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Author Topic: Subwoofer Advice?  (Read 1246 times)

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purplegoat

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Subwoofer Advice?
« on: November 14, 2014, 02:52:09 AM »
I've got some Kevek ES10 speakers I'm very happy with but they don't reach down as far as I'd like. I've got a second set of outputs on the Denon PMA-750 I'm powering them with so I figured I'd attach a subwoofer to that. I was hoping first of all that I'm in the right subforum and second that some pirates could give me a bit of a run down and suggest some of their favorite subs and brands for subs.

I've never had a sub so I can't add any experience. Sorry!

Thanks!
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Marvey

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Re: Subwoofer Advice?
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2014, 03:57:30 AM »
REL. Only REL. This is because every other subwoofer brand has HT in mind. RELs are not cheap. Other than that, if you can find a sub that uses the Peerless XXLS drivers. I sold a REL about 10 years ago and I regret it to this day.

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postjack

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Re: Subwoofer Advice?
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2014, 04:02:05 AM »
There are a bunch of internet direct subwoofer manufacturers you should consider. I've been running an SVS cylinder sub in my HT for several years. In fact its the one piece of audio equipment I've owned the longest. I'll be upgrading it soon to, you guess it, another SVS. I'll be doing the SB-13 Ultra this time, a smallish sealed box. SVS isn't quite the value it used to be, but they still make beautiful subs with fantastic customer service.

I've also read good things about Rhythmik and Hsu, but have never heard them myself. Outlaw just came out with a new sub too.

I've also good things about REL, but I'm increasingly becoming a fan of ID manufacturers so I tend towards that direction.

Of course so much depends on your room/your budget etc.
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Marvey

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Re: Subwoofer Advice?
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2014, 04:18:22 AM »
I'd second some of the Internet direct subs; but I haven't kept up.


I preferred the Hsu STF-2 for music vs. the more expensive VTF series. The Hsu VTF stuff seems better for HT. Even then, I want to destroy my STF-2 by setting it on fire after I get off my ass and build a real sub. But you guys know how picky I am. Integrating subs is a pain.
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zerodeefex

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Re: Subwoofer Advice?
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2014, 04:31:24 AM »
Martysubs are pretty phenomenal at pure SPL. I haven't done much listening with them, though. The Seaton Sumbersive HP I used to run was also pretty damn phenomenal in terms of off the shelf solutions.

Running down to the more affordable end of the spectrum, I'd take Outlaw over Hsu for music use. I haven't heard the new one, but the LFM-1 EX was clearly superior for music use over the VTF series. I actually use one in my HT now for WAF.

However, best woofers I've used for music so far were two elemental designs 13Av2 in sealed boxes. I ran two of those and 2 of the e3.8s for mid bass and it was one hell of a musical low end.

Consider building two subwoofers and locate them next to your speakers if you are going that route. Yeah yeah, sub-bass can't be localized blah blah blah. I've found for music, having two subs next to my speakers sounds way more natural.

I've done a ton of custom woofers in the past. For music, I find a good 12-15" woofer with a big ass magnet and phenomenal excursion works wonders. The 18s I've used tended to be too damn slow.
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DaveBSC

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Re: Subwoofer Advice?
« Reply #5 on: November 14, 2014, 04:33:29 AM »
REL is always a good option. I would also recommend Omega's deepOmega subwoofers. Avoid Velodyne, Sunfire, Martin Logan, and Klipsch, they're all just thump boxes.

The pro studio subs on the other hand are very good as you would expect. Neumann's KH 810 is great, but it doesn't come cheap. Genelec and Adam have some more affordable models which are excellent.
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zerodeefex

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Re: Subwoofer Advice?
« Reply #6 on: November 14, 2014, 05:32:51 AM »
I'd take most of the sealed Rhythmik subs over the DeepOmega at the price point any day. the deepOmega is underpowered and the xmax is laughable. Blah blah blah short throw fast woofer. Poor excursion + 12" woofer = anemic response. I suspect the 28 Hz frequency response quoted is aspirational.
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purplegoat

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Re: Subwoofer Advice?
« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2014, 08:10:56 AM »
Wow I'm really glad I asked! Thanks for the responses I feel considerably better equipped.  :)p3

Does anyone know any good sites to buy used subs on? I'm pretty broke atm!
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Marvey

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Re: Subwoofer Advice?
« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2014, 04:57:54 PM »
audiogon (sometimes snag a great deal), ebay, amazon used, etc.
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uncola

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Re: Subwoofer Advice?
« Reply #9 on: November 14, 2014, 05:48:52 PM »
I'm still extremely happy with my small svs sb-12nsd sealed subwoofer.. I haven't noticed any integration issues when playing music in 2.1 mode.  I contacted svs via their forum on hometheatershack and got a response pretty quick.. good company.  The speaker designer at Ascend recommends rythmik and he's definitely a 2 channel music guy.  I was going to get one of those but they were all too big for the space I wanted to put it in, also some of their models go out of stock for long periods of time which was annoying
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