Do you think you need a subwoofer?

Hi Raul, I'm late arriving at this party and have not read through all seven pages of discussion. Therefore, forgive me if I repeat something already covered, but I'll throw out a couple of thoughts into the mix.

First, I've been told that the mid-point of the acoustical energy of a symphony orchestra (obviously on average) occurs around 220 to 280 Hz (depends on who you ask). Think of the implication for a two-way speaker system with a crossover between 1500 and 2K Hz. That poor mid/woofer is being ask to produce nearly all of the energy. Even a three-way system with a 300 to 500 crossover, that woofer has a load. Notice I'm talking about acoustic energy here, not frequency response, so think about the requirements on the woofer and amp driving it in those terms.

Related to this is the situation where the lower the frequency, the more energy needed to drive it to a given reference level. For me it becomes easier to understand why a separate, powered subwoofer(s) covering the first or first and second octaves can be so beneficial.

Which brings me to my second thought. Many years ago I visited a very well respected dealer for a subwoofer demo. I no longer remember the sub model but the prime speakers were Spendor BC-1s. Rather than the expected organ works, bass driven rock, or synthesizer demo, the owner played a solo cello recording. As he switched the subwoofer in and out, the difference was heard immediately. It was not the low bass extension but the improved clarity, depth, and spaciousness that was apparent with the subwoofers switched in. Even if it would not seem like a cello would tax a woofer and amp, removing the lowest bass (wish I remembered the crossover point) responsibility from the regular woofer and amp cleaned up the sound far more than I would have ever expected.

Food for thought.

Raul, from my earlier post, you know I agree with the benefits of subwoofer(s) to both extend low frequency response and reduce distortion on speakers and amps for the upper bass and midrange.

But I have a question for which I wonder if your experience may suggest an answer. At what frequency will these benefits diminish to the point where they may be of little value?

For example, I don't doubt adding subwoofer(s) while rolling off the bass on the main system will benefit a two-way speaker where the woofer is operating up to somewhere between 1,200 to 2,400 Hz before crossing over. Similarly it still benefits any three-way speaker where the woofer operates up to somewhere between 320 and 600 or so Hz. But what about a system where the woofer crossover is near the top of the accepted bass range, 160 Hz? If this is also a candidate for reduced distortion benefits to the upper bass and midrange, it would seem the subwoofer crossover would be quite low, say around 40 Hz. Is this correct?

Please share any experience that can answer these questions.

Drummermitchel, did you mean to say "our living room is NOT really big(11X12)"?

Your post is a bit confusing. You reference buying a 900 sq. ft. home, then you say "So I have been buying gear suited more for a bigger room."

Now if you are happy with your sound, that is what really matters. It is just surprising to me that if your room is really 11' x 12' and you installed a pair of Revels and two DD-15 that you have room for the system to breath and image and you are not blown out by the bass. But maybe that was your point?