Polk sub vs klipsch sub

[John_W]

Hello all, I am adding a sub to my 5.1 system in my living room and am wondering if anyone has thoughts on the two subs listed below. My living room is roughly 20' x 20'. My receiver is pioneer vsx-21txh.

Polk Audio PSW300
Or
Klipsch RW-12d

Thank you

 

[lovinthehd]

Where are you finding a RW12d? I'd go with that one (and own one) over the Polk. Why just these two choices, what do you have now?

 

[j_garcia]

and/or what is your budget? Polk's subs leave a lot to be desired; would not recommend them. 20x20 room, neither of those will really cut it IMO.

 

[John_W]

I am on a budget so looking at a social media selling sight. I don't want junk or low end and figured these were the two best that are available. I currently do not have a sub.

 

[j_garcia]

http://hsuresearch.com/products/stf-2.html

That's one of the best budget subs around. May still not be enough for a good size room, but has good output and will sound better than the Polk or Klipsch. Still not really cheap, though maybe if you wait until father's day they might put it on sale.

This one isn't as good, but on a budget they're not bad for the super cheap price. Bought the low profile one for my kids and it does pretty decent, but it is no HSU or SVS.

http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-1200-12-120-watt-powered-subwoofer--300-629

The 15" might be more appropriate for your room size

http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-1500-15-150-watt-powered-subwoofer--300-634

 

[tyhjaarpa]

What is your budget for sub and from where you are?

 

[lovinthehd]

I am on a budget so looking at a social media selling sight. I don't want junk or low end and figured these were the two best that are available. I currently do not have a sub.

My Klipsch sub is still in use, but wouldn't buy it again and was discontinued when I bought mine a few years ago. I paid $300 new and it was okay for that price. Some of the electronics have been known to fail on them, too. They are low end in sub world, though. If you want high value I'd go diy/aiy but you have to be willing to live with your own finishing skills at the least and do some work to get there. If you want to purchase new perhaps I'd go with a newer Klipsch, wouldn't bother with Polk generally, the Klipsch Sub-12HG I believe goes on sale for $200 occasionally and may be a good value at that price. The Daytons suggested would be another way to go. Otherwise I'd try and get an entry level SVS, Outlaw, EmpTek, Hsu, Rythmik otherwise.

 

[John_W]

Welp, there went the budget and my spare time. Going to diy this. Thank you for the suggestion lovinthehd. Question: I'm looking at the attached subs and their wattage ratings are much higher than what my receiver will produce. Would these require a built-in amp to sound decent? My receiver produces 100 watts per channel.

 

[tyhjaarpa]

Welp, there went the budget and my spare time. Going to diy this. Thank you for the suggestion lovinthehd. Question: I'm looking at the attached subs and their wattage ratings are much higher than what my receiver will produce. Would these require a built-in amp to sound decent? My receiver produces 100 watts per channel.

You will need a separate amp for your sub, your receiver wont handle it.

 

[lovinthehd]

Welp, there went the budget and my spare time. Going to diy this. Thank you for the suggestion lovinthehd. Question: I'm looking at the attached subs and their wattage ratings are much higher than what my receiver will produce. Would these require a built-in amp to sound decent? My receiver produces 100 watts per channel.

The subs you were considering weren't going to be powered by your receiver's amps; the avr would only provide a pre-out signal to the amp of the sub. You can either use a plate style amp like many subs are offered with, or a rack style amp. I use rack style Crown XLS1500s (current gen 2 of these are XLS 1502s) for mine, with external dsp but the Behriner iNuke DSP series of amp with on-board dsp is popular for diy subs (particularly ported builds). Somewhat depends on budget, tolerance of fan noise (XLS are very quiet, Behringers not so much, some mod them with different fans but that can be risky), ported/sealed, dsp/power needed. Are you looking also at the flatpack enclosures to assemble or would you cut your own mdf/plywood? I think for a good performing budget minded sub you should read thru this thread

 

[j_garcia]

