Extreme Room (Sub too small; forgot about physics) - now what

[Dan Smith]

Long timer lurker first time poster!

So I built a new home theater / man cave / office. Its beautiful and now being outfitted with theater seating a bar my desk etc.... All good right... WRONG.

I had a set of Fluance XL series that I intended to use for the new room and I think they will work quite well. However, in my previous space about 1000 cf, I used an older Yamaha sub from days past that I had and it worked fairly well, not great but ok.

For some reason I forgot that upgrading to a 6600 CF room, what I had wasnt going to work. I've got 23*29*10h drywall, textered on the ceiling, carpet is long pile with 8lb foam cusion so its good. So now I'm in a predicament. My budget is blown on this space because everything fit nicely in it until this. I'd like to get away with less than $1k all in, I'm not sure thats even possible.

With a room this size I assume I'm looking at multiple subs in corners. Which is fine but how many? What size and how close can I get to my price target. I have a pair of *attached* speakers i could pull the tweaters out of and seal the hole but I know they wont perform well. I dont need AMAZING quality as my hearing isnt that good anyway. I do however like decent quality, I like to hear and feel my metallica, as well as reproduce movies as intended without sub fart.

Throw me some feedback always appreciative of comments.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[rojo]

I think the only way you'll approach the subwoofage you need for less than a grand is with a DIY project. I think you could build a pair of Dayton 18" HO subs and power them with a Behringer iNuke amp for that. How do you feel about a DIY project?

Data-Bass measurements
Dayton 18" HO driver + knockdown enclosure
Behringer iNuke 3000DSP (or the 1000DSP for $80 less)
Plus wire, speakon terminals, speakon cable, RCA - 1/4" TRS adapters if needed, glue, paint, clamps for assembly, maybe some feet....

Or maybe someone near you is selling something amazing on Craigslist. I've been known to find a steal or two there. In what city do you live?

Pro audio speakers like you have attached won't have a range worthy of home theater LFE effects.

 

[elwaylite]

DIY is an option. In that space (I have 7200cuft) you need at least duals IMO. For $1000, Id start with one VTF15 Mark 2, and buy another one down the road. The dual Rythmiks I have are pretty badass but around $1450 for the first and $1250 for the second with discount. SVS PB13 Ultra is $2000 for one, and PSA's monsters are pricey too.

I was able to even out my response in the room nicely with two, but I still have a hard time hitting reference LFE SPL (115db at full volume) from 20hz to 40hz, and I probably would need one more sub but that aint happenin.

 

[Dan Smith]

I dont mind DIY, prefer not too, but ya know it is what it is, and I have A LOT of room in the sub corner... I mean ALOT...

 

[Dan Smith]

Pro audio speakers like you have attached won't have a range worthy of home theater LFE effects.

Precisely what i was thinking... I'm in the midwest so I hit Indianapolis / Chicago / Champaign IL are my purchase areas.

 

[Dan Smith]

I think the only way you'll approach the subwoofage you need for less than a grand is with a DIY project. I think you could build a pair of Dayton 18" HO subs and power them with a Behringer iNuke amp for that. How do you feel about a DIY project?

Data-Bass measurements
Dayton 18" HO driver + knockdown enclosure
Behringer iNuke 3000DSP (or the 1000DSP for $80 less)
Plus wire, speakon terminals, speakon cable, RCA - 1/4" TRS adapters if needed, glue, paint, clamps for assembly, maybe some feet....

Are there assembly instructions with it / somewhere? Also I noticed its not ported wont that be an issue?

 

[rojo]

You know, @sandbagger is selling some very nice 3.42 cubic foot boxes in the classifieds for $100 in Chicago. Contact that cat and ask whether he can offer anything that can fill your gi-normous space. I'm thinking the Dayton 15" HO with a 4" x 15" tube models reasonably well in those boxes, and a pair will actually give you more output from about 18 - 43Hz than a pair of sealed Dayton 18". Besides that, they're already beautifully finished.

 

[shadyJ]

I would not go sealed. I would not get into the DIY projects suggested above with a room like that. They will have good 40 Hz + output, but do worse below that. If you were to go sealed, it would have to be a very high excursion driver backed by a ton of power, so it would be expensive for a DIY. If I were going DIY in that room, I would be looking at Martycubes or Stonehenges like this. Maybe a couple ported 15" cubes like this.

