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View Full Version : Choosing Subwoofer(s), HT & music


Toms-all-ears
12-02-2002, 04:21 AM
<font color='#000000'>I have a 32 x 17' room with open ceiling 14' tall at the peak. *Floor is plywood over wooden joists with carpeting wall-to-wall over carpet padding. &nbsp;Using a Panasonic DMR-HS2 DVD Player and Recorder with HHD and cable tuner through a Sony STR-DA7ES receiver for regular cable TV and 7.1 HT thru 3 Gallo Due's in front and 4 Micro's on Wallflower stands in back. *For music, using A/B speakers switch on Sony, the mains are Klipsch RF-7's. *The monitor is a Panasonic TH42PWD5UY plasma EDTV. *So now the choice to be made is what to use for a subwoofer to be musical and have enough slam to make HT really fun too.

Option #1 - Buy a slightly used REL Strata III, use &quot;double hookup&quot; that REL's allow. *If not enough presence for the size of the room, buy a second one and use as stereo subs. *$1850 or so for 2. *I doubt one will do it for this room.

#2 - Use one (also used) REL Stadium III instead. *$2075.

#3 - Use one 1 year old Paradigm Servo 15. *Black with local pickup = $900. *Or one in Cherry (to match RF-7's) in near new condition with X-30 with delivery = $1072. *Doubt I'd need two of these. *My worry is they won't be as musical as the REL's, but would think more be more active in HT use then the REL's. *The Sony receiver has the low-level in's and out's needed to use the X-30. *This one is front-firing.

#4 - ACI Titan II LE, new in Cherry for $1200 delivered.

#5 - ACI Force, a pair new in Cherry for $1720 delivered.

#6 - ??? *Any ideas? *Veladyne?

I should mention that I have tinninitus (from my high school days drumming in a rock band) which means I miss a lot on the top end sonically. *The RF-7's sounded far better to me, richer in the highs than anything else less than twice the price. *I'm not looking for thump-in-the-belly bass, hate it actually in the usual car stereo application. *But I am questioning if the REL Strata's, even a pair of them would do justice to the demands of HT - I do want some rumble and slam effect when appropriate.

I'm trying not to waste salesman's time in stores knowing I'm so much more likely to go the Audiogon route. *But I'd very much like the benefit of the experience I see here reading the chains. *So far I'd say I'm leaning toward the pair of Strata's idea. *Plus I can buy first one and try it out to see, and if unhappy can probably sell it again easily for almost the same as I paid. *Not so sure the Stadium could be resold so easily and it's more money at first. *But it sure would be musical enough and big enough to handle the large room - anyone know how well a Stadium III does in HT applications? *Does anyone have an opinion as to whether 2 Strata III's are better than one Stadium III? *I've heard the Servo 15 can really pump out the bass but I've never yet actually listened to one for myself. *Same for the Stadium III, but I have heard the Strata for myself.

And do S-Video connecting cables come in long lengths, say 25'? *If so where can I buy one (to connect the other-side -of-the-room computer with an ATI video card to the Sony receiver)?

Thanks.</font>

RLA
12-02-2002, 12:01 PM
<font color='#000000'>Hi
I would look at this subwoofer for double duty
http://www.revelspeakers.com/revelB15.html
It has Plenty of slam for demanding LFE track
and grace for 2 channel &nbsp;The REL is a nice &quot;Audiophile&quot;
subwoofer but lacks slam IMOHO
I would also take a look at the SVS Line
Cheers Ray</font>

Toms-all-ears
12-06-2002, 03:48 AM
<font color='#000000'>Thanks Ray. *B-15 does look great but too much money.
*
What I did do yesterday was buy a pair of 6 month old, perfect condition Servo-15's in cherry finish with one X-30 controller included (from a private seller I found thru Audiogon). *My seller was upgrading to Martin Logan Descents. *The Servo's will shortly be on their way to me. *$2300 total, a good deal I think (new = $3400 + tax)though it would've been $200 less except my seller had tossed his boxes and we had to buy new ones. *Well, this way I won't be wishing for a little more punch when watching HT. *

On the Sony STR-DA7ES A/V receiver, does the &quot;.1&quot; LFE output (to the X-30) continue or shut down when &quot;stereo mode&quot; is selected rather than 5.1? *And even if it does continue, does it carry anything other than the sum of the L and R pre-amp outputs? *If it doesn't, then it would seem better to use both L/R outputs to feed the X-30 because the left Servo can play left track bass and the right, right - more of a benefit if the crossover setting chosen is high. *And of course the return interconnects if run to the external inputs allow the mains to be relieved of the job of playing the bass. *

So here's the question: *Am I missing anything if I don't use the LFE, but use the ins/outs of the receiver instead to run the twin Servo's? *Is it a one-sided choice with all the advantages arguing against using the LFE connection, or are there any trade-offs in favor of using the mono LFE? *And if I did use the LFE connection would I still have bass coming from the subs when not in 5.1 mode? *Thanks.</font>