Should I bother to try a subwoofer?

My post is pretty much is on point with you Nrenter. I think you speak truth!

The thing I posted was pasted directly from the REL site, and it seems REL stuff generally does music very well (a friend has a completely different model than I do with the same main speakers and it works fine). Also...every room differs absolutely, so a corner might sound great for some. REL subs crossover (or appear) wherever you want 'em to. I set the frequency on mine right where my main speakers lose the low end based mostly from listening...and aided by a test CD which I highly recommend if only just for fun (you can see from warble tones or whatever exactly what your room is doing to the sound at your head). It does take a while to dial it in...now I just adjust the level a little here and there. I also think they're expensive new, but, again, used they can be a steal.

I have friends who say
Quote:

"Oh....your cheating!" when they see my sub in the corner.

And I've also heard

"OH, I thought that was all coming from your speaker, Your using a sub!?)

Like using one is like wearing platform shoes or something?

My sub is crossed low and set at around 50 hz or so. I don't turn it up alot,just enough.....you know... tastefully!

I run into certain ....mind sets.... that don't like the IDEA of using a sub. These people want a set of speakers to do it all for them, because they FEEL a proper set SHOULD give them ALL the sound.

In large rooms, using big speakers is fine, most people don't have big room.
If you set up good, small speakers on stands and use a quality sub you can get most all the benifits of great sound.

Why try and let the idea of what a thing should do or be. limit you on what you could have?

If I try and run large, full range speakers in my smaller room (11x22), I forfeit good imaging, soundstage, air, depth and so on. I would just get a ham fisted BOOM sound.

Me no like ham fisted booom sound....

True...there are those who are ethically challenged by subs, and I would be also if I spent $6,624.37 on "full range" speakers just to discover somebody gets a similar experience from adding a good sub to a more modest speaker. My groovy sounding Silverline Prelude/REL Q150e combo was purchased (used) for less than the cost of a decent brake job.

I fall into the 2 subs are better than one camp.