Why the fascination with subwoofers?

If you have good speakers, you don’t want a sub-woofer. In my opinion, it “rapes”your music.

A well integrated sub is a glorious thing. Absolutely amazing.


About 1% of all subwoofer systems I've heard were properly integrated. 

This is the problem. There's nothing inherently wrong with subs, it's how absolutely incredibly difficult it is to integrate them into the right room and with the main speakers unless :

1 - You have kick ass room correction/ calibration
2 - You are already a speaker maker.



Best,

E

but why add a subwoofer to an existing audio system when they don’t always perform well, are costly, and are difficult to integrate with the many varied speakers offered.

This is a question I often have to ask before answering a poster's question about full range vs. sat/subwoofer systems, or adding a subwoofer to an existing system.


Fortunately, room correction matters and is getting better and more automated, so simple it's almost ready for cavemen.


On the other hand, honestly, half of all "audiophiles" have no ear at all and for them more is just better.

Additionally, why wouldn’t any audiophile first choose a speaker with a well designed bass driver designed, engineered and BUILT INTO that same cabinet? If anyone’s speakers were not giving enough tight bass, why wouldn’t that person sell those speakers and buy a pair that does have tight bass? 

A sub, well integrated, has a number of advantages. Can go deeper, can be optimally placed, and can be EQ corrected.


Going back to your first point, you are better off with a bass limited (45Hz or higher) speaker which is not going to wake the dragons, than a big speaker that can go low which you don't know what to do with.


Best,
E