Customer Inquiry: "I've recently upgraded to the Audioengine A2+ Home Music System and am thoroughly impressed by the sound quality. Is there a way to further enhance this setup for a richer audio experience?"
Why a Subwoofer is Important:
The Audioengine A2+ excels in high and mid-range frequency reproduction, providing an expansive soundstage. Its mid-woofers deliver a balanced bass, but for deeper, more resonant bass frequencies, adding a subwoofer will introduce you to an entirely new music experience, with bass reminiscent of your favorite live concert.
Expanding Your System with a Subwoofer Integrating a subwoofer into your Audioengine home music system can dramatically improve your audio landscape:
- Deepened Bass Response: A subwoofer like the Audioengine S8 is dedicated to reproducing the lowest frequency sounds, enhancing the depth and dimension of the audio, especially in tracks with significant low-end elements.
- Enhanced Balance and Clarity: The subwoofer takes on the lower frequencies, allowing your system to focus on delivering clear highs and detailed mids. This separation ensures a balanced sound output and maximizes the performance of each component within its frequency range.
Adding a subwoofer reveals the full spectrum of sound that the artist intended to be a part of your musical experience.
Subwoofer Types: Sealed vs. Ported and Their Placement
- Sealed Subwoofers for Jazz and Acoustic:
- These subwoofers, like the Audioengine S6, offer a tighter and more precise bass, perfect for the nuanced sounds in jazz and acoustic music. Due to their controlled bass response, they are versatile in terms of placement and can be positioned either on the desk or in any compact space within the room.
- Front-Firing Ported Subwoofers for Metal and Energetic Genres:
- These subwoofers are designed to handle the depth and intensity of genres like metal. They are ideally placed at listening height for the best experience. An elevated shelf or the desk itself can be great spots, ensuring the sound is directed straight at the listener for maximum impact.
Space Considerations: Choosing the Right Size and Placement
- U and L-Shaped Desks: These desk designs offer unique opportunities for subwoofer placement. With more corner space and legroom, you can consider slightly larger subwoofers that wouldn't traditionally fit under a standard desk.
- Proper Placement: A front-firing subwoofer should be placed in an elevated position, such as your desktop, while a down-firing subwoofer should be placed on the floor.
- Larger Subwoofers for Spacious Setups: If you have more room, especially with U and L-shaped desks, a larger subwoofer can be placed on the ground under the desk. Their down-firing design is particularly effective in this placement, as it allows the sound to resonate off the floor, filling the room without taking up valuable desk space.
Conclusion:
Selecting the right subwoofer for your desktop setup involves understanding your music preferences, considering your available desk space, and deciding on the appropriate size and type of subwoofer. Whether it's a compact sealed model for jazz and acoustic melodies or a larger ported subwoofer for the dynamic ranges of metal, the ideal choice will transform your listening experience into an experience rivaled only by live performances.
