Why are subwoofers so polarizing?

I do tests just by hearing. The same as the roll of. I can choose between 12, 18, 24, 30 or 36 db per octave. But the speed has to do with the timing in respons. At the show were I was many could not and did not believe that I was using the subwoofer. It was that fast. I said what you hear is 16 hz. I use recordings like Kraftwerk, japanese drumm and Yellow to let people hear how low it goes. Sealed sub's are faster in respons. With Rel sub's we Always had recordings wenn the low freq. were not syngron anymore. I hated this and I did not want it for myself. To be honnest I never thought subwoofers would be fast enough for me to use it in my own system. Audyssey Pro and Monitor Audio made me think differently. In the past we sold most of the time Rel sub's. Also for stereo use, I was not satisfied about the quality it gave. Those times ( 1999-2007 I played with the Nautlilus 802 and Later the Nautilus 800S. In 2001 I bought the Nordost Valhalla loudspeakercables. At that time the best in timing. Always looking for the best sound and timing. The PLW-15 from Monitor Audio with the Audioquest Sub3 ( soon I will go for the new outcomming full silver watchdog also from Audioquest)and Purist Audio 20th Ann with Oyaide F1 connectors and Audyssey pro gives the stealth low freq. were I dreamed of. The possitive thing is; Stealth integration of a sub with speakers is possible these days.

"...a rel sub is fast in your perspective. Compare the respons of a Rel sub to the respons of a Monitor Audio sub."-Bo1972

I don't need to compare anything. The Rel is fast enough to mate with Magnepans. And that is fast, period.

Primarily due to the frequency overlaps between the subwoofer and the non-subwoofer speakers in the system which makes it very difficult to appropriately balance frequency volume. Subwoofers aren't meant for serious music reproduction, they're meant for "sound effects".

The overlap makes the overwhole sound even better. But this is because the timing is that good. Rel is slower in respons compared to Monitor Audio. Ofcourse for some it is fast enough, not for me.

From showrooms to rooms at shows to rooms in homes, I've yet to prefer the sound of any system with subs. That said, there is one exception. One being: my room. But I have two, worked at placement, dialed them in carefully for augmentation only, and have tweaked over time for perfection. They never stand out and IMO are seamlessly integrated with my mains. Subs are speakers too, and thus, require treatment as such.