Using a Subwoofer for Music Listening

Coll

New member
May 4, 2011
50
0
0
Visit site
My system comprises of a
Rega Brio R amplifier, Audiolab 8200 CD
Player and Monitor Audio RX1 speakers.

I felt that it would be nice
to be able to reproduce the lower bass notes, the options to do this were to
either invest in some very expensive floor standing speakers or a subwoofer.

With the floor standing
option the cost would be very high if I wanted to reproduce low bass notes in
the same way that a powered subwoofer would, so I decided to investigate the
subwoofer route. In addition I should add that I am very pleased with the RX1
speakers and would prefer to keep them.

I visited a number of hi-fi
stores and received conflicting views, in some stores I was told that a
subwoofer should only really be used in a cinema system and it was not really
that good for a stereo set up.

I was not put off by the
negative comments and purchased a BK XLS200 sub woofer. This was a slight
mistake as it was not quite powerful enough for my room size.

I would add that this is a
very good sub and I would not hesitate to recommend it except in my case the
room was a little too large for it.

Having read glowing reports
of the B&W ASW610 I purchased one but made the classic mistake of not
auditioning first, it was only marginally better than the BK sub but really
that was because it had e.q. settings that it enabled it to go lower other than
that I felt in my opinion that there was no improvement over the BK XLS200
which was less than half the cost.

After much investigation I
built my own sub woofer using an RE Audio 10 inch car driver unit (model
SR10D2) and a BK BSBPV500watt amplifier.

This proved to be the best
thing I could have done other than spending a fortune on a readymade unit.
Sound quality and power are top notch.

So now I have a great small
but powerful sub woofer.

Going back to the question
of integration I initially set the subs up by ear but after reading articles
decided to purchase a cheap sound level meter and test disc with tones. After
setting up with the disc and tones I found the controls were in almost
identical positions to those when I set up by ear, just goes to show that your
ears are the best judge.

My sub is near one of the
stereo speakers and I find when in my normal listening position that you cannot
tell that the bass is coming from the sub and that it appears to come from the
main speakers.

With
the sub the bass is now well extended. I assume that if your stereo speakers
crossover at a high frequency that the integration would not be as good. But to
all those who doubt that a sub is worth having I say yes it is and in fact if I
were without it now I would not enjoy listening to music so much.
 

bluedroog

New member
Mar 4, 2010
8
1
0
Visit site
I think the key here is all about integration, if you’ve got the right kit and don’t mind spending a bit of time getting it right a sub can be very rewarding. If like me you’ve never really got round to that it can prove to be more of a problem. I have a BK XXLS400, great sub for the money but I mainly use it for films, in the context of my system (having not really put huge effort in to set-up) it can actually take something away from the sound. I’ve no doubt it could be a great asset should I ever pull my finger out. For bass heavy electronic music sometimes I use it but 90% I use it for films, in which case plug and play with good results is much easier.
 

Lo Fi

New member
Jul 13, 2011
28
0
0
Visit site
I agree if properly integrated you will get brilliant music reproduction with a stereo system and subwoofer.

I would not be without mine and I use for music only not surround sound.
 

datay

New member
Nov 19, 2008
28
0
0
Visit site
Interesting account of your experience, thanks. I am also considering a sub for a stereo system (shortly to be Totem Model 1 Signatures and I suspect that since I listen to a lot of electronic music I will benefit from a sub, not even got them yet of course!), and the BK you mention is on the list. What is the size of your room that you consider it too big for that particular BK?

My room is 6m x 4m, sub would go in corner behind right speaker. Anyone's recommendations?
 

fr0g

New member
Jan 7, 2008
445
0
0
Visit site
datay said:
Interesting account of your experience, thanks. I am also considering a sub for a stereo system (shortly to be Totem Model 1 Signatures and I suspect that since I listen to a lot of electronic music I will benefit from a sub, not even got them yet of course!), and the BK you mention is on the list. What is the size of your room that you consider it too big for that particular BK?

My room is 6m x 4m, sub would go in corner behind right speaker. Anyone's recommendations?

BK will suggest one for you if you ask. I have the BK 400 XXLS which is great with electronica.
 

datay

New member
Nov 19, 2008
28
0
0
Visit site
fr0g said:
datay said:
Interesting account of your experience, thanks. I am also considering a sub for a stereo system (shortly to be Totem Model 1 Signatures and I suspect that since I listen to a lot of electronic music I will benefit from a sub, not even got them yet of course!), and the BK you mention is on the list. What is the size of your room that you consider it too big for that particular BK?

My room is 6m x 4m, sub would go in corner behind right speaker. Anyone's recommendations?

BK will suggest one for you if you ask. I have the BK 400 XXLS which is great with electronica.

Thanks - I was thinking of giving them a call with my requirements. More fun awaits.
 

Coll

New member
May 4, 2011
50
0
0
Visit site
My room is 7m x 3.5m so XLS200 will not be man enough.

Unless you build your own like me I would also suggest the XLS400 or above.

My home built sub is about 310mm x 310mm x 350 deep and is front firing
 

datay

New member
Nov 19, 2008
28
0
0
Visit site
Coll - thanks for the info - I will no doubt be making inquiries about the XLS400 in a few weeks. I need front firing as well since I am in a flat with neighbours below me.
 

Coll

New member
May 4, 2011
50
0
0
Visit site
One thing I forgot to mention in my original post is that I have found with speakers that the claimed bass response does not seem to measure up when tested with tones in a room. My Monitor Audios claim I think 45 to 25000 hz +/- 3db but when tested in room with my meter and test tones its 75 db at 100 hz and about 65 db at 50hz.

The other thing is that they do sound as if they go low in the bass and in fact some people say why do you want a subwoofer, but once the sub woofer is working and I mean properly integrated not just set bass heavy you realise how much more bass there actually is and my system is not even flat at 30 hz. I actually measure 75db at 100 hz and about 70 db at 30 hz, as a matter of interest I get 73db at 63 hz and at 50 hz
 

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts