Quote Originally Posted by kexodusc
RGA: I can't think of any reason other than personal preference (which is quite valid, but difficult to apply universally) why an acoustic suspension design would hinder a sub's ability to enhance the bottom end...having heard some AN's in systems with subwoofers (one built with a quality Fostex woofer by the way), I disagree that you can't improve the sound. You can. And when you relieve the woofer of the bottom 2 or 3 octaves, you'll generally find that midrange IMPROVES.
I wouldn't add a $400 sub to the AN K's (or any speakers except for home theater use for that matter) but a decent sub should take nothing away from the speakers, and only add to the experience...what's so bad about that?
Firstly I can't dig a whole on this issue since i have never heard a subwoofer properly integrate with any speaker ever by anyone that "help" the musical event. It helps add bass depth and volume. I have heard a two subwoofer system do a good job and dedicated subwoofer speaker set-ups like the Gersman X1 standmount you can buy the Sub 1 sub base that go under them - some set-ups like this work...but that;s not the same thing entirely - these are basically just three ways - as we've all heard from martin Logan sub integration in this manner with very different materials doesn't always work and you get a sub to panel hick-up as with ML. How ruinous this is up to you because i still like most of what the panels are doing.

Acoustic suspension speakers tend to have a tighter quicker sounding bass response and and tend not to go as deep in the lower registers - which requires the subwoofer to act as a woofer. If you can hear male voices through your sub with all other speakers turned OFF then You have two problems - one is that to get a balanced stereo image you NEED two of them - or 2 you need a better subwoofer. Because Audio Note requires or deems best a corner placement and because most subwoofers require a corner placement - you have a problem - BOTH can not be put in the corner. I'm not imposing on anyone that they should not buy a subwoofer - it you can't hear my problems with them that is fine - if you feel a sub will make the E better that too is fine. I agree with Peter that subwoofers don;t mesh well with his speakers - since he designs them and has tried the best subs currently available with them - I have attempted subs on speakers numerously and i don;t get acceptable results. To me they are artifical bass tone controls for people who want a "loudness" button at 30hz. Truth betold I don't blame them because some standmounts like the 705 are SO incredibly anaemic in bass and dynamics that I would take my grumbles with Subs in a HEARTBEAT over being forced to live with that speaker by itself.

Before you jump on me about the loudness comment the E is -3db at 22hz and has a slight pronouncement(~+1db) in bass from 40hz up to 200hz. I'm not exactly sure why one would desire a subwoofer unless you deliberately want to get a +10db lift at 40hz. I only see the point of these for something like the K which bottoms out at 36hz - you would obviously need a sub to get it to 25hz and a very good sub to get it to 15-20hz. But the cost of this combined is MORE than buying an AN E - and you sacrifice a lot of midrange prowess, midrange and midbass dynamics and a much superior treble. This not to say the E has the most bass in the world - and he is working to get more out of it. The Sogon hits 12hz at good level - the one he brought to a show my dealer and a customer had a nice 16hz demo that shook the walls(so it can do it at level as well). I also know they are working on a E speaker dedicated(only for the E) single ended 845 tube powered sub like my previous examples of Gershman. AN has been working on it for 4 years. They may never bring it to market unless it's bang on. I'm not saying it CAN'T be done I'm saying I have yet to hear it being done to an acceptable level for me. As for my comment on Acoustic suspension it was discussed a while ago on AA. For me it may as well apply to panels and ported units too. I'd be happy to have a sub for home theater.