Why Subwoofers Enhance Rocket Monitors For A Superior Mix

There are many differing opinions on whether or not to use a subwoofer with rocket monitors for mixing. Some people swear by it, while others insist that it gives a false picture of the mix that won't translate well to other playback systems. It really depends on your studio setup. Subwoofers can be a great addition to a home studio setup and aid in perceiving the bass content in tracks. However, proper placement, calibration with main studio monitors, and room treatment are crucial for a subwoofer to be beneficial.

Pros and cons of adding a subwoofer

Adding a subwoofer to your setup can be a great way to enhance your listening experience, but it also comes with certain challenges. Here are some pros and cons to consider before making a decision:

Pros of Adding a Subwoofer:

• Enhanced Bass Response: A subwoofer can provide deeper and more impactful bass, enriching the overall sound quality. It can reproduce low-frequency sounds more effectively, adding depth and richness to music, movies, and games.
• Reduced Distortion: By offloading low-frequency tasks from the main speakers, a subwoofer can lower distortion and improve overall sound clarity.
• Improved Sound Dynamics: The addition of a subwoofer can offer a more immersive listening experience by adding depth and dimension to the sound.
• Relieves Main Speakers: With a subwoofer taking care of low frequencies, the main speakers can focus on mid and high frequencies, improving their overall performance.
• Cinema-Like Experience: Subwoofers reproduce deep bass sounds found in movie soundtracks, enhancing home theatre setups and providing a cinematic experience.
• Versatility: Subwoofers improve the listening experience across various media types, including music and movies.
• Customisation: Many subwoofers come with adjustable settings, allowing you to tailor the sound to your preferences.

Cons of Adding a Subwoofer:

• Space Requirements: Subwoofers can be bulky and may require significant space in your listening area.
• Integration Challenges: Achieving acoustic harmony with existing speakers can be complex and time-consuming.
• Cost: High-quality subwoofers can be expensive, adding to the overall cost of your audio setup.
• Overpowering Bass: Improper calibration can lead to bass overpowering mid and high frequencies, resulting in an unbalanced sound.
• Room Acoustics: The performance of a subwoofer is greatly affected by the acoustics of the room. In smaller rooms, a subwoofer may not perform optimally and can even cause excessive bass buildup.
• Wiring Complexity: Adding a subwoofer can make the wiring and setup of your audio system more complicated.
• Visual Intrusion: Large subwoofers may not blend well with all interior designs, affecting the aesthetics of your space.
• Power Consumption: Subwoofers can be power-hungry, resulting in higher electricity bills.
• Neighbour Disturbance: In shared living spaces, the deep bass from a subwoofer can be intrusive to neighbours.

Subwoofers for surround sound

A subwoofer is a great addition to your surround sound setup, but it's not strictly necessary. If you're looking to add some serious bass to your movie nights or dance parties, a subwoofer is a great option. However, if you're just looking for clear and accurate sound, you may be better off investing in a good pair of headphones or treating your room with bass traps.

When it comes to choosing a subwoofer, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, decide whether you want a passive or active subwoofer. Passive subwoofers require an external amplifier, while active subwoofers have their own built-in amplifier. Active subwoofers are often the best choice for home theater systems, but passive subwoofers can be more affordable and may be a good option if you already have a powerful amplifier.

Another thing to consider is the directionality of the subwoofer. Front-firing subwoofers are great if you plan on placing the subwoofer close to your main speakers, while down-firing subwoofers are better for placing away from your speakers or in the corner of the room. Side-firing subwoofers are the most technologically advanced option and can provide bigger sound in a smaller package, but they tend to be more expensive.

When it comes to size, bigger is usually better. A larger driver will be able to produce more energy and give you more low-end power. Look for a subwoofer with a driver of at least 12 inches for the best results.

Wattage is also important, as it will determine how loud you can play your subwoofer without distorting the sound. Look for a subwoofer with a nice wide gap between peak and RMS wattage, and get one with as many watts as you can afford.

Finally, don't forget about placement. Bass waves reflect off flat surfaces, so you'll want to find a spot in your room where the bass sounds rich and clear.

• SVS SB-1000 Pro: This subwoofer offers powerful and clean sound quality at a reasonable price.
• Monoprice 9723: An affordable option that delivers excellent sound quality for the price.
• SVS 3000 Micro: A high-end option that packs a lot of power into a tiny cabinet.
• Sonos Sub Mini: A wireless subwoofer that is small, compact, and easy to set up, but only works with other Sonos products.
• Seaton Sound JS12: Perfect for large rooms, this subwoofer delivers deep, rich bass that will rattle your walls.

Subwoofers for small speakers

Adding a subwoofer to a set of small speakers can be a great way to enhance your audio experience, especially if you're looking for more powerful and accurate bass reproduction. Here are some things to consider when deciding on a subwoofer for your small speakers:

Benefits of a Subwoofer

Subwoofers can provide an extended frequency response, allowing you to hear lower bass frequencies that smaller speakers might struggle to reproduce. This is especially beneficial if you're a fan of music genres with deep bass or if you want to feel the impact of movie sound effects. Additionally, a subwoofer can take over the low-frequency duties from your small speakers, allowing them to focus on the mid and high frequencies, resulting in a clearer and more detailed overall sound.