Barring DIY, I would go for a Hsu VTF15h mk2 or a Reaction Audio Echo 15 with the intention of adding another later.

 

[rojo]

I thought about the Stonehenge but couldn't find an inexpensive 18" driver that modeled well in the 5.4 cubic foot box. The drivers I modeled do better in larger enclosures. I still think the 15's in the classifieds boxes are as well worth considering as the Hsu or the Reaction Audio, especially given the possibility of having two within budget.

Sent from my LG-VS980 using Forum Fiend v1.3.1.

 

[rojo]

This folded horn looks very interesting. You should contact the seller and ask if he'll demo it for you (if it'll fit through your door into your HT room). Since it's been posted for nearly a month and most people wouldn't have room for it, you could probably haggle a bit on the price. Add a Crown XLS 1000 amp if it's got binding posts or a Behringer iNuke 1000 DSP if Speakon terminals, and you're still well under 700 bucks for a sub that will likely pressurize your space better than anything mentioned in this thread thus far.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

That folded horn will easily pressure your tiny room and you wont need 1000w amp for it, even with 200w this sub will raise the dead (get a visit from your local pd)
Great find Rojo

Also OP: Do Notice the size - it's not exactly small : 30wx37dx38h

 

[Dan Smith]

So if that Tuba Ht is 380 for the box then I would need to buy a sub for it. Will that box and one sub pressurize the 6600CF room?

Also, why the difference between the two amp suggestions.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

So if that Tuba Ht is 380 for the box then I would need to buy a sub for it. Will that box and one sub pressurize the 6600CF room?

Also, why the difference between the two amp suggestions.

AFAIK CL's Tuba HT is priced box AND driver. Only amp is not included.
Yes, it will easily pressurize your 6.6k cf room
This graph should impress you:

Difference between amps: Crown XLS is typically more robust (aka proven reliable) and also includes unbalanced inputs - makes things easier to connect

iNuke 1000 DSP - like name suggests has built-in DSP engine - Digital signal processing. It will allow some EQing done straight on the amp. It's not as versatile as dedicated dsp like MiniDSP, but it would do for some basic tuning.

Power-wise - it shouldn't matter since like I said even 200w amp will knock your socks off with this sub.

 

[Dan Smith]

If i ask him to demo it, what am i looking for? I'm new to the high end sub game. What should I check for on inspection?

 

[rojo]

If he demoes it, just listen for $380 worth of bass. Take some music you like. If the sub pleases your ears (and your chest), maybe explain that you've overextended your budget and ask if he'd consider taking $350 for it. Better yet, ask his wife. It's probably on her insistence that he's selling it. If he holds firm at $380, it's still more than worth it. Horns aren't easy or cheap to build. If it plays at all, then that's a garage sale price already, even without amp.

If you've got an appliance dolly with straps, you'll probably need it; as well as a good friend and a 12-pack of his favorite beer. I wouldn't be surprised if that monster weighs as much as a pro wrestler.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I would not be shocked if it weights around 200lbs

 

[Dan Smith]

And another question, I have a Yamaha RX-V565 found Here

I also have a new set of Fluance XL Series Floorstanding/ Center / Bipolars in rear that a friend gave me.

Do I need additional amp for the speakers or should the 90W on each channel out of the receiver suffice and just go with one of the above aforementioned amps for the Tuba.

 

[rojo]

The receiver's built-in amp will probably be fine. That receiver doesn't have line outs anyway (except for the sub out), so you couldn't use external amps on your full-range speakers without buying a new receiver regardless.

Did you contact the Craigslist guy yet? I'm anxious to find out what you think of that sub. I think you'll be impressed.

 

[Dan Smith]

I did contact him through texts, he still has it, hes willing to demo. I need to measure my exterior door and make sure it will fit. I also need to find a buddy who will give up half of a weekend day to help me. Its 3hr drive to where that sub is. Im sure I'll go up and check it out this weekend.

Also I saw you are in JC, TN. I was just there, staying in JC working in Greeneville, I'd have bought you a beer for all this useful info you've given.

 

[rojo]

I would've drunk it.