Is a sub Needed with An 8 inch monitor ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter SAMTheGreat
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There's no simple or certain answer and you don't mention the brand of monitor you're using or might be using. It really depends on the room you mix in with those monitors. Is the room treated? How big is the room? In most small home studio where everything's done in one room.......8 inch monitors should have enough range to give you the bottom end you need...........and then you'll need to be sure your space is treated properly. You also don't mention what type of music you're producing.
 
Mickster has explained the variables. I will only add that, for the music that I mix and the untreated space that I mix in, I find a subwoofer to be of benefit. However, I also use a KRK Ergo for room correction and did go to the trouble of setting levels for the sub and the monitors with a sound pressure meter before shooting the room with the Ergo.
 
PTravel has a very good point. Deciding that you need a sub comes with a number of things you need to do correctly to set it up and gain the most from it. Done incorrectly.......as I've learned the hard way myself.....can actually skew your results to the point where you're far worse off.
 
Mickster said:
PTravel has a very good point. Deciding that you need a sub comes with a number of things you need to do correctly to set it up and gain the most from it. Done incorrectly.......as I've learned the hard way myself.....can actually skew your results to the point where you're far worse off.
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for mixng hip hop soul , pop etc
 
When looking to upgrade from the "toy" monitors (you know the type with 2" speakers) I looked into several but ended up going with the Yamaha HS80ms (8")simply because I felt with the 50s (5" speakers) I would be looking for that sub very soon. With the 8's I do not feel a need for a sub at all.

As the others have posted earlier, adding a sub to your studio requires a little more thought and research than just adding some boom to your home theater set up. So do your homework and figure out if you actually need a sub BEFORE you buy.
 
Raymeous said:
When looking to upgrade from the "toy" monitors (you know the type with 2" speakers) I looked into several but ended up going with the Yamaha HS80ms (8")simply because I felt with the 50s (5" speakers) I would be looking for that sub very soon. With the 8's I do not feel a need for a sub at all.

As the others have posted earlier, adding a sub to your studio requires a little more thought and research than just adding some boom to your home theater set up. So do your homework and figure out if you actually need a sub BEFORE you buy.
Click to expand...

I literally went the same route. I had these garbage 2" desktop speakers and finally upgraded to the HS80Ms. Haven't felt a NEED for a sub, but I invested in the HS10w so I could "feel" it more. If not for mixing, than just for personal listening. I suppose if an answer is still needed, I'll pop back in about a week when they get here and give you an opinion.
 
Typically not necessary with an 8" woofer on a two-way monitor. Definitely not needed on a three-way monitor with a low frequency woofer that's at least 7".
 
I must say, that I would definitely feel a bit lost, without a sub in my system. I use KRK G28's in my fairly well treated room. With the subwoofy, I can hear/feel frequencies that could be severely detrimental to a mix translation, that I absolutely would have no clue that it was even happening without it. There is no way to know if there is a pile of crap at 40-60Hz, without a sub. Not in my room anyway.

I often turn the sub off, when doing final touches to a mix. But it is absolutely necessary IMO, while trying to get the low end stuff working.

The more experience I get however, the less I rely on hearing low end problems. I may get some shit for this, but I can easily see frequencies that are just not wanted, with the new analyzer overlay on the Cubase 7 EQ. If there is a bunch of high level info at 30Hz, I know I need to pull up the HPF to get rid of it. I would not be able to actually hear that, with just the 8" KRK's.
 
I highly recommend a sub. And it's important to PLACE it correctly in the room and TUNE it with your system. It should not be noticeable or boomy.

Cheers,
John
 
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