What percentage of audiophiles use a sub ?

Hi Guys,

OP just checking in to say thanks for all the responses. Not much to say here except to say I am enjoying the reads and to convey my appreciation.

I used to be skeptical of the advantage of a sub with 2 channel audio. Then, a system switch to 300B tubes and some vintage Altec 604 speakers brought a glorious lifelike midrange but a less than satisfying lower bass.

Feeling I was getting closer to my goal soundwise, I thought I'd spend time tweeking further to try and get it closer to an ideal I held in my mind.

First one sub helped, then a second was better. The room is fairly large and it wasn't until a third sub was added at the opposite end that things started to come together. I think the addition of more subs within the larger room environment was crucial as they really don't work very hard individually to load the area.

The subs took a while to get phase,level and crossover correct. Using a radio shack analog meter and careful voicing helped. Also indispensible was that the subs are active but they are also volume and balance controlled seperately from the mains by an SS preamp. This allows full control to the exact level needed by the various music, room character, and degree of operator inebriation.

Further, I found having the subs staggered at various crossover points seems to make for seemless transition. Each sub is a different unit, tho two are Velodynes. Each seems to have a different strength, as one will do better at 20-40 hz and the others seem to sound better crossed higher.

True full frequency speakers with amps of differing character than the 300b units, combined with various room and other parameters will obviously give a different result than in my own. For the last few years I have been fully satisfied with the sound achieved here, even knowing and realizing of certain limitations within the current system.

The system as a whole sounds quite good. The subs are well integrated and you aren't aware of the presence they provide until they are shut down. Then they are quite missed for the foundation they give to the musical content.

My suggestion is to learn all you can by your own experience (with consideration given to the experience of others and on this forum especially) within your own room and system parameters and change as desired until you hit a better combination. Once you feel you are on the right path and getting closer, stop and enjoy what you have. Subtle tweeks within that range might just then take it to the next level.

Cheers,

RW

I had a sub, Martin Logan and sold it to fund something that rarely comes up for sale.Well, you don't know what your missing until it's gone.

The sub added foundation to the music and made the soundstage bloom.I will be in the future be buying 2 subs. I found with the sub in the system, it sounded better and more ingauging to listen to.

Whether a Sub goes Boom Boom or it harmonizes and locks in with the room all depends on how you place it and dial it. I Have Rel Strata and it sings with the crossover set at 22 Hz !(I user merlin TSMs)the difference is not just in hearing the Foot stomps and deep bass in musing like Grandma's Hands (yup lot of sub 25 content there), but also in cds like Clapton unplugged.
cannot live without a sub ( or a full ranger at 3X the cost) now

Thomas Trouble
Sub-woofers are fraught with problems in a High end system as so many attempt to use just one
and don't like it.
These problems can be minimized from the get go by making sure the sub has some mandatory features.
1st the most important is that a high pass must be used in order to maintain a linear transition is at least possible between the sub and main speakers.
This will also lower distortion dramatically in what now will be a mid bass driver in the main speaker
and IM distortion in the main amplifier.
2nd A sub that is not forward firing to eliminate the nonlinear spurious radiation from the surround and cones
that interfere with mid range information and blur imaging.
3rd a Sub with a quality usually heavy enclosure that is sealed for optimum transient response.
4th If the system is to act as a larger system in a mid sized room Stereo Subs.
If all of the previous requirements are met and with careful placement a Sub can be a major improvement in most systems.
In large rooms there is no substitute for a full range loudspeaker as in the racing days there is no substitute for cubic inches
Cheers Johnnyr