The subs you were considering weren't going to be powered by your receiver's amps; the avr would only provide a pre-out signal to the amp of the sub. You can either use a plate style amp like many subs are offered with, or a rack style amp. I use rack style Crown XLS1500s (current gen 2 of these are XLS 1502s) for mine, with external dsp but the Behriner iNuke DSP series of amp with on-board dsp is popular for diy subs (particularly ported builds). Somewhat depends on budget, tolerance of fan noise (XLS are very quiet, Behringers not so much, some mod them with different fans but that can be risky), ported/sealed, dsp/power needed. Are you looking also at the flatpack enclosures to assemble or would you cut your own mdf/plywood? I think for a good performing budget minded sub you should read thru this thread

He's asking about the DIY or AIY route you mentioned, so those would need a plate or external amp.

 

[lovinthehd]

He's asking about the DIY or AIY route you mentioned, so those would need a plate or external amp.

I know, that's why I addressed that in my post....

 

[John_W]

I've spent some time today finding the right subs and I'm going with two of these https://www.skaraudio.com/collections/ix-series/products/ix-8?variant=17677557121. Beefy sub for $39, free shipping and quite honestly probably better than 75% of what's on the market for home audio subs. I fairly certain I can wire in series for get to 8 ohms. From what I've read I should be able to skate by with an El cheapo plate amp. Probably around the 150 watt range. I will build the box myself with 3/4" ply. Most likely a transmission line box. I'll take pics along the way and create a new thread when completed. This is taking me back to my car audio days from younger years. I'm sure the box I build will be 100% better than back then using only a skil saw and hammer and nails. Ha

 

[lovinthehd]

I've spent some time today finding the right subs and I'm going with two of these https://www.skaraudio.com/collections/ix-series/products/ix-8?variant=17677557121. Beefy sub for $39, free shipping and quite honestly probably better than 75% of what's on the market for home audio subs. I fairly certain I can wire in series for get to 8 ohms. From what I've read I should be able to skate by with an El cheapo plate amp. Probably around the 150 watt range. I will build the box myself with 3/4" ply. Most likely a transmission line box. I'll take pics along the way and create a new thread when completed. This is taking me back to my car audio days from younger years. I'm sure the box I build will be 100% better than back then using only a skil saw and hammer and nails. Ha

May I ask how you came to this particular choice? Beefy 8" maybe, but not particularly sensitive and a high Fs, how does it model out? I think I'd rather have the 12"s the Infinity 1260/1262s offer for only a few bucks more....

 

[John_W]

My thinking is that car audio subs are built better than home audio subs and in the car audio world the infinity would be laughed out of the room. With the low amount of wattage going into these subs my ears won't be able to tell the difference in Sq and spl. There is a 10 and 12 inch option that are affordable but I don't want huge enclosures in my living room. Transmission line boxes are quite large already.

 

[lovinthehd]

So you're using a particular successful design as a model or did you model this yourself? Got a link? Sure it will have the output you need for other than a vehicle's cabin?

 

[tyhjaarpa]

My thinking is that car audio subs are built better than home audio subs and in the car audio world the infinity would be laughed out of the room. With the low amount of wattage going into these subs my ears won't be able to tell the difference in Sq and spl. There is a 10 and 12 inch option that are affordable but I don't want huge enclosures in my living room. Transmission line boxes are quite large already.

Car audio subs are designed to work in small space, in a car, not in your living room that is a lot bigger space. There is a reason why those subs have different designs.

 

[lovinthehd]

Car audio subs are designed to work in small space, in a car, not in your living room that is a lot bigger space. There is a reason why those subs have different designs.

If the driver/cabinet/amp combo is sufficient.....it's sufficient. Some "car audio" drivers can work well with the right box/amp in your living room.

 

[tyhjaarpa]

If the driver/cabinet/amp combo is sufficient.....it's sufficient. Some "car audio" drivers can work well with the right box/amp in your living room.

Well that is true, but generally car audio subs have been desgined for small space and thus I wouldn't recommend them for home usage.

 

[lovinthehd]

Well that is true, but generally car audio subs have been desgined for small space and thus I wouldn't recommend them for home usage.

Thus the need to model your driver/box/amp. The Infinity 1260/1262s have been proven to be effective.