Can one use a sub with 6 x 9's?

[Jack from Indo]

The pundits here where I live says you can't - system will sound like crap if you do. Is this true? I thought I read a post by McLeod mentioning doing it. McLeod, anybody? I got a friend who wants to buy my old sub but he is hesitant now because of what he's been told.

[DSkip]

6x9s are full range speakers, subs are for the bass. They might be ignorant or have heard a couple of POS systems that were thrown together that just so happened to have those components. 6x9's wont sound as good as a round speaker, but that doesnt mean they sound bad. I kind of see the 6x9 as a compromise speaker. It can dip lower than a traditional round full range speaker and get louder, but because of the non-circular shape it will lose a bit of SQ.

He has nothing to be hesitant of if the only thing keeping him from getting a sub is their opinions.

[MacLeod]

6x9's CAN be great sounding speakers if theyre well made which unfortunately most are not. But you get a set of $200 Alpine or Polk or Focal 6x9's and they will out do any round speaker in their price point. Round speakers generally sound better because theyre more rigid and can fend off distortion better but if the oval speaker is well built, there wont be any audible distortion so you get the same quality sound as a round speaker plus the benefit of better low frequency response.

So I guess its all depends on what equipment youre talking about. You run down to Autozone and get some $45 Rampage 6x9's and itll definitely sound like crap but you take a set of MMC690's and pair them with a MM2104 and Ill stack it up against anything else you could come up with for the same or even a little more money.