Our 5.1 receiver we had operated for several months without a subwoofer and had fun. After we joined the Yamaha are my son and I like Transformers in almost the couch Previously we tried a Canton for about 200. To describe it as: the Canton rumst also but the Yamaha "sound" and is worth the extra price. The subwoofer is also reflected correctly in the chic living room, looks like a fine piece of furniture. Not even my wife has complained