"The #1 benefit of adding a high quality subwoofer to your system is not how it further extends the bass response, but how it can dramatically improve the sound of your existing power amp and main speakers from the midrange on up."
Amen to the above! I for one always found subwoofers subtractive more than beneficial. Virtually ALL of the audiophile systems I’ve heard with subs had issues that were problematic to me if not necessarily the owner, too much boom, too overdone too much attention to the fact that a subwoofer was in use at all. The LAST good sub system I heard, many years ago was Vandersteen. I finally decided to try one with my monitor system about 2 years ago. 3 different folks recommended the Rel Strata III, no longer made but available used. A powered sealed box sub. This thing was a revelation. Most striking is the first paragraph of this post, the dramatic improvement in depth, clarity, effortlessness and soundstaging. Most recently I decided to purchase another which became available at a very good price to see the benefit over one. Interestingly enough when I purchased it, the settings were EXACTLY the same as I had on my first which was set-up using a spectrum analyzer. I had to move things around a bit to get things sounding ideal and without the benefit of the analyzer. The improvement over the 1st was almost as dramatic as going from none to one. smoother, greater ease, dynamics AND clarity. My wife came in the room to find out what was going on. One cavaet the system plays bigger and is much more dynamic so it is imperative to not overdo it as it can get loud without realizing so monitor those dbs!
Is a subwoofer good for classical, yes I’ll say, and rock and all music even music that wouldn’t seemingly benefit from a subwoofer, small scale. My system is truly fullrange while maintaining the benefits I love from my 2-way monitors, that wonderful coherence and natural tonality, the best of both worlds IMO.
Amen to the above! I for one always found subwoofers subtractive more than beneficial. Virtually ALL of the audiophile systems I’ve heard with subs had issues that were problematic to me if not necessarily the owner, too much boom, too overdone too much attention to the fact that a subwoofer was in use at all. The LAST good sub system I heard, many years ago was Vandersteen. I finally decided to try one with my monitor system about 2 years ago. 3 different folks recommended the Rel Strata III, no longer made but available used. A powered sealed box sub. This thing was a revelation. Most striking is the first paragraph of this post, the dramatic improvement in depth, clarity, effortlessness and soundstaging. Most recently I decided to purchase another which became available at a very good price to see the benefit over one. Interestingly enough when I purchased it, the settings were EXACTLY the same as I had on my first which was set-up using a spectrum analyzer. I had to move things around a bit to get things sounding ideal and without the benefit of the analyzer. The improvement over the 1st was almost as dramatic as going from none to one. smoother, greater ease, dynamics AND clarity. My wife came in the room to find out what was going on. One cavaet the system plays bigger and is much more dynamic so it is imperative to not overdo it as it can get loud without realizing so monitor those dbs!
Is a subwoofer good for classical, yes I’ll say, and rock and all music even music that wouldn’t seemingly benefit from a subwoofer, small scale. My system is truly fullrange while maintaining the benefits I love from my 2-way monitors, that wonderful coherence and natural tonality, the best of both worlds IMO.