driver must be "exhausted."
Indeed the coloration it would cast on the rest of its duties will be significant.
I remember when I ran my ML CLS full range. That big panel could bee seen moving back and forth trying to reduce bass notes. With subs it barely can be seen moving at all.

As for defying the laws of physics. Not yet. At least not in my living room.
Dear Sirspeedy: It is incredible ( that after several explanations and posts from everywhere/one. ) that you can't understand the whole subwoofer subject ( advantages ), you are talking ( still ) about bass and that is not ( IMHO ) the most important subs priority but to lower the IMD/HD.

I already posted ( several times ) that that was my approach: first to achieve lower IMD/HD ( main speakers ) ( Physics laws ), then better quality bass, then lower bass frequency response and better working on the main amplifiers. I repeat till today you don't understand this, not only that but you never try it in your today system how can you affirm nothing about.

I don't add my two Velodynes two obtain more bass because my ADS are very good here ( and for your information and for Dowunder too: sounds very good with out subs, with no boomy bass. Both of you are totally " crazy " about because you never hear/heard this system: your assumptions are totally wrong. Fortunatelly I have a great room ( I'm really lucky about. I appreciate that you stop to take wrong assumptions on my system. ) I add the subs for its whole advantages.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
Dear Downunder: With all respect, if Sirspeedy till today don't understand or can't or don't want it the whole subs subject: like you say: " I do not for one minute pretend to know much about subwoofers as I have only had the sub for less than one day and bought it quickly. "++++

you IMHO are not wrong but totally loss/stay. You have to re-read many of what other people alredy post here ( including some links ) to learn about and through that learning excersice you could understand about and affirm " things " on the subject with know-how not before.

Of course, like this time, you can follow other person way of think but I think that you can do it a favor to your self if you really understand the subject of what you are trying to talk and trying to " understand ".

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
Dear Downunder: +++++ " justice and move the speakers out from the corners. " +++++

who told you that my speakers are at the corners?, please read on my virtual system about ( room measures/shape and speaker position ).

This is the trouble when a person follow other one with out know-how ( read ). Again please read carefully before you write something with out sense.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.