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Are subs worth the price for music?

My current speakers are Vandersteen 3A's. I consider them to have a good, solid low end. Specs say 26hz, -3db, if I remember. That's lower than most any music. I'm considering adding a vandy sub, possibly two to the system. My question is, for strictly music, are subs even worth while...$$$......if so, why? What could I expect that's different and/or better than what I'm already hearing..............No experience with subs and music, so forgive the lame question for those of you who already use them.
shadowcat2016

Showing 2 responses by williewonka

williewonka
3,110 posts
 
@shadowcat2016 - what kind of music do you like to listen to?

The Vandersteen’s have a pretty good bass response.

The low B string on a 5/6string bass guitar is 31 Hz.

A low end of 26 Hz is in synth territory.

Below 26 Hz is more an LFE that A/V systems pump out.

So I have to ask - do you think the speakers are not perofrming to your satisfaction?

What speaker and power cables are you using? they could be a limiting factor for your speakers or worse your amp.

Regards - Steve

williewonka
3,110 posts
 
@shadowcat2016 ....

Mostly just wondering how a sub or subs would improve/change what I’m hearing now since I’ve never experienced it in my system.
Based on your musical tastes and your components/cables...
- if the subs are setup "correctly: - i.e. to augment the Vandi’s - then I doubt the subs would provide too much of an improvement, because "normal music" seldom has frequencies below 26Hz anyway
- however, if you are after "true realism" e.g. to hear the LFE’s of a truck rolling past the recording venue (sometimes present on live concert recordings) then the subs "may provide" some benefit.

Adding subs on a two channel system such as your own is all a matter of personal preference.

FYI - my speakers are rated at 28Hz and I hear the trucks rolling by on a couple of recordings, so I have never considered adding subs. I also like Pipe Organ music, which already shakes the walls, so again - no need for subs

LFE’s, which is what subs are really designed to reproduce, are not really present in most music - unless you like to hear the Digital Cannons at their absolute best on the Telarc version of the 1812 overture :-)

If I had an urge to see what LFE’s were present in music I would probably opt to upgrade to a speaker that can handle a lower frequency, simply because the designers have gone to the trouble of ensuring a flat frequency response. It saves me the time and effort of setting up sub’s, which, from what I have experienced and read,  most people find "challenging"

Personally, I would spend all that cash elswhere.

Regards - Steve


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