subwoofer - how much does it really add?

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: supafly
Sounds like the sub did its job. It added to the experience without being overpowering and obnoxious.

..that's exactly what it should do. Most people don't know how to properly set a sub's level so it isn't overpowering and obnoxious.

 

[Snakexor]

Originally posted by: jdoggg12
<-- audiophile - i know what i'm missing w/o a sub, but you have to match all the speakers for the system to sound good. A sub matched to my speakers is just too much for an apartment, or even small house. If you look at the frequency response, you'll see that (for mine at least) towers cover 98% of the frequency range. I'd rather have the missing range than a wimpy sub. But thats just me.

My speakers:

http://www.tnt-audio.com/casse/klipsch-rf3_e.html

Down to 38hz is really low, considering you'll only hear down to ~22hz, so till i have a large living room, no sub for me. I'm happy with them rolling off at a frequency that doesn't shake the walls but still feels kinda 'boomy'

too bad your speakers arnt as good as you think they are!!

you mention earlier that mid range is very important, your speakers have the weakest midrange for a speaker of that price!!!

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: spidey07
It's abolutely critical. There's an entire channel just for it. If you look at the sub channel it is used throught the entire movie and not just effects.

You might have a setup problem or a position problem. Then again, a well setup sub isn't really noticed.

Exactly.

A well integrated, sufficiently sized, quality sub is a necessary component to an immersive viewing experience.

 

[Gautama2]

No, I dont think a sub is necessary in my HT setup. I use headphones 😛

But if you are a speaker person, yes I would not do without a sub.

 

[Treyshadow]

No speakers in a 3000 dollar setup can go down capably to the depths of a good sub. I have an SVS PB12 Plus/2 so its a bit more capable than most, but good bass can really add to your movie experience.

What I suspect is that the movie type you prefer does not gain much from a sub, or your sub location / room setup is not optimal.

Do you have the sub corner loaded to deflect to your listening position? What speakers do you have in your setup? Do you have a receiver that will do LFE+R/L for your subwoofer, or does it only do small and large front speakers?

 

[thomsbrain]

i can't imagine anyone running any system better than their TV speakers not running a sub. i just run a stereo speaker setup, and even i use a 12" sub. it really helps to create a sense of environment.

 

[jdoggg12]

Originally posted by: Snakexor

Originally posted by: jdoggg12
<-- audiophile - i know what i'm missing w/o a sub, but you have to match all the speakers for the system to sound good. A sub matched to my speakers is just too much for an apartment, or even small house. If you look at the frequency response, you'll see that (for mine at least) towers cover 98% of the frequency range. I'd rather have the missing range than a wimpy sub. But thats just me.

My speakers:

http://www.tnt-audio.com/casse/klipsch-rf3_e.html

Down to 38hz is really low, considering you'll only hear down to ~22hz, so till i have a large living room, no sub for me. I'm happy with them rolling off at a frequency that doesn't shake the walls but still feels kinda 'boomy'

too bad your speakers arnt as good as you think they are!!

you mention earlier that mid range is very important, your speakers have the weakest midrange for a speaker of that price!!!

Is that in your opinion or do you have some reviews to back that up? I know how good towers can sound, my dad has a set of paradigms that rock.

I'd like you to point out a set of non-powered towers (made in 02 or earlier) with better sound throughout the range for $500 shipped (which was an easy price to find them at at stores)

I've yet to read a single review that said they were anything less than a great buy for their price range.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: jdoggg12
Is that in your opinion or do you have some reviews to back that up? I know how good towers can sound, my dad has a set of paradigms that rock.

I'd like you to point out a set of non-powered towers (made in 02 or earlier) with better sound throughout the range for $500 shipped (which was an easy price to find them at at stores)

I've yet to read a single review that said they were anything less than a great buy for their price range.

They are a great buy and nice speakers. But they should be run as small speakers because of their poor bass/midrange performance. All decent towers can do 40 Hz with no problem. What Snakexor is getting at is small towers like these lack the cabinet volume to do lower midrange properly. You will be happily rewarded with a decent sub.

 

[Rubycon]

Careful - the term subwoofer is severely abused these days.

Three piece systems with a FIVE INCH driver in a "bass module" hardly qualify for a subwoofer. They're a ripoff - basically like buying a pair of two ways with a woofer missing. :laugh:

Most audiophile systems use large floor standing speakers to achieve a response down into the 20's and a true subwoofer augments this output into the teens or even lower.

Many speakers will turn 20 or 30 something cycles per second into a sound of sorts and (especially at higher volumes) this barely resembles the input signal. (but many insist because it shakes the windows and goes BOOM! that it must be good! :disgust: ) Instead of wasting amp power to create this distortion, the amp driving the main speakers is often crossed over in highpass mode where the mains are no longer effective and the subwoofer (we call them bass bins) takes over - where it's designed to. 🙂

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: jdoggg12
Down to 38hz is really low, considering you'll only hear down to ~22hz, so till i have a large living room, no sub for me. I'm happy with them rolling off at a frequency that doesn't shake the walls but still feels kinda 'boomy'

Anything under what you can hear, is what you feel. And honestly, what you feel is just as important as what you hear. Which is why you need, as Daniel Rutter puts it, a subwoofer that "cleans the carpet". 🙂