Finally Learned: Subs serve much larger role than adding more low bass

My main speakers don't benefit as much from subs as they are good to 20 Hz on their own. Obviously the limitation there is that you are locked into the manufacturers set up as the low bass isn't independently adjustable as it is with separate subs.

I also operate an audio system that incorporates my main speakers plus a pair of powered subs that are 3 dB down at 16 Hz and so of course had the opportunity to try my stereo set up along with the subs. Other than slightly boosting really low bass - which matters if you are into organ music - there wasn't much advantage to adding the subs over without subs.

Another system  I have is one I'd really like to integrate a sub into - ML CLS, but electrostatics are a bitch to blend with subs especially with a smaller room.

Can't recall if anyone combined Quad ESLs really successfully with subs....

@desktopguy

I use Vandersteen 4As in my third system and the provision for low bass goes further with them than with most speakers - a separate crossover to control volume of low bass, a couple of high quality capacitors to roll the bass off from the mid/.high drivers and separate amplification - once properly set up it does work very well.

Not many of those speakers out there and a great bargain today if you can find them.

I think Richard was on the right track - roll the bass off for the mids and highs, which won't be affected by frequencies they can't reproduce well anyway, and use the electronic unit simply to adjust gain on the bass frequencies to suit the output of the mids and highs.

Nice to hear of other 4 or 4A owners - pretty thin on the ground today. I've owned mine for many years and they are just too good to sell despite my having two other systems more current and also giving excellent sound.

My Vandersteen system is over top 1990s vintage - amplified by a pair of PSE Studio IV monos on the bass, and twin mono Classe DR-3 VHC (at around 110 lbs each), biwired for mids and highs (with Classe DR7 preamp and Classe DAC1 D/A).    A 'high Classé system  ;-)

The PSRs have been solid as a rock.

Richard gave me Hell when I sent him one of the mid-range drivers was toasted - he thought I had abused his speaker (it was really one of the mono Classe amps having a seizure and sending out a pulse that annihilated the driver. He rebuilt it for me though.