Three price points, three choices.

[Turkeybaster]

So I'm looking for some unbiased common sense opinions. Lets say that I am looking to budget around $1500 for home theater bass (20% music usage?). I plan on sing a dedicated home theater room.

What are your opinions? 3 X $500 subs? 2 X $750 subs? 1 X $1500 sub

There are a lot of reasonable subs, in my opinion, out there for $500, and some real steals in value at $750. Is $1500 really that much better in terms of quality and output, especially pitted against 2 or even 3 moderately priced subs?

What are your opinions and what would you choose for those price points? I'm a bass head but I do appreciate SQ.

Thanks!

 

[rojo]

What's the cubic footage of the area you intend to pressurize?

 

[mike c]

2x 750usd

 

[Turkeybaster]

about 12 x 18, maybe slightly less. normal ceilings.

 

[Turkeybaster]

2x 750usd

Rhythmik LVX12? SVS PB-2000?

Would two of those be better than say one Rhythmik FV15HP?

 

[herbu]

one Rhythmik FV15HP?

One of these will give you the HT experience you want. The ONLY drawback of 1 is that you may have to give a bit more care in placement. It's possible there could be a/some location in the room that experiences a peak or null. But you can assure it is not in a prime listening position.

Think about it this way. Even if Mike Tyson was a little off-balance when he hit you, it would still be a mighty punch. The FV15HP is a beast. It can jar your spleen, even if you're sitting in a null. If down the road you discover some room null is unavoidable and you just can't stand it, get another one.

 

[rojo]

about 12 x 18, maybe slightly less. normal ceilings.

In that case, I agree with mike c. 2x $750. I think that's the point at which you get some grown-up infrasonic extension, but you probably don't need the SPL of, say, a Reaction Audio Echo 18. And having two will let you smooth out the response for a wider seating area.

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-3mk5HPDual.html would be at the top of my list I think.

But, I have no problem with Room EQ Wizard, time-aligning multiple subs, and using a MiniDSP. Your mileage may vary. A single sub would certainly be a lot simpler! And that's an important consideration. Do you intend to use your AVR's bass management? If so, does your AVR have independent correction for dual subs, perhaps Audyssey XT32 + SubEQ HT? If you answered "yes" then "no", then go for the single sub.

 

[3db]

One of these will give you the HT experience you want. The ONLY drawback of 1 is that you may have to give a bit more care in placement. It's possible there could be a/some location in the room that experiences a peak or null. But you can assure it is not in a prime listening position.

Think about it this way. Even if Mike Tyson was a little off-balance when he hit you, it would still be a mighty punch. The FV15HP is a beast. It can jar your spleen, even if you're sitting in a null. If down the road you discover some room null is unavoidable and you just can't stand it, get another one.

Configure it for your seating position.. who cares about the rest of the room and let the internal bleeding begin.

 

[rojo]

Configure it for your seating position.. who cares about the rest of the room and let the internal bleeding begin.

Shotgun!

...Does calling "shotgun" count for a home theater sweet spot?

 

[Turkeybaster]

Shotgun!

...Does calling "shotgun" count for a home theater sweet spot?

It does in my house!

Sigh..... I also suppose that there is a 3rd option.... Dual Rhythmik FVX15's

That would put me over budget by $300, $900 shipped a piece (Not the end of the world) but that is also a lot of floor space! They have quite the footprint. Also I wonder if that would just be stupid over the top, even for a bass head like me! You do only live once I suppose.

Personally I have never minded the look of a speaker, and my significant other has never voiced any displeasure, she just goes with the flow, but they would be going in our living room with the rest of my 4 Klipsch towers, center, and surrounds (1,500sq ft home, nothing huge). Kind of ridiculous but I think everyone on this forum understands the mindset. My next home will have a dedicated home theater room to accommodate my sickness, LoL.

What do you guys think? I know that I would never be lacking for bass volume or extension with that set up, but would it just be over the top?

For reference, I have 4 Klipsch Synergy towers, 3 Reference centers, Yamaha receiver, and a 7 channel Emotiva LPA-1

 

[Turkeybaster]

In that case, I agree with mike c. 2x $750. I think that's the point at which you get some grown-up infrasonic extension, but you probably don't need the SPL of, say, a Reaction Audio Echo 18. And having two will let you smooth out the response for a wider seating area.

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-3mk5HPDual.html would be at the top of my list I think.

But, I have no problem with Room EQ Wizard, time-aligning multiple subs, and using a MiniDSP. Your mileage may vary. A single sub would certainly be a lot simpler! And that's an important consideration. Do you intend to use your AVR's bass management? If so, does your AVR have independent correction for dual subs, perhaps Audyssey XT32 + SubEQ HT? If you answered "yes" then "no", then go for the single sub.

