Sub Woofer shopping

[Sparkus]

In shopping for a sub woofer is it a concern how it may work with mains I would buy in the future or will a quality sub work with quality mains? I hope that makes sense.

 

[Russdawg1]

Any good sub will work with just about anything.

Try to avoid big box retail subs.

Right now ID subs are killing it in the value market.

DIY is even better.

 

[ryanosaur]

Agree with Russdawg...

Depending on what your goals are: Hsu, SVS, Outlaw, Rythmik... all good "lower and mid-budgets." Also Seton, JTR, Funk, Deep Sea: a little more upper budget...

Pay attention to your room volume, LxWxH for all open area your sub will be able to access. Learn to read the output against distortion testing, or CEA 2010: https://www.audioholics.com/loudspeaker-design/measurements-3

Oh... and have fun!

 

[lovinthehd]

Also Power Sound Audio and Monoprice's Monolith, maybe even RSL. (and it's Seaton).

 

[Russdawg1]

If I was paying that much for anything other than SVS, HSU, Rythmik, etc, DIY is the way to go. Pay some kid down the street to assemble them if you like, but the value is absurd.

$600 for a Full Marty + iNuke NU6000DSP > $2500 SVS PB16 Ultra.

 

[lovinthehd]

If I was paying that much for anything other than SVS, HSU, Rythmik, etc, DIY is the way to go. Pay some kid down the street to assemble them if you like, but the value is absurd.

$600 for a Full Marty + iNuke NU6000DSP > $2500 SVS PB16 Ultra.

How do you figure the $600 for a full marty?

 

[ryanosaur]

If I was paying that much for anything other than SVS, HSU, Rythmik, etc, DIY is the way to go. Pay some kid down the street to assemble them if you like, but the value is absurd.

$600 for a Full Marty + iNuke NU6000DSP > $2500 SVS PB16 Ultra.

Not a bad idea... though my "subwoofer summer" is turning into "subwoofer sometime soon I hope." DIY is a commitment, though, and though a flat pack is a simple solution, the assembly and finishing can be an important hurdle for those without the tools or experience.

 

[Russdawg1]

How do you figure the $600 for a full marty?

Not to brag, I actually only paid $450 for mine

$100 MDF + Glue (Generous)

$250 for UM18 on sale

$350 Open box iNuke (Also Generous)

 

[Pogre]

One thing we need to know is how big your area is. If you mentioned it in another thread I forgot. I did price out diy'ing a pair if 15" subs and Hsu came in close enough to the same price so I just went with them. Where diy really starts saving is when you build multiple subs and share amplifiers.

You may not need as much as I do because I'm filling a pretty big space at ~6000^3 conservatively speaking. It's probably more. I'm open to the kitchen, a den and a hallway. Vaulted ceilings too so yeah, I went big.

 

[lovinthehd]

Not to brag, I actually only paid $450 for mine

$100 MDF + Glue (Generous)

$250 for UM18 on sale

$350 Open box iNuke (Also Generous)

Just curious. The amp is discontinued, tho saw one for $550. UM18 is $285. MDF and time to get...maybe. Was also thinking of a flatpack for the Marty, which wouldn't be cheap if he has not the tools for it....

 

[Russdawg1]

Not a bad idea... though my "subwoofer summer" is turning into "subwoofer sometime soon I hope." DIY is a commitment, though, and though a flat pack is a simple solution, the assembly and finishing can be an important hurdle for those without the tools or experience.

I’m in a woodshop class this year so I have an abundance of tools now available Even without that however, I’d be willing to help you cut whatever you need, even assembly possibly. I have my neighbor’s table saw, jigsaw, and sander on hand right now as I’m about to begin another 18” sub project using the much cheaper Dayton 18” Classic sub and another using two of the $30 JBL Subs you see people buying loads of when they go on sale ($130->$30 is 77% off!).

Finishing is out of my expertise. I haven’t even gotten to sanding mine. I just threw it in its spot and ignore it lol.

 

[lovinthehd]

I’m in a woodshop class this year so I have an abundance of tools now available Even without that however, I’d be willing to help you cut whatever you need, even assembly possibly. I have my neighbor’s table saw, jigsaw, and sander on hand right now as I’m about to begin another 18” sub project using the much cheaper Dayton 18” Classic sub and another using two of the $30 JBL Subs you see people buying loads of when they go on sale ($130->$30 is 77% off!).

Can you do cnc, tho ? Which particular JBL driver? Something in the Gti series?

 

[Russdawg1]

Just curious. The amp is discontinued, tho saw one for $550. UM18 is $285. MDF and time to get...maybe. Was also thinking of a flatpack for the Marty, which wouldn't be cheap if he has not the tools for it....

The new NX6000D should be around that $550 price new. I see one at B&H for $500.

You have to be really quick about it on AVS Classifieds, as they disappear the week they get put up, but generally NU6000DSP’s are $300 used or open box like mine.

But yes, it can get expensive if you don’t have the time. Time is money so what you trade for patience and doing it yourself is cash

The UM18 goes on sale for $250 every quarter or so, and if you buy through EBay with a code, you can get it down to about $220.

 

[Russdawg1]

Can you do cnc, tho ? Which particular JBL driver? Something in the Gti series?

I cannot CNC at the moment. I’d have to find a makerspace of some sort. We don’t have a CNC mill at the woodshop.

The JBL CX1200. Also known as the CS1214 or GX1200. And many others.