To Sub or Unsub?

[JayFromManchester]

Hi all,

Not sure if this is the right place for this, if not let me know.

I recently bought a new stereo amp and speakers, my first step into hifi, they have replaced my AVR and surround speakers.

I use the wIIm Ultra and have done for a couple of years now, I used to use it through my AVR and I used the ultra as my phono stage.

Im now using the amps phono stage and the ultra purely as a streamer.

What I've noticed since the change is when I play vinyl it seems to lack a little in the low end, I listen to a lot of bass heavy music, it's not bad but I feel that maybe the amp and speakers would benefit from a sub.

When I stream through the ultra that is plugged into the amp the bass is there, maybe it's my eq or something else but it's definitely more bass heavy than when I play vinyl.

I'm wondering if I would be better reverting back to using the ultra as the phono stage or maybe using a sub.

I hope that makes some sense and any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Eddie Spaghetti]

I also like bass-heavy music. Not the window-rattling hip-hop crap, I just like my music to sound full and be able to *feel* the bottom. That said, since I added a sub to my system many years ago, I will not go without one. Just my own experience and opinion. A good sub will add bottom that most speakers alone cannot deliver. It also takes that load off your main speakers and allows them to flourish in the audio range they’re best suited for, so everything just sounds better.

Just to add … it’s been awhile since I’ve done anything with vinyl, but my recollection is that your cartridge can have a lot to do with what you ultimately hear. It could cost a bit, but a good high-end cartridge might provide the fullness you feel you’re missing.

 

[JayFromManchester]

I also like bass-heavy music. Not the window-rattling hip-hop crap, I just like my music to sound full and be able to *feel* the bottom. That said, since I added a sub to my system many years ago, I will not go without one. Just my own experience and opinion. A good sub will add bottom that most speakers alone cannot deliver. It also takes that load off your main speakers and allows them to flourish in the audio range they’re best suited for, so everything just sounds better.

Just to add … it’s been awhile since I’ve done anything with vinyl, but my recollection is that your cartridge can have a lot to do with what you ultimately hear. It could cost a bit, but a good high-end cartridge might provide the fullness you feel you’re missing.

I think my cartridge choice is ok, it's not super hi end but it wasn't a cheap one either. My turntable is a technics 1200 and I use Ortofon Concorde music, I have red blue and bronze, currently using bronze.

I may try and set up the sub tomorrow and see what I think, my only concern was setting it up wrong and something going bang.

My amp has pre out and if I'm right I can connect the sub to the pre out?