Room Size and Acoustics

When adding a subwoofer to a small speaker setup, it's important to consider the size and acoustics of your room. In smaller rooms, the low-frequency sound waves from a subwoofer can build up and create muddiness or boominess in the bass response. This can be mitigated by choosing a subwoofer with a smaller size and lower power output that is more suitable for a compact space. Additionally, treating your room with acoustic panels or bass traps can help improve the accuracy of the bass reproduction.

Integration and Setup

Integrating a subwoofer into your small speaker setup requires careful placement and calibration. Place the subwoofer in a corner or along a wall to enhance the bass response. Use a measurement microphone and room correction software to ensure the subwoofer blends seamlessly with your small speakers. This process may require some trial and error, but it's crucial for achieving a cohesive and balanced sound.

Recommended Subwoofers for Small Speakers

When choosing a subwoofer for small speakers, look for models designed for home theater or desktop use, as they tend to be more compact and suitable for smaller spaces. Some recommended options include:

• Sonos Sub Mini: A compact wireless subwoofer that delivers powerful bass and easily integrates with other Sonos speakers.
• Yamaha 8" 100W Powered Subwoofer: An affordable and reliable option that provides solid bass performance without taking up too much space.
• Edifier T5 Powered Subwoofer: A 70W active subwoofer with an 8-inch driver, offering a good balance of performance and size for small to medium-sized rooms.
• BESTISAN 6.5’’ Subwoofer: A powerful yet compact subwoofer that enhances the bass response of your small speakers without breaking the bank.

In conclusion, adding a subwoofer to your small speakers can significantly improve your audio experience, especially if you crave deeper and more accurate bass. Just remember to consider your room acoustics, carefully set up and integrate the subwoofer, and choose a model that suits your space and budget.

Subwoofers for bass-absorbing rooms

Subwoofers can be useful for mixing in a bass-absorbing room, but they are not always necessary and may even be detrimental if not set up correctly. Here are some factors to consider when deciding whether to use a subwoofer in a bass-absorbing room:

• Room treatment: Before investing in a subwoofer, it is essential to treat the room with bass traps and acoustic panels to improve the accuracy of low-end monitoring. Proper room treatment can help reduce muddled and mixed-up low-end frequencies, providing a more accurate representation of the bass in your mixes.
• Monitor placement and calibration: Ensure that your monitors are placed correctly and calibrated for the room. This includes adjusting the crossover and level settings and using measurement software to fine-tune the system.
• Subwoofer integration: If you decide to use a subwoofer, proper integration with the main monitors is crucial. The subwoofer should seamlessly extend the frequency response of the main monitors without adding excessive bass volume. It should be placed and calibrated correctly, and you may need to invest in a measurement setup to optimise its performance.
• Headphones for reference: Instead of investing in a subwoofer, consider using headphones with a flat response curve for referencing the low end. This can provide valuable insight into how your mixes will translate on different systems.
• Genre and target listening environment: Consider the genre of music you are working on and the target listening environment. If you are producing bass-heavy music intended for club or concert environments, a subwoofer can be beneficial. However, if your music has less emphasis on the low end or is primarily intended for home listening, a subwoofer may not be as crucial.
• Experience and translation of mixes: If you have been successfully mixing and mastering without a subwoofer and your mixes translate well across different systems, you may not need to add one. Trust your ears and judgement, and remember that many professional mixers work without subwoofers.

Calibrating subwoofers

Understanding the Calibration Process:

The calibration process for subwoofers involves two main steps. Firstly, the initial calibration ensures that all channels, including the subwoofers, have the same sound pressure levels and that the audio signals arrive at the Main Listening Position (MLP) simultaneously. This step also includes setting preliminary crossovers. Secondly, the room EQ process fine-tunes the audio system by setting filters for each channel to enhance the overall sound quality within the room.

Standardising Volume Levels:

It is crucial to level-match the subwoofers' sound pressure levels (SPL) before running test tones. This process is typically done at microphone position 1, the MLP. Once the subwoofers are level-matched, a full calibration is performed, and control points are assigned to the combined output of the subwoofers.

Multi-Subwoofer Systems:

If you have multiple subwoofers in your audio system, Audyssey will measure and calibrate them together. The combined SPL of all the subwoofers will be set to 75dB. This standardisation ensures a cohesive and balanced bass response across all subwoofers.

Calibration Techniques:

There are various techniques to calibrate subwoofers. One method is to use Dolby Reference with 75dB test tones. This ensures that all channels, including subwoofers, are standardised to the same sound pressure levels at the MLP. Additionally, the subwoofers' tuning points can be adjusted to play frequencies below 20Hz at louder volume levels, enhancing the bass response.

Room Acoustics and Treatments:

Consider the room's acoustics and treatments to optimise calibration. Dense acoustic panels made of rockwool or fibreglass can affect frequencies above 240-300Hz. Foam rubber treatments, like egg crate designs, may not absorb frequencies below 1000Hz but can diffuse high and mid-range frequencies when used in sufficient quantity. Additionally, ensure your front speakers have adequate clearance from the wall to minimise boundary interference, which can impact low-frequency sound waves.

Fine-Tuning and Comparison:

After calibration, fine-tune the subwoofer volume to your preference. Increasing the volume can enhance the bass impact. Listen to the system for a few days, allowing your hearing to adjust to the new settings. Compare the sound to previous settings or benchmarks, noting any positive changes. This process will help you determine the optimal calibration for your subwoofers.

Frequently asked questions