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  1. #1
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    Why would you do this

    I have been into audio the last 15 years now, starting back with a couple of pretty decent car stereos and now in my last 2 homes with some fairly decent home theater set ups. One thing I read about people doing when listening to 2 channel music in there homes is they turn off there sub. I have always wonder why. It doesn't matter what sub I have now or have had in the past I would not consider turning it off. I have the paradigm monitor 7's v3 which do a fairly good job with the bass, I think, but on there own there just is not that complete sound that I am use to. It doesn't matter what style of music, I need that sub on. Do you guys out there that turn your subs off with 2 channel music have floorstanders that are flat down to 30 hertz or so. Maybe I am a bass freak but when I am listening to music I like to feel it also. Why would you turn your sub off.

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    Maybe someone has a sub with a 50hz cross over and the speakers go down below 50hz. If the speakers go to 40hz, for example, then there will be a 10Hz gap that both the sub and speakers respond.
    I suppose this creates a "hump" in the music where there is too much midbase. The flow isnt natural and I guess it takes the focus off the rest of the music.

    I guess thats 1 reason why you would want to turn off your subwoofer.

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    Because most woofers offer more compromise than

    benefit with music. Many exaggerate certain frequencies and can often excite room problems that were asleep without the woofer. The end result is an inaccurate presentation that may not be musically satisfying.

    I use 6 1/2" bookshelf speakers with no woofer. Tried a nice M&K once due to the really steep crossover slope. Got it to blend really well, but found my room was not a real "happy bass room". Really high powered dual 8" woofer...but I don't think I would use it all the time even if it would have worked in my room.

    BTW, two channel system. Vinyl and tubes.
    Space

    The preceding comments have not been subjected to double blind testing, and so must just be taken as casual observations and not given the weight of actual scientific data to be used to prove a case in a court of law or scientific journal. The comments represent my humble opinion which will range in the readers perspective to vary from Gospel to heresy. So let it be.

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    Quote Originally Posted by spacedeckman
    benefit with music. Many exaggerate certain frequencies and can often excite room problems that were asleep without the woofer. The end result is an inaccurate presentation that may not be musically satisfying.

    I use 6 1/2" bookshelf speakers with no woofer. Tried a nice M&K once due to the really steep crossover slope. Got it to blend really well, but found my room was not a real "happy bass room". Really high powered dual 8" woofer...but I don't think I would use it all the time even if it would have worked in my room.

    BTW, two channel system. Vinyl and tubes.
    If certain frequencies are being exaggerated that tells me the sub may not be in a optimal spot or the sub frequency is set to high. If the sub excites the room problems for music won't it also for movies. I am sure the 2 channel music lovers out there have spent countless hours tuning, refining, and positioning there sub so it is a perfect blend, but there are some who still turn their sub off. Provided everything is set up for optimal sound, sub off is just listening to music, sub on, is a listening experience. IMO.

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    Not necessarily

    Quote Originally Posted by cam
    If certain frequencies are being exaggerated that tells me the sub may not be in a optimal spot or the sub frequency is set to high. If the sub excites the room problems for music won't it also for movies. I am sure the 2 channel music lovers out there have spent countless hours tuning, refining, and positioning there sub so it is a perfect blend, but there are some who still turn their sub off. Provided everything is set up for optimal sound, sub off is just listening to music, sub on, is a listening experience. IMO.
    Read Rich Greene's thread on room modes. There are certain hot spots that you just can't negate with placement, you'd need an eq or suchlike.

    During movies, I could care less if an explosion is exaggerated by the sub. How the heck do I know what the accurate reproduction of a starcruiser being annihilated sounds like? Over the top sound during movies is half the fun, right?

    I turn my sub off for music because there can be a thing as too much bass...and I'm a drummer! To my ears, the music is simply more accurate, cohesive and natural w/out it. I have floorstanders for mains that only drop to 40Hz yet they have more than enough punch and depth to satiate my jones for bass. If I had it on, it would actually detract from my enjoyment of the music and therefore negate the "experience" as you put it. I'm sure it's all a matter of taste, room, and system.

    Interesting question tho.

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    Quote Originally Posted by topspeed
    Read Rich Greene's thread on room modes. There are certain hot spots that you just can't negate with placement, you'd need an eq or suchlike.

    During movies, I could care less if an explosion is exaggerated by the sub. How the heck do I know what the accurate reproduction of a starcruiser being annihilated sounds like? Over the top sound during movies is half the fun, right?

    I turn my sub off for music because there can be a thing as too much bass...and I'm a drummer! To my ears, the music is simply more accurate, cohesive and natural w/out it. I have floorstanders for mains that only drop to 40Hz yet they have more than enough punch and depth to satiate my jones for bass. If I had it on, it would actually detract from my enjoyment of the music and therefore negate the "experience" as you put it. I'm sure it's all a matter of taste, room, and system.

    Interesting question tho.
    Why not just turn the sub down since you probably have it turned up by a few dBs for movie? Take that out.
    mtrycrafts

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    Sometimes I'll do that, but it's pretty rare. I just prefer the presentation without it. Like I said, personal preference.

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