To Sub Or Not To Sub??

[Old Vet]

I'm not really a hard core audioholic so I haven't really paid as much attention to all this stuff as most here. So I'm not really 100% sure of what I should or shouldn't do.

I recently acquired an old pair of Cerwin Vega 316R's that I've wanted for many years. Using them as front speakers in a 5.1 system.

I have Klipsch center and rear speakers.

My room is about 20' x 22'.

When listening to music....if/when I turn them up....they absolutely "pound" like crazy and can vibrate the entire room.

The base I get out of these things can rattle the windows out of my room.

So my question is.....do I really need a sub? Would a sub make enough of a difference when watching movies to warrant spending the money?

I suppose I could go buy one and try it...and if I don't feel it makes much difference...or I don't really need it I could return it. But is it even worth the bother?

 

[markw]

A properly integrated sub really won't add to the "pounding" those speakers do. What it should do is add extention to how low they can go. IOW, it should mainly reproduce frequencies lower than your current speakers can handle, not augment your current speakers.

Most music really doesn't go kow enough to need a sub. Some synth or organ music might, but that's not really that common.

Movies, however, like to plumb the depths of the audio spectrum, what with explosions, dinosaur stomps and all sorts of low frequency effects. For this, I can see it's use, but to keep up with your current pounders, you should be looking at pretty good subs.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I'd like to add to these words of wisdom, that properly integrated sub will take away the heavy lifting from the main speakers, thus allowing them to do what they do best mid-bass and higher...

My mains are "spec'd" and measured to go down to about 30hz and thus I was running sub-less for several years, yet after adding even a modest sub I have noticed how overall quality has improved significantly.

 

[shadyJ]

You say you are using your CW speakers in a 5.1 system, that is saying you already have a sub. If you are not using a sub, it is a 5.0 system. I would add that you will need a sub with extraordinary dynamic range to keep up with some old CWs and Klipschs. You will probably want more than one sub as well.

 

[Old Vet]

I guess I stand corrected.....I am in fact running subless right now with a 5.1 JVC AVR....soon to be replaced by a Denon 7.1 AVR.

With the sound effects experienced with some movies these big old CV's can shake the whole room.....the explosions...the "dinosaur stomps" etc can be felt across the room through my chair and deep inside one's chest.

So I guess without actually connecting one and trying it....I'm not real sure what a sub would add to the overall experience.

With what I'm hearing so far it sounds like if I did want a sub that would make any significant difference it would have to be a pretty substantial one and would start getting into a pretty pricey range.

 

[markw]

I guess I stand corrected.....I am in fact running subless right now with a 5.1 JVC AVR....soon to be replaced by a Denon 7.1 AVR.

With the sound effects experienced with some movies these big old CV's can shake the whole room.....the explosions...the "dinosaur stomps" etc can be felt across the room through my chair and deep inside one's chest.

So I guess without actually connecting one and trying it....I'm not real sure what a sub would add to the overall experience.

With what I'm hearing so far it sounds like if I did want a sub that would make any significant difference it would have to be a pretty substantial one and would start getting into a pretty pricey range.

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.

 

[charmerci]

If you're happy with the sound of your system, I'd say no.

(For those who haven't looked, those CV's have 15" woofers.)

 

[shadyJ]

If you're happy with the sound of your system, I'd say no.

(For those who haven't looked, those CV's have 15" woofers.)

Those are mid bass woofers and aren't likely to be doing much below the mid to low 40 Hz range I am guessing. Some subs will definitely help, but like I said, they will need to be beefy to keep up with with the dynamic range of those CWs.

 

[DannyA]

I'd like to add to these words of wisdom, that properly integrated sub will take away the heavy lifting from the main speakers, thus allowing them to do what they do best mid-bass and higher...

My mains are "spec'd" and measured to go down to about 30hz and thus I was running sub-less for several years, yet after adding even a modest sub I have noticed how overall quality has improved significantly.

My two mains and center have built in subs and sounded great before I bought a separate sub. They could "pound" like crazy and could vibrate the entire room as you described but I wasn't satisfied and bought a sub anyway. Now I could not imagine NOT having that sub. As stated in an earlier reply I was able to take the load of the built in subs and let the main sub do it's job. It doesn't vibrate the room anymore. It cracks the foundation! I will say it took me some time with placement and tuning to get things right but it was worth the time. IMO adding a sub is not a liability and will only enhance your experience.

Pioneer PDP-5020FD
Yamaha RX-V3800
Samsung BD-F5700 Blu-ray Player
Sony - PS3
Definitive Technology BP7006 Mains
Definitive Technology CS-8060 HD Center
Definitive Technology Pro Monitor 1000 Surround
Power Sound Audio XS 15 Subwoofer

 

[twylight]

My mains are measured flat at 34hz...not even comparable to having a SVS 12/2+ helping them out - get the sub...2 BIG subs.