Richardp01, I'd suggest getting that 3.5 eq back asap, then setting it to the 40 Hz setting with your sub, if you find the sub that helpful. I'll say it again, the current market value of these speakers seriously belies the performance level. To my ears the only other speakers I've heard that compare/better regularly sell on the used market for roughly 5- 6X what the 3.5's are selling for, and those speakers then again outperform speakers many time their cost! I prefer them to most of the more recent Thiel models as well. Unless you plan on trading up/out (?), I'd suggest incurring the cost of repair if your considering keeping them for some time.