[Alan Brown]

The physics of low frequency sound behavior in rooms is a fascinating and complex study. Small room acoustical theory and practice has been changing and improving in recent years, due to increased computing power available and accumulated advancements in the audio engineering community.

Subwoofer performance in any system is wholely dependent upon device placement, room characteristics, crossover point, crossover slope, seating location, number of subs used, how the sub's crossover mates with the low end cutoff of the main speakers, besides the performance characteristics of the device itself. Simply moving the sub one foot further into the room, or moving your seating location one foot in any direction relative to the room boundaries, can have a greater effect upon how it sounds to the listener than any other single factor.

There is no way I could tell you what my opinion is on this subject that would help you in any way. Subwoofer performance is predicated upon far too many variables in any given system. If personal taste is going to be included in the criteria for recommending the practice of using a sub in a two channel audio system, then you are totally on your own. The likelihood that my system and room conditions would match yours is far too remote to be imagined. Add individual taste into the mix and the odds that my preference could help you would be a shot in the dark.

The best advice I could offer anyone on the topic of this thread is to decide whether or not audio fidelity is more important to you than personal taste. If fidelity is vital, then attend a wide variety of live musical performances on a regular basis. Then study authoritative literature on low frequency sound reproduction theory and practice in small rooms, borrow or purchase the best contender(s) among subwoofers available, experiment with proper placement in your room, then make a decision for yourself. Listening to some other system, in some other room, does not help at all. An excellent subwoofer can sound poor in any system, if it's implemented poorly.

If personal taste is your primary criterion, then only you will know what works for you. All you will be left with is trial and error. Good luck! Many in this hobby find the challenge of experimentation and fiddling with gear quite enjoyable and fulfilling.

Usually, you will get lower notes, at more realistic SPLs, for less money, with a powered sub vs. relying on two full-range speakers. Cabinet size affects price substantially. If money is not such a dominant limitation, a well designed full range speaker can sound better integrated throughout its operating range, independent of room characteristics. In theory, many systems would sound better if the lowest frequencies were originating from somewhere else in the room than the best location for the upper frequencies. That's REALLY hard to do with only two full range speakers. The room is as critical to sound reproduction as any other element in the system, two channel or multi-channel, especially when considering the lowest frequencies.

Best regards,
Alan Brown, President
CinemaQuest, Inc.
ISF, THX, SMPTE, CEDIA