Subwoofer: should we even use them at all?

Marty,

Thanks for the answer. Was wondering how is your signal chain configured? From server, do you go out through USB? Straight into the Onkyo? Then the Onkyo does the crossing over, the room correction, and where is the DAC performed?

I asked the miniDSP folks about suggestions involving Dirac Live and crossovers. One option they suggested was Dirac at the server and their nanoDIGI 2x8 for a crossover in the digital domain, but also a second DAC dedicated to the subwoofers. The additional DAC I'm trying to digest...I guess any timing differences between the different DACs used would be compensated by the room correction...still not easy to digest. And I also wonder about additional jitter in the chain.

What are your thoughts on this configuration?

So what is the conclusion?

The thread starter was warned against a sub due to "the lack of coherence that inheres in adding a subwoofer". I think this is system and room dependent. Bass has to be integrated anyway. There is no general rule that it is better inside a (costly) speaker than with (less costly) speakers and a sub, even if it often works out that way. So there is nothing bad that "inheres" in choosing a sub.

New techniques and faster subwoofers has given us a much higher level of integration than what was possible in the past.

I never thought that this would be possible. Now I know it is possible!

faster subwoofers? are they midranges now.lol

When you use lighter material, you get a better response. The poweramp also has influence on the control and speed.

Ceramic woofers are very light and are a lot faster than some 'slow' material used by other brands.

In a simple stereo test you can compare the differences in integration. It is so simple!