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Honest Experience on Effects of Subwoofer Please

I have read countless of threads on people’s experiences with subwoofers but am still confused. Although I don’t have any experience with high quality music subwoofers, I have been using a decent sub in my audio system for the past 18 years or so. The sub went in and out of the systems and various rooms throughout the years as I was not convinced if the sub was contributing anything to the system. At times I felt I could hear an improvement and at other times I thought the sub wasn’t doing anything. If I bump up the volume and crossover frequency on the sub to hear a larger impact, it’s overly done.

I am aware that a proper set up and/or quality of subwoofer is crucial to ensure a successful implementation of the sub(s) in a system. Let’s just assume that everything is done properly.

To cut to the chase, do people hear a small or appreciable difference with subwoofers, or it’s a big night and day difference? I know everyone’s expectations are different but I’m reading different opinions and experiences on this forum. For the first time in 15 years, I am considering a sub upgrade and have been in communication with the sub maker and dealer. I just wanted to get a clearer picture on the situation.

So, coming back to the question, just two questions;

1. Do people hear a small or appreciable difference with subwoofers, or it’s a big night and day difference?

2 Do subwoofers just fill up the missing deep bass below say 40Hz or 35Hz where the main speakers won’t reproduce, or they will also augment the mid bass and upper bass by producing a punchier sound with better kick, heft and dynamics? The drums or kick drums are usually in the region of the midbass and upper bass, not low bass.

Posts like the one below taken from another thread make me confused.

 

ryder

Showing 1 response by macg19

macg19
672 posts
 

I chased bass nirvana only to realize that what I was really missing was great midrange performance. I ended up selling my Definitive Technology ST-L speakers (towers with powered subs) and a single Martin Logan 1100x Sub.

I listen to a wide range of music: Mostly jazz, female vocalists, some live rock and blues, some country, even some electronic dance music.

I now have Harbeth 30.2 XDs with 2 REL T/9x and I'm really happy. I use the speaker level connections from my tube amp but I also use the Low level sub-cable connection from my A/V processor for TV/Movies so I get the benefit of stereo bass for my analog system and low level effects for my 5.1 surround sound system.   

A1: In my stereo pair set up the effect is subtle and depends on the recording. They add power and depth, a richness that is something you can feel. I have them located very close to the main speakers, phase is 0, crossover 38Hz (estimated, 5 clicks) and gain is 10 clicks (less then 1/3). Of course your own room and speakers will dictate these settings. I probably adjusted these 100 times before I got to the point where I didn't feel the need to fiddle with them anymore because they "disappeared". 

A2: They fill in the bottom end. The kick, dynamics etc. come from the Harbeth's amazing mid-range. They cut off at 50Hz but that does not take into consideration the room which in my case is large. 

*Most of the music is above 40Hz

*You need a stereo pair, otherwise you are summing 2 discrete channels of low frequency signal into one speaker - seems really obvious when you think about it but I was doing it wrong for a few years before a good hi-fi shop owner showed me the way forward

*I may not have bought the RELs if I was willing to buy a more powerful amp (mine is 40w pc) and large, full range speakers but in comparison, what I ended up with was a bargain and I no longer feel like I'm missing something.     

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