If you wanna compare with Swan M200MKii, you need to look at Edifier S2000 series liao. Those R series wont give you the full sound that you get from a proper 5" woofer. For me, they still sound a bit thin.

Back to the sound, the more expensive stereo speakers sometimes may sound a bit lackluster when you compare it to the versatility of having a subwoofer to thump the bass note. Its a different way to enjoy music really.

When I was younger, 10-15 years ago, I enjoyed the sound of thumping bass more, with Altec Lansing ACS48 and with MX5021 later. When I moved on to S2000, it all changed. Even the music changed. Even when you buy a RM500 soundcard like Xonar Essence, it may or may not appeal to your ears.

I still remembered when I paid a forumer RM200++ to mod my EMU0404, only to sold it soon after finding it too bland. Before the mod, it was still acceptable to me. After the mod, it sounds a lot clearer, but at the same time, sounds a lot more darker. Its missing the lively sound.

Music really has a lot of similarities when compared to foods. Foods that are tasty, definitely contains much more harmful ingredients, like salt, oil, sugar etc. Foods that are good for your body, on the other hand taste like crap most of the time.

Finally gotten myself an used Xonar Essence ST, and find myself again, undecided between the lively sound on LME49720 vs the dull but pure sounding JRC4556. The sole popularity of LME49720 opamp just tell you what kind of sound people are looking forward to in their music.

No doubt that once in a while, you get the opportunity to test thousands ringgit worth of audio products and were mesmerized by the sweetness of the vocals etc. At the end of the day, we, who are more bugged down by working pressure, tends to prefer something cheerful, lively to drag us out of slump, instead of listening to boring pure sounding music.

There is a way to boost the bass but since I tried, I must say its better to keep it as it is. There is a reason why the bass is being subdued.