AUDIO ORIGAMI BLOG

Five Subwoofer Myths

Subwoofers are one of the most misunderstood parts of a hi-fi system. They're often dismissed as tools for home cinema or guilty pleasures for bass junkies. But in truth, a well-integrated sub, or better yet, a pair can transform a system from good to glorious.

Let's separate the myths from the music.

Myth 1: You don't need subs because your speakers are full range.

Reality: They're not, and you do.

Even the largest, most capable "full range" loudspeakers start rolling off well before they hit the true bottom octave of music (20–40Hz). Most claim to reach 20Hz, but few actually do so cleanly and linearly in a real-world room.

A subwoofer isn't just about more bass, it's about completeness. A good sub adds foundation, weight, and effortless ease to the entire presentation. Vocals gain body, pianos sound real, and the soundstage opens up.

Once you've heard a properly integrated sub, "full range" speakers on their own start to sound a bit… unfinished.

Myth 2: You only need one subwoofer.

Reality: One is good. Two is better.

A single sub can fill a room with bass, but it can't fix the room's own problems. Standing waves, nulls, and hot spots make bass uneven: too much in one seat, too little in another. Adding a second sub evens out those pressure zones, giving smoother, more balanced bass everywhere. Think of it like stereo: two subs don't just make it louder, they make it right.

Even modest systems benefit enormously from dual subs, especially in asymmetric rooms.

Myth 3: High-level connections are best.

Reality: High-level is old school. Line-level wins.

High-level (speaker-level) inputs made sense in the days when subs were add-ons to two-channel amps with no dedicated outputs. But today, almost every modern preamp or integrated amp offers line-level (RCA or XLR) outputs, and that's how you want to feed your subs.

Line-level connections carry the cleanest, most accurate signal, with less noise and distortion, and they allow for proper integration and calibration.

High-level inputs tie your sub's response to your amp's, which can introduce colouration, noise, and unpredictable phase behaviour. In 2025, there's really no reason to do it the old way.

Myth 4: You don't need more bass.

Reality: You don't need "more" - you need the "right" bass.

The goal isn't to shake the walls; it's to reveal what's already in the music. A good sub doesn't boom, it breathes.

Proper bass adds realism, space, and emotional impact. Kick drums gain texture. Double basses have depth and wood. Synths and organs anchor the entire mix instead of just humming below it.

Once you hear accurate low frequencies, you realise it's not about excess, it's about truth.

Myth 5: Subs belong in the corners.

Reality: Not for hi-fi.

Corner placement is a trick for maximum output, not maximum fidelity. It excites every room mode at once, which is great for home cinema but terrible for music.

For two-channel systems, the best approach is to place your subs on the same plane as your main speakers, ideally forming a continuous front soundstage.

From there, the fine-tuning phase, crossover, and gain allow your subs to disappear sonically, leaving nothing but seamless, full-range sound.

So what subs do you choose?

Let's be clear, most modern subs are decent. Build quality and performance have come a long way. But SVS stands apart for one reason: control.

Every SVS sub can be tuned from the listening position via their smartphone app. You can adjust crossover, phase, polarity, volume, parametric EQ, and even room gain compensation, all in real time, without crawling behind your subs to make the changes there.

That ability to dial in from the listening chair is invaluable. Integration becomes a precise, musical process rather than guesswork.

Add bulletproof engineering, great reliability, and performance that embarrasses many "audiophile" brands at twice the price—and SVS is an easy recommendation.

In short

• Your speakers aren't truly full range.
• One sub isn't enough for smooth response.
• Line-level is the clean, modern way.
• Proper bass is about accuracy, not excess.
• Corners are for compromises, not hi-fi.

And if you want to do it right, an SVS sub, or better yet, two, will let you hear what your system's really capable of.