Not using subwoofer

[dancook]

My wife tends to unplug the subwoofer so she can charge her laptop from the Sofa..

But for the last few films, knowingly I just haven't bothered to turn it on - in fact I feel that maybe the speakers do a good enough job of low frequency that living in a semi-detached house I don't feel a desire to use the sub.

Front Left/Right/Centre: 40Hz - 28Khz
Surround: 35Hz - 34kHz
Atmos: 33Hz - 28kHz

Mind you the last 6 films we watched were all Harry Potter, and perhaps I need a good end of the world film to entice me back..

 

[dancook]

I'm intrigued what speakers you have when the atmos and surrounds go lower than fronts.
As said above tho it's there to fill in the gap between around 18-40hz. If you don't feel you need it tho then no point using it

FLRC http://uk.kef.com/ci5160rl-thx
Surround http://uk.kef.com/ci200ql
Atmos http://uk.kef.com/ci200rr-thx

I suppose if there's still sounds i'm missing out on and i should use it to balance the speakers, i'll make sure i turn it on

 

[dancook]

You've quoted the frequency response numbers and that really doesn't tell the whole story.

The -6dB point is where, for any given frequency, the speaker is producing half the sound pressure level compared to 0dB. Most people can tell when there's a 1-2dB sound pressure difference. 6dB represents quite a noticeable change.

The other thing is that your Atmos and main speakers are both 4 Ohm. That means the amp is running much closer to its maximum rated output with those speakers than it would with 8 Ohm units. The sub has its own power supply and amp. Setting the speaker crossover point at say 50-60Hz would take away some of the heavy lifting from the amp and so improve dynamics. The sub doesn't have to be booming; in fact it's better if it isn't drawing attention to itself.

Ah ok, yes I was just going off the Kef numbers.

Yes the subwoofer doesn't boom and it does seem to mesh well when enabled.

Without the sub I still got what I thought was a good level of low hz sounds, I wasn't sure how much I was really missing.

I will have a review of the Anthem Room Correction setup report at some point, see what it's all doing.