Subwoofer or big monitors?

taiman · 2022-08-13T06:51:40.853Z

Hello everyone!

I want to upgrade my monitoring system to have more clarity in the low end.

Currently I use a pair of Hedd Type 05 mk1 + isoacoustic stands. My room (about 5x5 meters) is treated cheaply but enough to sound decent. I use also Sonarworks calibration.

Now my choice is between getting a sub to complement my monitors, Hedd Sub 08 in particular, and getting bigger monitors, Hedd Type 20 mk1 in this case.

The sub has the ability to regulate the crossover frequency and apparently would play really well with my existing monitors, as far as I can tell from reading online reviews.

What would you guys do?

Thanks

Monobear · 2022-08-13T07:07:43.838Z

taiman:

Hedd Type 20 mk1

Hedd type 20 of course. They seem to be pretty damn good. Subs in smaller and not so well treated rooms are always hard.

Go with type 20. Rival Consoles uses them as well his sound is fucking damn good

reeloy · 2022-08-13T07:14:46.966Z

…no monitor in near or mid range is really capable to translate truu low end sub…it’s always knowing ur room, knowing ur monitors and knowing ur mixingtools to get it right…

so, a dedicated sub can do a lot of justice…if set up correctly…i’d say go for it…
but be aware of the fact that u’ll need some time to get used to it…since for a while, u’ll tend to be in shock love for it and will overdo it a little…sub end is sub end…a little too much can be already way too much easily without realizing at first…

so shake the room with care…

fun crossover is 80hz…but realworld crossover is more like 60kz…
but depends on the roll off of ur monitors…check that intensefully before a final adjustment…

ringokidf · 2022-08-13T09:53:14.682Z

I don’t know much about subwoofers but I rock a pair of Hedd type 20 mkii and I’m very pleased.

They go very low and though it’s not earthshaking it’s enough for me to hear bass/kick on mixes, compare to reff mixes etc.

I find the type 20 lets me hear a lot more detail and has made me think more about frequencies as in what is missing in this song and try not to overcrowd a mix.
Again I never listen to music very loud and I don’t feel the need on the type 20. They are a huge step up from my Adam A7 OG, maybe not that of a surprise but it took me some time to realize what the difference was.

It’s in the detail I think and worth the money

I would love to try out a sub to have an idea of how mixes would sound on a club system but I don’t have the money for a sub the next couple of years…

RytmMASCHINE · 2022-08-13T10:07:04.561Z

IMO a sub woofer makes things much more complicated, e. g. finding the optimum for your room in terms of frequency and volume settings, positioning etc.

I went for bigger monitors and I’m happy.

Dr.K · 2022-08-13T10:17:28.020Z

I upgraded to bigger monitors and it was nice. But when i added a sub it changed the whole listening experience. Of course i had to get to know the “new” sound and learn how to mix with this setup. My room isn’t treated at all and there are corners where it gets muddy. But all in all a sub was the best thing i could get. I’d say you should give it a try.

Starscream · 2022-08-13T12:11:13.607Z

2.1. works a treat.

Philippe-2000 · 2022-08-13T13:17:42.908Z

Having a sub gives you the opportunity to place it at the best position. With your monitors you don’t have such an opportunity.
In a 5*5 room that should have some issues in the low register I would definitely go with a sub

Tchu · 2022-08-13T14:51:34.251Z

Bigger Monitors : 3
Sub : 4

If I translate correctly.

dtr · 2022-08-13T16:37:17.928Z

To add an option here. The thing that relieved me from wanting a sub with my Genelec 8040B’s is using my audio interface’s internal DSP to EQ boost the dip at 45Hz at my listening position. Room acoustics are terrible. I’d need to invest in that before better/more speakers.

taiman · 2022-08-15T18:02:38.931Z

thank you all for your input, it seems like it’s a tight one!

I wish I could test the speakers in my room before buying them.

LyingDalai · 2022-08-15T19:49:19.421Z

Whatever you’re aiming at, use a HP filter on the master to cut the frequencies you can’t hear with your system.

ObscureMachines · 2022-08-15T21:11:22.784Z

I subbed to the bigger monitor thing and used to run Event Opals. I now run the small Genelec 8320s with the smallest SAM sub(all I could afford at the time) and highly prefer having a sub. Granted the SAM calibration really does improve everything. In a treated room (I had a small room that was treated with around 12 703 panels from 2-6” thick and one huge one in the back) and that along with SAM worked wonders. My mixes would translate 98% it was awesome. Maybe, in any other genre besides electronic no sub works, but I will never go back to no sub.

Another friend with an awesome studio runs Twin6be with a sub and his room is equally inspiring to produce in.

+1 for sub

Sternenlicht · 2022-08-15T21:24:37.067Z

I have 8330 and 7350, it was a very good chice, i did sonarworks before that and still use it with headphones. I run 3 +1 , L shaped room with a dsp to reutilize one speaker for the hardware corner so i get stereo there aswell. The cabeling was a bit extensive as they need RJ45 and xlr.

+1 for sub, buy a good one, which means low interference not high volume necessarly, depends on living situation ofc.