A powered subwoofer is undoubtedly the most important speaker you can purchase. It not only affects the overall sound of your system, it dictates what type of speakers you can buy. Getting a powered subwoofer early on in your path of home theater upgrades dramatically improves sound, saves money, and offers more options.

A powered sub frees your main speakers from having to play the deepest bass frequencies. This allows you to focus on speakers that play only the upper frequencies well. With the hindrance of deep bass reproduction removed, a speaker can have a smaller dimension such as satellite speakers. Smaller speakers tend to cost less across the board hether your looking at budget or audiophile speakers. Your bound to find more for your buck. (Or less where speaker size in concerned.)

You'll also be able to match the surround speakers easier. With a powered sub you have the option of buying more affordable all-in-one speakers that can be used as both front and rear speakers. Having surrounds that match the front speakers adds greatly to the surround sound effect.

A powered sub will always play lower and louder than most any speaker. This is due to the fact that a powered subwoofer has it's own amplifier, and doesn't draw power from your amplifier. Bass frequencies hog up a lot of the amplifier power. Your amplifier will run cooler and be able to play the sound dynamics of the upper frequencies with less strain.

Since you don't need the receiver to power large, bass capable, speakers you can focus on an amplifier the plays the upper range smoother. This frees up you receiver/amplifier purchase tremendously as the bass quality from different manufactures varies heavily.

You really won't save much money on a receiver/amplifier unless you purchase one with less power. What a powered sub offers most is the freedom of being able to choose from a broader range of manufacturers.

The most important and obvious item a powered sub offers is the tremendous impact of explosions and rumblings that pull you into the home theater excitement more and more. Nothing will equal the ferocity and foreboding experience it brings to the party. A powered subwoofer should definitely be on your short list of must buys for your home theater.

For info on what to look for in a sub go to On Gear: Speakers.

Find out how to setup a subwoofer in On Setup: Speakers.