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

Showing 7 responses by tbg

As full integration of subwoofers is quite difficult and because most subwoofers cannot keep up with many midrange drivers and tweeters, I would seek to avoid them. But because these same problems bedevil full range speaker designers, there is no easy advice to give.

For a long time I had Beauhorns with a single driver. They were great from about 65 Hz to 13k Hz. I finally found subwoofers and an amp that would keep up with them using a high pass filter on the subwoofer amp starting at 40 Hz and the natural roll-off of the Beauhorns. It looked good on instruments and was satisfying, but when I got the Acapella LaCampenellas, I realized that there was much missing from about 125 Hz to 50 Hz. But with the Acapellas I don't have house shaking frequencies below about 28 Hz.

So the answer to your question is both absolutely you need subwoofers and absolutely no subwoofers are impossible.
Are we communicating in English? If so, I don't understand what is being said.
Raul, you are right given their lighter weight, but I have a pair of the Townsend speaker cradles coming. I have yet to hear them, but I am told they transform the La Campanellas. See: http://www.townshendaudio.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=67&Itemid=139
Here is what I used to do to set subwoofer volume when I had them. Pick a frequency that both speakers are capable of reproducing as low as possible. I use 100 Hz. Reverse the connections on your main speakers and remove their input from the high on the crossover. Set the the crossover at at least that 100 Hz. Run 100 Hz signal to both. At a volume where you would normally listen on the main speakers, now set the volume on the subwoofers to give the lowest volume. You are using the out of phase speakers to counter balance each other for minimum volume at 100 Hz.

Reverse the leads on the mains and put them on the high outputs of the crossover. Enjoy. I usually found a slight reduction for the subwoofers from this setting was perfect.
I stopped suspending my speakers when I bought the 350 pound per side Duntech Sovereigns.
Rauliruegas, I would agree except for supertweeters with no frequency response below 15k Hz. There I have found no integation issues. There are two of these that I know of-Muratas and Townshend.
Rauliruegas, I have no experience with the Tannoys. My only question is whether you hear music when only they are on. With both the Townshends and Muratas, you hear no music at all, just various pops and clicks.

What convinced me about the Muratas was a demonstration of them at CES years ago. They played music on a full range speaker with the Muratas on. Next they replayed the music with them off. All in the audience said almost as one, wow, put them back on. While the members of the audience were talking among themselves, there was silence. Finally, one guy asked what do the Muratas sound like by themselves? The demonstrator said you have been listening to them for quite some time. We all focused on what we were hearing and heard occasional pop or click. I bought a pair, and frequently did the demonstration for those visiting me.