Best Sub for a $750 Budget

[slovell]

I need some suggestions for a sealed/ported sub for music and movies. I've got $750 to spend. My room is approx. 20" X 17" with a vaulted ceiling and an open doorway into the kitchen. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Regards, Sam

 

[GIEGAR]

Sam, I assume you're in the US.

If so, you really can't go wrong with any of these internet direct subs:

Rythmik Audio LV12R - rear vented HT sub

SVS PB-2000 - 500 Watt DSP Controlled, 12" Ported Subwoofer ($50 over budget - keep an eye on outlet specials.)

Outlaw Audio LFM-1 EX Powered Subwoofer On sale. Terrific sub at this price.

Hsu Research VTF-3 MK4 Subwoofer Similar to the Outlaw.

...and a relative newcomer to the market:

Reaction Audio BPS 215 Powered Subwoofer ($50 over budget.)

 

[slovell]

Yeah, I'm in the US. I've been reading about most of the ones you've listed with the exception of the Reaction Audio which looks interesting. It's all a bit overwhelming after a while as they're all quality products. It's hard to make a choice from just reading reviews. Thanks for your help.
Regards, Sam

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Slovell, you have quite large room and open doorway to the kitchen does not help in the mission of pressurize the room.
You'd need as much sub output as you could get for your money.

In this light most of choices suggested above are good, but not good enough:
Reaction Audio should have enough juice, but like said above - it's a bit of dark horse for now

If you want guaranteed results I offer these choices (some above budget)
VTF-15H Subwoofer

and two passive subs:
Chane SBE-118 Passive 18" Subwoofer
Dayton Audio 18" Reference Series HO Subwoofer and Cabinet Package

These would need an amp. This one would do - Amazon.com: Crown NXLS1500-0-US Power Amplifier: Musical Instruments

here's measurements of Dayton sub and I expect Chane would measure somewhere very near
Data-Bass

 

[ImcLoud]

imo HSU offers the best value... The vtf2 or 3 would be on my short list for subs under $1000... I demo'ed the 2 and 3 and kept the vtf2 because to me it sounded better in my room, I liked the bottom mounted sub vs the side mounted, and the 2 has more than enough output for my room, I ended up buying another one shortly after and LOVE the pair, not for output but for how invisible they become when you double them up, it smooths the room response and melts them into the mains much better...

So my vote is for a vtf2 or 3, demo them both and send back what you don't want, or start with the 2 and if its not enough get a 3 or another 2... I have bought the svs, rythmic and a few others, I can say with out a doubt the hsu is the best bang for the buck in my book... We are all brand biased by what we own, but I own all 3 and prefer the HSU, and if I didnt like something and its price it would go back {not in the case of the Rythmic because I put it at my mothers house and I don't think it has been turned on in 6 months, lol..

 

[rojo]

The Power Sound Audio XS15SE would also be worth considering. It's $50 over budget, but it'd be worth visiting the site and chatting with Tom V, let him know what you're considering, and see what he says. You could ask if he'll cut you a break to get you closer to your budget. Don't know whether he would, but it never hurts to ask.

 

[slovell]

I was somewhat off on my room dimensions, 15' W 18' L & the ceiling begins at 8' F rising to 12' R. There's an open doorway on the rear wall and an open hallway on the side wall. The sub has to sit next to a side wall halfway down the wall. It's a weird room and there's nowhere else to put it.

 

[j_garcia]

I think any of those mentioned in the first response would be fine for that room. I'd also add the SVS SB2000, the sealed variant of the PB2000, and is just $699

SVS SB-2000 - 500 Watt DSP Controlled, 12" Compact Sealed Subwoofer

 

[shadyJ]

If $750 is your hard limit, the very best at the price point is the Hsu VTF3. If you can push your budget to $800, the PB2000 may be able to give it a run for its money, but they will both probably have similar performance. In a room like yours, you will want a ported sub, not a sealed sub.

 

[ImcLoud]

shady is GREEN, Yay....

 

[shadyJ]

Don't worry, it wont last.. Although I have to thank some users here for their herculean efforts to get me to green.

 

[theJman]

and two passive subs:
Chane SBE-118 Passive 18" Subwoofer

I'm listening to that very subwoofer as I type this - it will be the next review I publish. The one Chane sent me included the SA-1000 amp, which will be about a grand delivered. I can't divulge a lot at this point in time, but I will say this much; d@mn!

The Power Sound Audio XS15SE would also be worth considering.

Ironically, that one is warming up in the bullpen. Tom V is telling me it should be competitive with the SBE-118, which would be quite a feat given how good the Chane subwoofer turned out to be. I can't wait.

To the OP... both of these are subs definitely worth considering.

 

[ImcLoud]

Don't worry, it wont last.. Although I have to thank some users here for their herculean efforts to get me to green.

I get the you must spread some around message when I try to give you anymore... rep should be like herpees give as much as you want...

 

[rnatalli]

If the Outlaw is still on sale, that's the best bang-for-buck IMO. You can also look at a PB-2000 from the outlet which should run $749 shipped. SVS offers shipping both ways for their 45-day trial so nothing to lose by trying one of their subs.

 

[slovell]

From where I'll have to place it, a rear port will be difficult to get far enough away from the wall. The HSU VTF-3 MK4 looks doable and also the down firing Outlaw. Will a sealed configuration give me good low end response with movies vs ported? I've been using a ported 12" sub that I built with a Dayton RSS315HO-4 in a Dayton cabinet with a 500 watt O-Audio amp. I've never managed to get it to sound quite right. It's two years old and the Dayton cabinet rattles like a box of rocks. I'm ready to be done with it and try something else.

 

[shadyJ]

The Outlaw isn't on sale anymore, but the VTF3 still is.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Room Sizes

Well, I don't mean to nit-pick but I don't think my 18' x 20' x 12' family room (open to living, dinning, & kitchen) is really big.

A single RBH SX-1010 sub shakes everything in the room like a rag doll.

My definition of a big room might be 30' x 30' x 12'.

 

[slovell]

My 18' X 15" X 12' seems pretty cramped with the couch, TV stand, gear rack, etc. IMHO an 18" sub would be a gross overkill, sheet rock cracking monster. Could be fun though.

 

[Basshead81]

I would up the budget slightly and go with a PB2000 or XV15se. These 2 options offer great performance, top notch warranty, and free in home trial. I would not go sealed in that size room for a single sub...jmo.

 

[slovell]

I agree with not going sealed, the sub has to do double duty with music and movies. I've got a pretty good stereo rig but I don't want to sacrifice my home theater bass response for a bit smoother sound in stereo.