Sub Integration

Note that properly utilized subs add far more to your sound than simply bass tone, as the overall "feel" of a system can improve dramatically with the addition of what has been called "charging" of the room with a good sub or two. Everything sounds better as you’re getting the reality of musical low frequency that is part of life (how profound…I think I’m gonna weep), even if you're listening to only mandolins. Also, if you add the sub at the -6db point you’re going to have a gap in the output of the actual music…not recommended, as nobody should recommend anything other than messing around with placement and level until you’re happy as a clam in the sand. Proper sub level is absolutely relative to the main speakers it’s blending with, and the sound of what’s being played…sometimes requiring adjustment which I do by turning the subs up or down a little or using my previously mentioned Schiit Loki.

I’ve run a test CD to see where my main speakers "actually" roll off in the bass realm, as opposed to confusing "in room" compared to "anechoic" ratings, or actually misleading published specs. You can use a test tone to reveal room bass issues without the expense of some digital EQ gadget. Your ears might work! My main speakers (Silverline Preludes) are allegedly capable of 35 hz or something but really 50hz is where they drop off (you can hear there is a teeny bit of 35hz coming from these things if you put your ear an inch from a woofer, but hey…nonsense)…consequently I use 50hz as the starting point for woofer settings (2 REL subs) and that works swimmingly. Also, I recently committed audio heresy by getting a Schiit Loki 4 band EQ and I can now highly recommend these…an el-cheapo and utterly noiseless little gizmo that really does it’s thing. I only use it when I feel a source sounds weird or when I want low level sound tweaked…like a "loudness" control…the 8k higher level knob is a serious cymbal booster and the 20hz low knob will tame bass issues. I doubt many people can actually do the 1/3 rule thing as often they have to live in the place where the audio rig resides, but there clearly are other solutions.