Is there REALLY any Point to a SUB in a good 2 channel "STEREO" system??

naturallight

Now i can see it if you have bookshelf type speakers, but with good floor standers, not sure what it's buying you if anything.

Now i have a set of SDA1C's plus also a set of RTi12's..depends on which ones i feel like listening to..LOL

But neither of them are slouches in the bass area. Now i can see maybe relieving some of the bottom end duty from the speakers, maybe take a tad bit of strain off the power amp. But to come close to the bottom end, you would need at least a 12"(if not bigger) sub, with alot of power. Now maybe when the speakers are played at a low volume..you could crank up the sub some to give you more bottom end. But when you turn these speakers up, the sub may not even be able to keep up..may bottom out, and sound like junk..don't know.

Now you would pretty much have to be talking an HSU, or Velodyne 12" sub. Used can be had for a good price, but not sure again, it buys you much in a 2 channel only setup. Now maybe you can get lower on the cannon fire on the 1812..but otherwise, i just don't see it.



Does anybody have an opinion on this? Please keep in mind that this is a strait 2 channel "stereo"music system, so playing music thru your HT system..does NOT count...LOL

halo71

I am in the "use a sub in 2 channel" camp. I prefer it, some don't. Keep in mind a sub is not just for more bass, but rather lower bass. I prefer a sub with my Infinity RSIIIa's. They produce plenty of bass. But titles like Donald Fagan-Kamkiriad have bass lower than the Inifinity's will produce. I want to hear that!

And I dare say this but, I have not really heard a speaker yet that does not benefit from a very good sub.

Conradicles

naturallight wrote: »

Now i can see maybe relieving some of the bottom end duty from the speakers, maybe take a tad bit of strain off the power amp

Please explain because this seems odd to me.

naturallight

Well, if i understand this right..LOL When you select the Feq range of the sub. The speakers no longer get fed the deep bottom end, the power amp no longer has to push them that hard to meet that bottom end. Altho the power amp is probably not gaining that much.

naturallight

Halo, are you saying you get "MORE" over all bass, from the sub, then say the SDA's can give you. meaning if i'm sitting in my listening position...I'm going to get more bass out put then there was with the stock SDA's...OR..you will just get lower bass then the SDA's can provide??

halo71

Not saying anything about SDA's as I do not currently own any. I am saying generally a good sub will produce lower bass than many tower speaker will. In 2 channel listening I want to hear that. Now if I am listening to AC/DC, Megadeth etc. I do not care that much. But listening to Donald Fagan, Sting, Flim & The BB's etc, I do care about having a sub. Some say its better without a sub in 2 channel. With your SDA's you might like it that way, maybe not. You should try it out and see what you think.

cnh

I, personally, don't use a sub with most of my two channel setups and never with SDAs. As to the question of bass. How many instruments hit low notes well below the capabilities of a good set of SDA's? I can't think of any, unless you're talking about synthesized sounds? Or maybe the cannons in the 1812 Overture.

Most people would agree that it's hard to "perfectly" integrate a sub with a pure two channel SDA setup for two channel music only. If you're listening to movies or surround soundtracks that's another story.

I even listen to my LSi-7s (most of the time, with no sub and there I "know" I'm missing some low end).

cnh

nwohlford

For me a sub is not about more bass or lower bass, but about better bass. Few speakers play well around their lower limit. So for stereo, I would rather have a sub doing the 40 Hz to 80 Hz than the drivers on speakers. (For the music I listen to there is probably not much if any below 40 Hz.) As a result, I usually just get bookshelf speakers.

naturallight

Yes cnh, i agree with you. I thought i'd just pose the question, as there are people who think a sub is great on 2 channel stuff. But i would guess it all depends on the speakers there running. "tower " speakers per say..may not dig down far enough, but i think it depends what they are. The RTi 12's..really don't have a problem, the SDA's certainly do not. Plus your right about..how to match this up right at all.



HT stuff, i can see this..strait 2 channel "stereo" stuff..I just don't..at least if you have the right speakers and power amp. Just thought i'd ask the question, but i feel the response really depends on the speakers people are using.

halo71

I still say you'd see better/lower bass with a good sub with either of the Polk's you own. To each their own. You should try it really to get a definite answer.

treitz3

Hello, naturallight. To answer your question very simply? Yes. Two or more subs provide even better results.

Tom

mantis

It really depends on the ability of the speakers being used. IF they can cover all the lower end the music you are listening to then no a sub would not be required. But if they can't , the sub will help you recreate the low end your speakers can not. It's fairly easy to blend a good sub into any 2 channel system.