Subwoofer or No Subwoofer?...That is the Question.

[Storm]

Hey there fellow audio nuts.

I have been thinking about adding a subwoofer into my current setup, but have concerns as to if I should.

Are subwoofers truly for audiophiles? Do they pump real bass or do they add to the existing bass?

My current setup is below. Please let me know if I should scrap the idea or add a subwoofer to this system. The subwoofer I am thinking about adding is the version one PARADIGM SERVO 15 subwoofer.

Thank you in advance.

I hope to learn alot from this thread.



-Storm

[grumpy]

Done right, a sub (or several) can make for a more engaging listening
experience. Can also be a pain to "do right". Ten people will tell you ten versions
of what "done right" is.

-grumpy

[Robh3606]

Are subwoofers truly for audiophiles? Do they pump real bass or do they add to the existing bass?

Hello Storm

I run E-145's as my midbass driver so I have to have subs for the last octave. I get decent bass to 40 hz out of them from the room gain but below 40 forget about it. To answer your guestion it depends on what your gear is actually doing in your room. Do audiophiles want clean response to into the low 20's Hz range?? The answer is yes some want all the way to 16Hz and some even lower. The question is what do you want?? What kind of music do you listen too?? Is there content there and what are you getting in your room now?? As I see it there is a lot going on in the 20-40Hz range and have been surprised many times by content in that octave. So I want reasonable response there. You have to decide what reasonable response means to you. Like Grumpy says there will be 10 people telling you how to "do it right".

Rob

[Shane Shuster]

Hey there fellow audio nuts.

I have been thinking about adding a subwoofer into my current setup, but have concerns as to if I should.

-Storm

What specifically is wrong with your setup that you don't like? How demanding of your hifi are you? To sub-woofer or not is a set of compromises that without set goals may or may not work for you.

[Zilch]

These are the type of speakers that do it all and don't need a subwoofer. Case in point - I just picked up a PARADIGM REFERENCE SERVO 15 SUBWOOFER and hooked it up to the setup with these same exact speakers. The subwoofer puts out too much bass. I love the natural bass that these speakers bring forth - not the over use of bass that a subwoofer brings.

This subwoofer is Paradigms leading subwoofer and retailed for $1500.00. Thank goodness I did not purchase it new - this baby is going on eBay in a couple days.

:dont-know

[Rolf]

For me a system that give notes to between 20-30 Hz is more than enough. My 4343's do that. I believe down 3db at 30Hz.

When I (a few times in a year) play church organ, I miss the deepest notes.

My brother has a subwoofer, a large Revel (15") with 1000W amp. When I listen to his system (witch is excellent) it does not sound natural when the sub is on. To much, and I never hear this kind of bass on a concert, and the concert is my reference. His reference is different, as I am sure many other have different references, and I respect that. We all want THAT kind of sound, and that is good. If not we would all have the same equipment. (Boring)

In a setup for movies ... well that is another thing, but I am not so into that. I do not even use a center, but the "phantom mode". That leaves only 4 speakers left when I watch a move. Plenty for me. (Us).

Hope this little story helps.

[Tom Brennan]

Subs are good IF they can dynamically track your mains and IF they are dialed in right. You shouldn't be aware a sub is in the system until it needs to "speak".

[SEAWOLF97]

On Mythbusters they built a 51inch sub. Put out 162db at 16 hz for about 8 seconds before it self destructed. Powered by a Mercedes diesel.

Maybe not a goal to shoot for ??

[JBL 4645]

I hope to learn alot from this thread.

-Storm

LOL

you spelled "A lot" totally wrong for starters, tell you what. Go back to college clearly you’re just a big head. And don’t you dare speck down to on the other thread like that I’m far older than you, one thing I have learned which you clearly haven’t! Is, respect for my elders plain and simple!

[hjames]

LOL

you spelled "A lot" totally wrong for starters, tell you what. Go back to college clearly you’re just a big head. And don’t you dare speck down to on the other thread like that I’m far older than you, one thing I have learned which you clearly haven’t! Is, respect for my elders plain and simple!

Wait- WHERE ARE THE WET COMMAS in your sentences!! RUN ON!!

BTW (thats short for By The Way, for you oldsters)
on the internet no one knows you are a dog, er, a fish, er ... an Elder!

We talk webyears here as a sign of status - I've been online since the early 90s - how senior are you to THAT, fishyboiy?

[JBL 4645]

Wait- WHERE ARE THE WET COMMAS in your sentences!! RUN ON!!

BTW (thats short for By The Way, for you oldsters)
on the internet no one knows you are a dog, er, a fish, er ... an Elder!

We talk webyears here as a sign of status - I've been online since the early 90s - how senior are you to THAT, fishyboiy?

No but I can smell a WET FISH USA shemale a mile off! Yikes!

[hjames]

No but I can smell a WET FISH USA shemale a mile off! Yikes!

This is your idea of a snappy comeback - ??

Where do you GET this stuff - meds wearin' off? Porno talk is not civil in a public forum.

Calling me Eddie Izzard - the nerve of this guy!!

[JBL 4645]

This is your idea of a snappy comeback - ??

Where do you GET this stuff - meds wearin' off? Porno talk is not civil in a public forum.

Calling me Eddie Izzard - the nerve of this guy!!

Long

Mate, your spot mate this person is a real shemale! How could you tell it was a shemale Yikes I hate shemales!