Thanks a lot ass! I thought I had it whittled down to SVS or Rhythmik, and now you throw in HSU. Now I have another rabbit hole to explore here on the interwebs. Through my research im finding it pretty amazing what you can get for around $1500.

TOO MANY CHOICES! I know I know, its like deciding what hot supermodel you want to bang. Any choice is the right choice. So let me line my pretty little ladies up.

$1,342 - Rhythmic FV15HP
$1,500 - SVS PB-2000 (X2)
$1,600 - Rhythmik LVX12 (X2)
$1,730 - HSU VTF-3 MK5 (X2)
$1,820 - Rhythmik FVX15 (X2)

So what what do you guys think? Those are the prices shipped for the systems that I am currently considering.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

I think you would be happy with any of those.

That being said, I have always liked variable port tuning in subs. The versatility comes in handy and is just fun to play with... so that's the direction I'd be looking.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[shadyJ]

From that bunch, I would go with the VTF3s or FVX15s. I think the FVX15s will dig a bit deeper but the VTF3s will hit a bit harder. You can't lose between them.

 

[3db]

My choice would be the Rythmik. Your room isn't all that big and both the HSU and Rythmik will easily over power the room. Your advantage with the Rythmik is deeper extension.

 

[rojo]

What do you guys think? I know that I would never be lacking for bass volume or extension with that set up, but would it just be over the top?

Just so you know, the opinions we offer aren't always based on sensible practicality. Sometimes our advice edges toward the "enabler" end of the scale. Hope you're OK with that.

Thanks a lot ass! I thought I had it whittled down to SVS or Rhythmik, and now you throw in HSU.

Glad to be of service. Since you enjoyed the Hsu recommendation so much...

That would put me over budget by $300, $900 shipped a piece (Not the end of the world) but that is also a lot of floor space! They have quite the footprint. Also I wonder if that would just be stupid over the top, even for a bass head like me! You do only live once I suppose.

... how about yet another option? If you'd prefer to stay within your budget and get something a little more diminutive to spare floor space, a pair of Outlaw Ultra-X12 subs might be worth considering as well. It won't move as much air as one of your 15" options, but it will dig deep, has variable port tuning, and a pair ships for... Oh, I dunno... got to be less than $1500 anyway. With Memorial Day coming soon, I should also point out that often times around holidays Outlaw offers free shipping or other sales on their subs.

Your room is about the same size as mine -- perhaps slightly smaller. I'm pretty pleased with two twelves, but I'm not a big bass head. My subs are set pretty conservatively to be seamless with the mains (although not as conservatively as Audyssey thinks they should be set).

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Buying dual subs at same should qualify you for a additional discount if you call any of above mentioned vendors directly. I won't expect to be huge, but ballpark of $100-200 just for making short call would be worth in my book

 

[herbu]

So what what do you guys think?

I told you what I think. The FV15HP.

Do you understand the purpose/advantage of multiple subs? It is not for more bass volume or punch. That comes with a bigger or more capable sub, (like the FV15HP). The purpose of multiple subs is to rid your room of any peaks/nulls at a particular position. These are caused by room reflections. If you have a wide/deep seating area for several people, peaks/nulls at some position may be more likely.

So your seat is great. Your spleen resonates, your glass skitters across the table, and you feel like you have to potty. A person sitting 6 or 10 or 12 feet from you gets the spleen and glass thing, but doesn't feel like they have to potty. That's a null.

When you add a second sub, you balance them so you tell no difference in your seat, but the other guy now also has to potty. If you start w/ 2 lesser subs, even your sweet spot seat won't get the same experience as one beast sub.

 

[rojo]

herbu reminded me. @Turkeybaster I'm still curious what sort of bass management you intend to employ.

 

[lovinthehd]

I'd go diy, makes the $ go much further.

 

[Turkeybaster]

herbu reminded me. @Turkeybaster I'm still curious what sort of bass management you intend to employ.

I'm rookie in terms of bass management. my plan is to do the ole subwoofer crawl and corner load as much as possible, let my yamaha auto eq do its thing and modify from there by ear to taste. I don't have the skills or equipment to professionally eq a room myself. I'm still learning though. My fire for the audiophile hobby ebbs and flows as i look at adding a new piece every few years. I'm pretty happy with all of the rest of my gear, last piece being a solid subwoofer solution. Next after that will be a reasonably priced 4k projector when Epson finally drops one but that will be maybe 2 years down the road, My current Epson is still pretty solid.

I have been ravaging the audioholics youtube videos lately. I'll look for a bass management tutorial there and will be happy to take advice from weathered hobbyists and pro's alike. You've helped more than I could have expected, you all have, but im still all ears and willing to learn.