Should i buy an extra subwoofer?

[Aaron Kwekel]

i just currently bought a def tech system.
2 x BP8060ST floor speakers
1 x CS8060 Center speaker
2 x BP8080 rear speakers
since how the BP8060st already have a 10in sub built in each one. should i get a separate subwoofer for the room?

 

[ATLAudio]

You could, and multiple subs always has potential advantages, but the key word is potential. If you do get a separate subwoofer you'd need to get a DefTech sub which would be in exact phase as those subs on your towers. This may or may not be offered, so you'd want to call them. That said, you'd probably get modest gains, but nothing eye opening, but I could be wrong.

That said, your other option would be to not use the subs in your towers, and invest in a new sub from a different company, like an ID sub brand (PSA, HSU, SVS). The pro here will be a single sub that will likely (depending on your budget) outperform the two subs in the towers. The con being that you'll not be using the tower subs which you've already invested in.

In full disclosure I'm not a fan of build in subs for this reason.

 

[Aaron Kwekel]

When i first bought these speakers, i was unsure of the whole idea of having the subwoofers built into each tower and the center channel having a 8in sub on top of it also. But once i first heard these puppies, i instantly fell in love and the bass blew me away by they're performance and how accurate they sound. What is your opinion on the Supercubes that Def Tech makes?

 

[ATLAudio]

The supercubes are great subs, and probably your only real option, but I'd be concerned whether or not if they would be in phase with your tower subs. You'll want to call Def Tech and find out.

 

[Haoleb]

You could, and multiple subs always has potential advantages, but the key word is potential. If you do get a separate subwoofer you'd need to get a DefTech sub which would be in exact phase as those subs on your towers. This may or may not be offered, so you'd want to call them. That said, you'd probably get modest gains, but nothing eye opening, but I could be wrong.

That said, your other option would be to not use the subs in your towers, and invest in a new sub from a different company, like an ID sub brand (PSA, HSU, SVS). The pro here will be a single sub that will likely (depending on your budget) outperform the two subs in the towers. The con being that you'll not be using the tower subs which you've already invested in.

In full disclosure I'm not a fan of build in subs for this reason.

You do not need to constrain yourself to a DefTech subwoofer to be in the same phase. That is nonsense. Nearly all subwoofers have phase adjustments. If the subwoofer itself does not your receiver likely does. No matter what subwoofer you get you will want to fiddle with the phase adjustment regardless.

There are many ways you could set up a system like that with additional subwoofers. If you want room shaking low end then yes you probably will want to supplement your towers.

 

[Aaron Kwekel]

You do not need to constrain yourself to a DefTech subwoofer to be in the same phase. That is nonsense. Nearly all subwoofers have phase adjustments. If the subwoofer itself does not your receiver likely does. No matter what subwoofer you get you will want to fiddle with the phase adjustment regardless.

There are many ways you could set up a system like that with additional subwoofers. If you want room shaking low end then yes you probably will want to supplement your towers.

What kind of brands would you recommend for subwoofers that give a punch like no other. I would being buying the subwoofer from bestbuy.

 

[Aaron Kwekel]

okay, i will call them. On the back of the superpowers you have the option of using a subwoofer cord right in the LFE input port on the back of them. I have discovered that not using that port at all on the back, the subs still work by using just the speaker wire.

On Def tech website it says LFE (optional); is this why the subs still work without the subwoofer cable? if so, what is the point of having the LFE port on the back?

 

[Haoleb]

Your speakers have an LFE (Low Frequency Effects) input to be used for people who want a home theater setup and want to have their receiver do the work when it comes to crossover frequency, levels.. etc. I would use this down the road once you understand more about setting up a system. For now it might be easier for you to just leave it setup the way you have it.

As for purchasing a sub... Nothing from bestbuy. There are plenty of great options that you can narrow down and research once you figure out a budget.

 

[slipperybidness]

Speaker cable and not LFE is the recommended setup from DT.

 

[Aaron Kwekel]

Your speakers have an LFE (Low Frequency Effects) input to be used for people who want a home theater setup and want to have their receiver do the work when it comes to crossover frequency, levels.. etc. I would use this down the road once you understand more about setting up a system. For now it might be easier for you to just leave it setup the way you have it.

As for purchasing a sub... Nothing from bestbuy. There are plenty of great options that you can narrow down and research once you figure out a budget.

Now once i do get a sub, it will most like have a LFE port on the back of it. Now i only have two inputs on the back of my receiver. Now if i have both of my towers connected to the LFE port, how would i connect the separate subwoofer? would i have to buy a splitter to and plug it into one of the LFE ports on the back of the receiver, so i can have three connections?

 

[slipperybidness]

Now once i do get a sub, it will most like have a LFE port on the back of it. Now i only have two inputs on the back of my receiver. Now if i have both of my towers connected to the LFE port, how would i connect the separate subwoofer? would i have to buy a splitter to and plug it into one of the LFE ports on the back of the receiver, so i can have three connections?

I think you got it.

on my Triton 2, I just run speaker wire (designed by same guy that did your DTs), and my external sub is on LFE

 

[Aaron Kwekel]

I think you got it.

on my Triton 2, I just run speaker wire (designed by same guy that did your DTs), and my external sub is on LFE

Holy poop! i looked up Triton 2 and it has a built in subwoofer with a 1200 watt amp it, am i right? lol

when running a splitter, do you loose any quality?

 

[lsiberian]

Holy poop! i looked up Triton 2 and it has a built in subwoofer with a 1200 watt amp it, am i right? lol

when running a splitter, do you loose any quality?

Don't use wattage to make decisions. That tells you almost nothing about how a subwoofer actually performs. A general guideline for wattage is if it's less than twice it's not significant.

A splitter only reduces the signal by around 3dB so unless you are going crazy it shouldn't cause any issues.

 

[Aaron Kwekel]

Don't use wattage to make decisions. That tells you almost nothing about how a subwoofer actually performs. A general guideline for wattage is if it's less than twice it's not significant.

A splitter only reduces the signal by around 3dB so unless you are going crazy it shouldn't cause any issues.

3dB? thats not very much at all. Thank you for the incite, very much appreciated.