Is that subwoofer really needed?

[admin_exported]

I have a Denon DVD-1930 player hooked up to a Denon AVR-2105 amp and am looking to get some suitable speakers. I'm looking closely at Monitor Audio's Bronze range and wondered that if I were to get the BR5 floorstanding speakers for the front whether I'd still need to get a subwoofer. In the amp's setup it's possible to specify that you don't have a sub, so does that push the .1 of the 5.1 to the front speakers and if so would the BR5's be up to it?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Well, the BR5s go down to a claimed 35Hz, so would be OK if used with the amp in no sub mode. We'd be tempted to go for BR2s and a subwoofer, however, for even more extended (and controlled) bass.

But the answer to your question is yes, they would be up to it - after all, you can always add a sub to the BR5s later!

 

[Anonymous]

I've worked out that a pair of BR2's with appropriate stands and the Monitor Audio BRW-10 Subwoofer will cost around £564 whereas a pair of BR5's cost £359. Therefore I'm tempted to go with the 'acceptable' bass the BR5's offer and save myself £200 and add a sub at a later date.

I'd also like to know how important it is to have 'matched' surround speakers. My plans were to just buy the front 3 speakers from the Monitor Audio range to ensure that they're balanced and use my existing Tannoy Mercury M3 floorstanding speakers for the back 2.

Perhaps then I should get the BR5's and spend what I save on a sub on surrounds??? I just don't want to splash out if the old Tannoys will be fine for the occasional rear effects!